Thread: Health Card for Foreigners.

Originally Posted by Kikoman

My wife was in a motorbike accident and all cost was free except the 600 baht per day cost of a private room

Strange that because traffic accidents are not treated free even at government hospitals. That's why it's compulsory to have the 'Por Ror Bor' insurance. It goes to help pay for people involved in traffic accidents. Attempted suicide will not get you free treatment also.

^ That's how my bills were paid.

they say on TV these 30 baht cards are cancelled for falang

on what tv?

Originally Posted by xanax

they say on TV these 30 baht cards are cancelled for falang

That isn't quite true. Depends who's post you read.

SHould note that in some parts of the country the cards are still be issued to farangs and used by them. In other places, it has never been. In CM, was done and then rescinded. So it remians a confused mess.

The above post is by 'Sheryl'. She must have been out on the gin? 30 Bht health scheme for Farangs, to finalize. - Health, Body and Medicine - Thailand Forum

How did that work.

It worked/works on you paying an annual fee of 2,200 Baht, plus a one off 600 Baht for a medical. You are then entitled to use the, so called, 30 Baht scheme as the Thais do. You use the government hospital that's nearest you're abode.

Well sad to say I completed my first year of health care coverage under the Hospitalization plan, We went to renew my plan for another year and we were told the New government put coverage on hold, which is as good as saying it is over. I thank Thailand for one great year of complete coverage by some excellent doctors, many of the same that practise in the Farang oriented hospitals, It was great while it lasted saved me over two thousand baht on my medication each time, great Dr. and staff. I also would like to thank Sheryl who stirred me into the right direction.
I will go back to the same Doctors and great care but I will pay for it myself!

All my experiences have been positive in Thai hospitals, and I agree about the only difference between government and private hospitals is decor and price and I've had multi-day stays in both.

Originally Posted by CSFFan

All my experiences have been positive in Thai hospitals, and I agree about the only difference between government and private hospitals is decor and price and I've had multi-day stays in both.

One other difference is waiting time, money talks.

Originally Posted by Iceman123

One other difference is waiting time, money talks.

Never had anything longer than what I did back home....

I always waited for my turn when I was on the Hospitalization plan, as it is on a first come first serve bases and the Thai patients would come as early as 5:00 AM and the doctors office did not open till 9:30 but I was always out within two hours, as I showed up by 9:00 am have my blood taken and waited for the doctor.

But when I paid for my care the doctor would see me after his office hours and I would pay him 60 baht for his after hours time. it cut down on the waiting time and only cost me one dollars more!.

Thanks for sharing! I guess it is extremely helpful too (even for the young ones) and can be of great help on emergencies, among others. The price doesn't hurt given for a year of coverage and wouldn't mind too if it all the affiliated hospitals under its coverage are the government ones.

Is there any current update on this scheme for farangs?
Here on Phuket everyone I know who has tried to apply got the "no hab" answer.
Do they exclude pre-existing conditions?

Originally Posted by Evilbaz

Is there any current update on this scheme for farangs?

On TV forum it is claimed that it will be reintroduced at sometime in the near future. Fingers crossed.

Broke my coccyx a few years ago - went to the local hospital in Rangsit. Waited about 15 minutes, BP & X-ray taken, waited about 15 minutes, wheelchair to see doctor, coccyx broken, painkiller prescription, waited about 5 minutes, bag of pills, 1400 baht - less than travel insurance excess.

Originally Posted by JayZee

wheelchair to see doctor, coccyx broken

How the fook can you sit on a broken 'coccyx' without being in agony?

^ You can't sit without being in agony for years. Nothing can be done about a broken coccyx except to remove it. And good luck finding a doctor who will perform that surgery.

Thanks for the update. In practice I have found government health care for expats to be adequate, unless serious emergency care is required. In which case personal universal health insurance is essential.

you could ask boonmee, he has a gold health card that he got many years ago. It will be a bit hit or miss as to whether you can still join the scheme... but you could ask.

As an American I have found that health care is rather economical in Thai hospitals.
Health care is seriously expensive in the States if you don't have VA , welfare or private insurance taking care of you with or without your family.

If you have the extra dosh to take care of serious issues there are world-class hospitals to be found in LOS that rival Western ones.
Of course, that is only if you have.

I see that some people need to get up to speed on this. The UCS (AKA 30 baht scheme or goldcard scheme) is for Thai citizens only. Some westerners have been enrolled by mistake down through the years by local officials who did not understand the rules, but almost all have now been been weeded out. Thai citizens now establish eligibility by showing their citizen ID cards (rather than the original gold cards), which are linked into the appropriate computerised database.

The foreigner health card scheme is completely different and run by the MoPH rather than the NHSO. Again mistakes were made at local level which resulted in westerners being allowed to register for a scheme intended for migrant workers from Burma, Cambodia and Lao. Most local hospitals have stopped allowing farang to register. If one still sneaks through s/he is likely to be asked to pay if something serious comes up and a referral away from the hospital of registration is necessary.

There are only two legitimate routes to low-cost public healthcare for westerners. Those enrolled in the social security scheme (via employment or continued membership for a monthly payment after leaving work) can be treated in the public or private hospital where they are registered, as well as its referral network. Those who are married to a civil servant, or are deemed a dependent of one can be treated in public hospitals (or some private tertiary care facilities in the referral network). Despite the fact that public hospitals are used, this scheme - the civil servant medical benefits scheme - offers more generous benefits than either the social security scheme or the UCS. Thus expats married to a teacher or nurse are often in a good position.