Government Healthcare Ceased

[PattayaPhom]

There was a thread a few weeks back someone asking if the 30 Baht scheme had finished, wifey who is registered etc went to the local hospitol after an accident and a broken arm, with card, told it stopped 2 months ago and was presented with a substantial bill compared to what it would of been....any other reports, surely this would be big news throughout Thailand....

[konying]

One of my staff just took her mother to the hospital and no problems or bills to pay. This was 2 weeks ago.

When you say registered, what do you mean by that?

Social Security is accepted with no changes to contributions or anything else.

My staff's mother is 82 years old, she has i guess it's "pensioner card"

[PattayaPhom]

Registered as in the card you show when visiting the hospitol.....maybe its taking time to filter through but today she had to pay.

[silverado]

this is again a big strike of the divine savior of thailand...

one friend said it to me 2 weeks ago. it seems that it is already started

[Issangeorge]

Is your wife Thai? The hospital card is only that, it is your hospital number that is on their computer so they know who you are and what your health record is at that hospital. If your wife is Thai, she would fall under one of three plans, the most common being, what us commonly known as the ฿30 health care scheme. There is no universal Thai medical insurance farangs. However if you work for a company or a government school, you will get insurance through the Thai Social Security system.

[PattayaPhom]

Yes she is Thai. We have used the same hospital for almost 8 years and never an issue there or any other.

[prakhonchai nick]

Took my daughter (dual Thai/British nationality) to the local government hospital yesterday. She had injured her foot and needed an xray and treatment.

She is registered with the local hospital (she has a card that used to be known as the gold card)

No fee was charged (except a 300baht deposit on wooden crutches). The 30baht scheme was rescinded some years ago by PM Abhisit, when treatment etc became free.

However I believe free treatment is only available at your local hospital (or area hospital) and is not available throughout Thailand. If you visit a hospital out of your home area, you will likely have to pay.

[pauleddy]

I still pay Social of 432baht every month (I worked in a public university). That means that most things at my nominated hospital are covered "free". There is sometimes a surcharge if special items such as titanium rods or meshes are used, or very expensive drugs. I have had a heart procedure "free" (400,000b at Bangkok Hospital?)

I believe that the 30b scheme was brought in by Thaksin, and no longer exists (although I am not sure...)

Otherwise, I am sure that there is no change to the rules.

Eddy

[swissbie]

The 30-Baht scheme (bat thong) is still in use, sometimes discussed, but no change so far.

[Sheryl]

The so-called "30 baht" scheme (sometimes 30 baht charged sometimes not) has absolutely not been discontinued.

Are you sure your wife was under this and not under Social Security?

Social Security has not stopped either but in the case of private hospitals some may opt out and cease to participate.

Was this a private or government hospital?

I suggest you first verify which scheme she is under and then call either the NHSO (30 baht scheme) or SS Office. In either case she should not pay anything until it is cleared up.

[kennypowers]

The 30 Baht scheme is still in effect. A Burmese cleaner in my condo building is pregnant and went for a checkup two days ago. It cost her 30 Baht as she is eligible under the scheme because of her work arrangements.

Avoid high-street walk-in clinics as they will charge privately.

[silverado]

Took my daughter (dual Thai/British nationality) to the local government hospital yesterday. She had injured her foot and needed an xray and treatment.

She is registered with the local hospital (she has a card that used to be known as the gold card)

No fee was charged (except a 300baht deposit on wooden crutches). The 30baht scheme was rescinded some years ago by PM Abhisit, when treatment etc became free.

However I believe free treatment is only available at your local hospital (or area hospital) and is not available throughout Thailand. If you visit a hospital out of your home area, you will likely have to pay.

wrong . if you go to your local hospital, where there are no specialist/ special care , the doctor in your local hospital give you a certificate for being allowed to go in a bigger/other hospital where the care you need are available... and it will be (nearly) free as well

Edited September 3, 2015 by silverado

[swissbie]

Took my daughter (dual Thai/British nationality) to the local government hospital yesterday. She had injured her foot and needed an xray and treatment.

