Health Care And Social Security For Thai's

[Maldoror]

Hi all,

I am wondering what kind of health care and social security, if any, is offered/available to the "normal" Thai. What happens if a Thai gets sick, have an accident and need immediate and sometimes extensive medical care at a hospital? I hear that there is a 30-THB scheme but that this one is limited to the hospital close to where you are supposed to "live". I have heard about special King's Hospitals. Since a lot of Thais wanders the land in search of work and sometimes end up in need of hospital treatment well away from their local hospital or a King's hospital, , how do the coope?

Examples:

A Thai person I know got food poisened, had to be taken to a local hospital and the hospital bill was close to 1,000 THB.

Another Thai person I know was attacked by some idiot stabbing him with a broken bootle sending him of to the local hospital where he was treated and presented with a bill of almost 3,000 THB.

Is it true that HIV/AID's victims receive no free treatment what so ever? Nah, I don't believe that one.

I still remember an article in one of the local newspapers where the Deputy Mayor of Pattaya visited a family where a young man in his mid 20's had been involved in a traffic accident and afterwards found himself paralyzed from the waist down. The Deputy Mayor, smiling as always, brought gifts to his family, including diapers (go figure), and ensured the family that there was no reason to worry. If this disabled man applied for an invalid pension one would surely be granted to him and he would receive the staggering amount of 500 THB a month for the rest of his life! And, if a miracle occured, should he be able one day to use a wheel char, one would be supplied free of charge. What?

Honestly, whenever something dire happens to anyone in my vincity there's a shockwave sent out to the "family" asking for support. Most of the times it works; more or less everyone chips in. Probably because they know that one day they themselves will end up in misery and need help. Those who do not supply aid are sometimes shunned.

But then again, the newly appointed PM says he will focus on "People Happiness". Sounds good, eh?

In the meantime though, please help me out here. I am soon to leave this country and I wish to ensure that those I leave behind and care for do have, at least, the very basic health insurance.

Thank you,

Maldoror

[bmanly]

Maldoror, you seem to have a good grasp of what happens here so no problem there. To answer your question there is no social security system for Thai people. In other words should they get sick the only cheap choices they have is where they are registered at their local hospital, can go there for 30 baht. You are right that there are certain Queens or Kings hospitals where they do not charge the patients but queues are long and they won't do anything unless you really need it done.

Should someone poor without money end up disabled or in a wheelchair as you said then there are charities that they can get help from. In Pattaya there are quite a few good charities and someone in a desperate situation would be helped if the charity knows about it. Last year a bar that I frequented held a raffle to raise funds for a young boy who needed a heart operation, they had lots of farangs put in money for this.

The best thing you can do for those that you leave behind is the health insurance. They will respect you a lot for that and it will give you peace of mind too, good idea.

[wca01]

There is a social security in Thailand. I, for example, have to pay 750 Baht monthly and the employer another 750 Baht. After retirement and you were working at least 10 years, you will get a pension. If you were working less than 10 years, a lump sum (per year 18,000 Baht + interest) will paid out. In case of death, the social security is paying Baht 30,000 for the funeral and for 3 months 50% of the last salary to the widow. The social security also pays for hospitals, doctors and operations. This amounts are however very limited.

WCA

[banchang]

My wife was telling me that most of the emergency ambulance trucks you see racing to an accident get more money for a dead body than a live one!

[bmanly]

There is a social security in Thailand. I, for example, have to pay 750 Baht monthly and the employer another 750 Baht. After retirement and you were working at least 10 years, you will get a pension. If you were working less than 10 years, a lump sum (per year 18,000 Baht + interest) will paid out. In case of death, the social security is paying Baht 30,000 for the funeral and for 3 months 50% of the last salary to the widow. The social security also pays for hospitals, doctors and operations. This amounts are however very limited.

WCA

What you are paying into is a superanuation/pension or retirement fund. If you put in some and your boss puts in some and then from your money and the bosses money you get a pension that is not social security. Social Security means the Government picks up the tab. I think what the OP is trying say is that if the 7/11 girl gets fired then the Government do not pay unemployment benefits to that person. She must find another job or she will starve to death. Or another example if a motorcycle taxi rider has a bad accident and ends up in a wheelchair he will not get unemployment benefits from the Government. His family will have bear all costs and take care of him for the rest of his life. If they are poor and have no money then they will have to go to a charity for help. Another example, if a Somtum lady retires at age 65 she will get nothing from the Government as a pension.

As far as I know, only government workers such as Police, teachers, politicians, defence etc. get government pensions, all other non government sectors either fund their owns pensions or they get nothing.

[Maldoror]

The best thing you can do for those that you leave behind is the health insurance. They will respect you a lot for that and it will give you peace of mind too, good idea.

Consider it done and thank you.

Maldoror

[wca01]

As far as I know, only government workers such as Police, teachers, politicians, defence etc. get government pensions, all other non government sectors either fund their owns pensions or they get nothing.

Wrong. It's compulsory. If one receive a monthly salary of at least 20,000 Baht, the employer and the employee HAVE to pay. 750 Baht is deducted monthly together with the income taxe directly from the salary. The amounts of 750 Baht for the employer and 750 Baht for the employee are fixed. Taksin had plans to expand this system, which were highly controversial, because of the proposed financing.

WCA

[bmanly]

As far as I know, only government workers such as Police, teachers, politicians, defence etc. get government pensions, all other non government sectors either fund their owns pensions or they get nothing.

Wrong. It's compulsory. If one receive a monthly salary of at least 20,000 Baht, the employer and the employee HAVE to pay. 750 Baht is deducted monthly together with the income taxe directly from the salary. The amounts of 750 Baht for the employer and 750 Baht for the employee are fixed. Taksin had plans to expand this system, which were highly controversial, because of the proposed financing.

WCA

Thanks, I did not know that but only very few people would be entitled to a pension under this scheme. The average Thai person doesn't make any where near 20,000 baht per month. It is not a comprehensive Social Security System like you would get in the UK or Australia and certainly wouldn't cover any of the people in the 3 examples I used.

[Maldoror]

(This has been posted elsewhere as well ...)

Hi,

is the "Gold Card" something that any Thai can obtain? If so, why don't they ... I guess the answers can be found at the links provided but they are in Thai. I have posted questions regarding the social/health security aspects for Thais before somewhere and the replies I got gave me the impression that the ordinary, low income Thai isn't covered in any way, shape or form but has to rely solely on his/her family when in need.

As an example, I have been told that Thais cursed by HIV/AID's are not given any kind of government support/medical treatment what so ever but are simply left to die. Or pay 5K THB a month for stopping medication. Surely this can not be true!

Reason I am posting again is that I am/was planning to care for some Thais by providing them with a health insurance and then this Gold Card "possibility" popped up and threw me of my path.

Please enlighten me,

Maldoror

“

http://www.nhso.go.th/NHSOFront/SelectView...000000000000021

This link gives you info in Thai on gold card. It also explains how to get a gold card issued and how to get it reissued when you lost it.

http://www.nhso.go.th/NHSOFront/SelectView...000000000000023

And this link supposedly tells what benefit you get under Baht 30 medical scheme”