blackcab Posted May 19, 2015 Share Posted May 19, 2015 Can anyone tell me what this card is for please? I have a work permit, and after I was registered with the Social Fund I was given this card. I get a new card (with a different colour) each year. I am assuming it is something to do with health, but I'm not certain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crossy Posted May 19, 2015 Share Posted May 19, 2015 It entitles you to cheap / free treatment (and a nice queue) at the hospital detailed on the bottom line I've never used mine as I get medical insurance anyway, but it's worth keeping up when you leave employment (you keep paying the nominal fee) as a low cost option to full blown medical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheryl Posted May 19, 2015 Share Posted May 19, 2015 Yes, it is health care coverage. It applies only at the hospital you are registered at, which should be indicated on the card and which you can change if desired (though only at certain times of the year, and from a defined list of hospitals). It is well worth doing some research to be sure you are registered at a hospital which offers a full range of specialized care. If the hospital you are registered at cannot provide care needed they are supposed to refer you and if referred, it will still be covered -- but this can be problematic/time-consuming. Not only is this the lowest cost type of health insurance available, it has a number if advantages over private insurance policies: 1. Premiums are very low, even at old age. 2. Lifelong coverage as long as you don't miss a payment (some private policies offer this but some do not, and those which do raise the premiums so much after age 65 that it can be prohibitive). The payments are deducted automatically from your paycheck but if you stop working you need to arrange to pay directly on your own. Do so if planning to stay in Thailand. 3. Covers both inpatient and outpatient, including medications. Private insurance policies that include outpatient care are very expensive. 4. Very important - there is no lifetime or per incident cap on the coverage, whereas there always are with private insurance. So in the event of a major accident/illness, you will not run out of coverage even if months of treatment, ling ICU stays, repeat surgeries etc are involved. I can't tell you how many cases I've dealt with in Thailand where the insurance ran out early on and the patient/family were left with staggering bills. (Partly this is due to having way too low a level of coverage -- very common in local policies -- but it can occur even with a high level of cover if you are unlucky enough). It's main disadvantage compared to private insurance is that you are limited in choice of hospitals. And many people fail to give adequate attention/thought to selection of hospital. Generally speaking the private hospitals which accept it are not very good, you are better off with a tertiary level government hospital. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackcab Posted May 19, 2015 Author Share Posted May 19, 2015 (edited) Thank you for taking the time to give me such a comprehensive reply. My nominated hospital is Camillian in Bangkok. Is this card/scheme available to any foreigner, or do you have to have a non immigrant visa or a work permit and pay Social Fund contributions? Edited May 19, 2015 by blackcab Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liquorice Posted May 19, 2015 Share Posted May 19, 2015 What's the eligibility requirements to get this card and costs. Is it merely known as the 'social fund' card? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheryl Posted May 19, 2015 Share Posted May 19, 2015 Thank you for taking the time to give me such a comprehensive reply. My nominated hospital is Camillian in Bangkok. Is this card/scheme available to any foreigner, or do you have to have a non immigrant visa or a work permit and pay Social Fund contributions? It is only available to legally employed foreigners with work permits who make payroll contributions. Camellian is a nice enough small hospital but limited in size and range of specialists. Might be worth seeing what alternatives you have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackcab Posted May 19, 2015 Author Share Posted May 19, 2015 Where could I get a list of tertiary level hospitals in Bangkok please? If it's a matter of contacting the local Social Security office for a list I can have that done tomorrow. Once again, thank you for your help. I don't intend visiting hospital any time soon, but then again accidents happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheryl Posted May 20, 2015 Share Posted May 20, 2015 You need to get a list first from SS of what hospitals are open to you. Post that here and I'll advise further. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackcab Posted May 21, 2015 Author Share Posted May 21, 2015 I have been given a list, and from that selected six potential candidates based on whether my staff know anything about them and also proximity. The closest two are Chulalongkorn Memorial and Police General. The other four are Taksin, Ramathibodi, Siriraj and Rajavithi. I have, however, been warned that my first choice may not have any available spaces. I was also told that as I have changed both employer and residence I should be OK getting a change of hospital this time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheryl Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 Chulalongkorn and Siriraj are the best hospitals in Thailand so I would try for whichever of these is ore convenient to you (Siriraj is over in Thonburi wheras Chula is on Rama IV near Silom area). The Police Hospital, Ramatibodi and Ratchwithi are also good tertiary facilities and located near Victory Monument. Skip Taksin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiamRose Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 (edited) Hi Sheryl, I believe the Police General Hospital is at Ratchprasong, on the corner of Ratchdamri and Rama 1, opposite the four face Buddha and Central World, unless there's another Police Hospital at Victory Monument. Anyway, I would be interested in your views on the Police hospital at Ratchprasong? I believe Chula does have a long waiting list, so probably difficult to get registered there. Edited May 22, 2015 by SiamRose Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheryl Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 I said near Victory Monument, not at it. It's on Radjadamri. And it is fine. Not on par with Chula and Siriraj, but quite good with high level of specialists and care. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryLH Posted May 24, 2015 Share Posted May 24, 2015 "I believe Chula does have a long waiting list, so probably difficult to get registered there." The SS office can tell you if they are or are not currently accepting new SS patients. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackcab Posted June 11, 2015 Author Share Posted June 11, 2015 To follow up: My assistant was told that Chula stopped accepting applications from people with these cards 10 years ago. She asked for Police General instead and I was added straight away and issued a new blue card. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neeranam Posted June 14, 2015 Share Posted June 14, 2015 There are many other benefits with one of these cards. I got 2000 baht dental treatment reimbursed since last Nov. I also got about 10,000 baht for my two kids being under 6, when they were. And of course when I am 60 I can get a lum sum or monthly pension. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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