Insurance question for blue book (wp) holders

[BV70]

Six months after receiving my work permit I've been given a social security card to be used at a local Bangkok hospital.

I've asked my employer about specific cover under Thai employment law and they can't tell me anything "go hospital ask" is all I can get from them. My Thai friends suggest that it covers me in the event of serious illness/accident but only at a named hospital. So if I'm away from Bangkok and the worst happens, I'm not covered. Yet others say I will still have to pay for treatment at the Bangkok hospital regardless. It's a bit confusing and I need peace of mind.

For those in the know, do I need to take out further insurance on top of the social security card that came with my work permit? I'm based in Bangkok but travel around the country and to neighboring countries for holidays, I hire cars/bikes when needed but other than that I'm just living and working normally in Bangkok.

Any advice is gratefully welcomed.

[hanssna]

I have had this 'pakkan san khom' ( thai social insurance system ) insurance card for a number of years, and indeed it can be very useful. But it is connected to one specific government hospital, that you can choose yourself, and the quality and care of every hospital can differ a lot. Some hospitals are better in certain areas, and some of my Thai friends have been able to transfer themselves from one hospital to another ( province ) for care, but this is not easy for us farang, especially if you are not fluent in Thai.

If you travel in other areas of Thailand, there is only cover in hospitals in that area if you have an accident. So only emergency treatment after this. You will be transferred to your chosen hospital as soon as possible.

Another disadvantage I found is that if care is not urgent, you will have to pay for your treatment yourself, and later claim it back at your local social security office. And, you will be treated just as the other Thai patients, so you wait in line with everyone, care will be mostly as basic as possible ( depending on the hospital / doctor, a long shot... ) and will mostly be addressed in Thai.

A few years back I decided to take a private insurance as an extra, so I can choose any hospital I want etc. And keep the pakkan san khom insurance as a backup.

[TerryLH]

"But it is connected to one specific government hospital, that you can choose yourself, and the quality and care of every hospital can differ a lot. Some hospitals are better in certain areas, and some of my Thai friends have been able to transfer themselves from one hospital to another ( province ) for care, but this is not easy for us farang, especially if you are not fluent in Thai."

As noted, your coverage is at a designated hospital. Most of the time the hospital is chosen for you, often by the employer. Sometimes they might offer you a choice and will tell you which hospitals are available. Some private hospitals are in the program. Some of the bigger government hospitals might not be available because they have reached a patient limit.

Once a year there is a window to change the hospital. that will be depending on which, or how many hospitals are available in your area. If you want to change, take a Thai speaker with you. There is no difference because you are a 'farang'.

The coverage usually pretty good, but will depend on which hospital you are covered at. If a bigger government hospital, the coverage can by excellent. At your covered hospital there should be almost nothing you have to pay. (very few exceptions to that.)

If you are out of your area, you can get emergency treatment, pay yourself and claim the money back.

I don't know about international travel. You'd have to ask SS about that.

If you are having people tell you the coverage isn't any good, I'd suggest that they don't know anything about it.

When you quit being covered through employment; getting fired, quitting, retiring - or whatever reason, you can continue the coverage by paying on your own. You have a window of time to sign up at the SS office for that. The cost is about 432 baht per month.

It's well worth having.

"Another disadvantage I found is that if care is not urgent, you will have to pay for your treatment yourself, and later claim it back at your local social security office."

I never found that to be the case.

My experience has been that the people I've dealt with in a couple of different SS offices have been very helpful.

Good luck.

Terry

[BV70]

Thanks guys. I have been assigned to samitijev(?) hospital as that is closest to where I live.

But it sounds as though I'm covered for most eventualities and so supplementary insurance is not really required unless I'm concerned about the standard of health care at my assigned hospital. Although I understand mine is good. So that's good news and peace of mind for myself. Cheers!

[henry15]

"But it is connected to one specific government hospital, that you can choose yourself, and the quality and care of every hospital can differ a lot. Some hospitals are better in certain areas, and some of my Thai friends have been able to transfer themselves from one hospital to another ( province ) for care, but this is not easy for us farang, especially if you are not fluent in Thai."

As noted, your coverage is at a designated hospital. Most of the time the hospital is chosen for you, often by the employer. Sometimes they might offer you a choice and will tell you which hospitals are available. Some private hospitals are in the program. Some of the bigger government hospitals might not be available because they have reached a patient limit.

Once a year there is a window to change the hospital. that will be depending on which, or how many hospitals are available in your area. If you want to change, take a Thai speaker with you. There is no difference because you are a 'farang'.

The coverage usually pretty good, but will depend on which hospital you are covered at. If a bigger government hospital, the coverage can by excellent. At your covered hospital there should be almost nothing you have to pay. (very few exceptions to that.)

If you are out of your area, you can get emergency treatment, pay yourself and claim the money back.

I don't know about international travel. You'd have to ask SS about that.

If you are having people tell you the coverage isn't any good, I'd suggest that they don't know anything about it.

When you quit being covered through employment; getting fired, quitting, retiring - or whatever reason, you can continue the coverage by paying on your own. You have a window of time to sign up at the SS office for that. The cost is about 432 baht per month.

It's well worth having.

"Another disadvantage I found is that if care is not urgent, you will have to pay for your treatment yourself, and later claim it back at your local social security office."

I never found that to be the case.

My experience has been that the people I've dealt with in a couple of different SS offices have been very helpful.

Good luck.

Terry

Correct, you even don't have to pay the prescribed medicines.

[new2here]

I have this program at my university. For what I pay, I'd call it exceptional. Granted, a lot of that will depend on the hospital that you use, but I've been totally satisfied with mine.

Cost wise, I think I've paid only a few hundred for things like an full contact lens eye exam and a full dental check up/cleaning... For more common things; common colds and a sprained wrist (sports injury) I paid either zero or very very close to that.

When there was a charge, the doctor explained that to me in advance and offered me no-cost (included in the SSF program) options if I wanted to go that route.

I find the real savings comes in the prescriptions/drugs part of it. I don't think Ive ever paid for any drugs under the SSF plan. I recall hearing from the pharmacy that SSF has a 90-day limit for each script - but I didn't fully validate that as I don't use any drugs on a daily basis at the present. (My university has a teaching hospital, and staff are allowed to use it for selected issues at near free cost)

I switched hospitals once - after my first year - because the hospital my employer chose for me was convenient to the campus, but not as much to my residence. So when the annual change window opened, I switched.

A new card was printed and sent to my employer, my medical records were copied and mailed (no charge) by my old hospital to my new hospital - I only needed to sign a release.

Edited July 18, 2016 by new2here