She is registered with the local hospital (she has a card that used to be known as the gold card)

No fee was charged (except a 300baht deposit on wooden crutches). The 30baht scheme was rescinded some years ago by PM Abhisit, when treatment etc became free.

However I believe free treatment is only available at your local hospital (or area hospital) and is not available throughout Thailand. If you visit a hospital out of your home area, you will likely have to pay.

wrong . if you go to your local hospital, where there are no specialist/ special care , the doctor in your local hospital give you a certificate for being allowed to go in a bigger/other hospital where the care you need are available... and it will be (nearly) free as well

Silverado, you're absolutely right, BUT.. that'can be a problem. My daughter had a bike accident and suffered broken legs (bones outstanding). She got first aid treetment in a private hospital which is also included in the 30 baht scheme (just for emergency treatment). It was night time, so no certificate for transfer available. Took her to the government hospital, she got medical operation a few hours later in the early morning. Didn't go under the 30 baht scheme but motorbike insurance paid part of it. Her friend waited until the next day to get the transfer certificate, but till he got transfered (to the same hospital), it was too late, he had to wait another day in pain to get medical operation. It always depends on the situation.

[prakhonchai nick]

Took my daughter (dual Thai/British nationality) to the local government hospital yesterday. She had injured her foot and needed an xray and treatment.

She is registered with the local hospital (she has a card that used to be known as the gold card)

No fee was charged (except a 300baht deposit on wooden crutches). The 30baht scheme was rescinded some years ago by PM Abhisit, when treatment etc became free.

However I believe free treatment is only available at your local hospital (or area hospital) and is not available throughout Thailand. If you visit a hospital out of your home area, you will likely have to pay.

wrong . if you go to your local hospital, where there are no specialist/ special care , the doctor in your local hospital give you a certificate for being allowed to go in a bigger/other hospital where the care you need are available... and it will be (nearly) free as well

Not wrong. I said if you visit a hospital out of your local area you will likely pay. You MUST first go to your local hospital, and if they cannot treat you they will send you elsewhere. You cannot just turn up elsewhere and expect free treatment. Our local hopsital will transfer you by ambulance to the main provincial hopsital if they cannot help.

Incidentally the 30baht scheme as it is so often referred to is now FREE. Thaksin introduced it at 30baht, and the subsequent government under the Democrat party made it free.

[Sheryl]

Actually it is up to the hospitals whether or not to charge the 30 baht, Some still do and some do not. The issue was that it was more administrative work to collect than it was worth.

Under both SS and the "30 baht" (AKA "gold card") schemes, care is limited to the hospital you are registered at except in the following cases:

- initial emergency treatment is covered elsewhere if time/circumstances did not permit getting to the hospital you are registered at. Thus includea at other govt hospitals and also at private hosp[itals. Private hospitals can and will get reimbursed by the respective government scheme (though at the govt rate, which they don't like) and are not supposed to charge patients covered under either of these schemes directly for emergency care. In point of fact they often do, and also sometimes try to keep the patient in their hospitals well after the emergency period. There have been recent exposes on this in the press and govt is trying to crack down. If faced with this situation yourself, (1) do not pay anything and (2) immediately contact the NHSO (30 baht/gold card) or SS Office. See call center numbers below.

- Referral by the hospital you are registered with to a higher level of care if the treatment needed is no available there, for example highly specialized care. This can and does happen on a regular basis. But just as care in govt hospitals involves lots of waiting and red tape, so does getting processed for a referral.

Both the SS Office and the NHSO have call center numbers and are usually very, very willing to help, including running interference with hospitals if and as necessary. Should not hesitate to call if necessary:

NHSO Call Center 1330 http://www.nhso.go.th/eng/Site/Default.aspx

Social Security Call Center 1506 http://www.sso.go.th/wpr/home_eng.jsp?lang=en