Health insurance in Thailand for foreign expats

Thailand offers such a high standard of healthcare that some people travel there specifically to undergo treatment or have a medical procedure. Its thriving ‘medical tourism’ trade has grown because the country offers an exceptionally high level of specialist care for a fraction of what it might cost elsewhere – particularly in Europe or America.

Thai doctors are highly trained and have access to state-of-the-art medical equipment, especially within most private hospitals. The country also has a very high proportion of specialist doctors in areas such as oncology, fertility, cardiology and fertility, so it’s well-equipped to help people with serious or complex issues.

Perhaps most importantly, the Universal Coverage Scheme means that this high standard of healthcare is funded by a small salary deduction, so it’s available to Thai citizens at no extra cost. Half is paid by the company and half by employee.  This has had a great impact on the overall quality of life within Thailand, improving life-expectancy and reducing the number of sick days people are needing to take.

Thailand’s healthcare system has two main components: the government funded public health service, and the private medical sector. Both offer a very high level of care, dependent on where in the country you are based. All Thai citizens and visitors can have access to excellent doctors, whatever their circumstances, however travelling to a major city may be necessary to access a higher level of care. 

While public healthcare facilities in Thailand are excellent, they serve a high proportion of the population so there can be long waiting times. Some of the facilities might not be as up to date, and people are assigned a specific hospital where they can receive free treatment, which can be limiting. Also what is covered under the social security scheme is limited so certain medication may not be covered. 

Private healthcare is often more popular among expats. It offers a wider choice as you’re not restricted to a specific hospital. Private hospitals also tend to have much shorter waiting times, more up-to-date facilities, and multilingual staff. Thailand also has a fairly unusual healthcare issue in that, because it has so many specialists, there’s a relatively small number of general practitioners. This can add to the waiting times for referrals in the public system, which is another area where the private option can be appealing.

There are four main routes to accessing healthcare in Thailand.

As an employee of a private company. 

As mentioned earlier, Thai citizens receive free public healthcare through the UCS (Universal Coverage Scheme). Foreign nationals can’t join this scheme, but you can get access to the same free healthcare system if your employer is able to enrol you onto Thailand’s social security programme. You’ll have a specific medical facility  assigned to you, which is where you’ll need to go for free treatment. For emergency services at other hospitals other than your registered facility, social security will cover some of the expenses however the caps are relatively low. So, unless your life is hanging in the balance, it is best to receive treatment from the medical facility that you are registered with. If you choose to go to a different public hospital or a private facility, you’ll have to pay additional fees. 

If you work as a civil servant. 

If you’re a government employee, you and your family are entitled to healthcare coverage via the civil service welfare system. This is separate to the main public and private options, so you should speak to your employer for specific details on how this works.

Private health insurance. 

If you’re not planning on working in Thailand, or if your company doesn’t offer access to health coverage via social security, you’ll need private healthcare cover. Many expats prefer the private route anyway, as it can provide more flexibility, shorter waiting times and a wider range of treatment options. You can either take out a domestic plan specific to Thailand, or you can get an international private healthcare plan that covers you throughout the rest of the world.

Out of your pocket. 

If you’re an employee that only has public health cover, you can still walk into any private hospital and see a specialist if you have the money to pay for it. It could end up being a more expensive option, but the cost of treatment in Thailand is relatively cheap when compared to most western countries.

The Thai healthcare system is relatively simple to navigate. But there are a few important details and rules to remember, which might help make things easier in the event you need healthcare services while in Thailand.

Documentation

Whether you’re going to a private or a public hospital, you’ll be asked to show proof of identification (usually your passport) to receive treatment. You’ll also need your social security number if you’re hoping to receive free care from a public facility. Many private facilities also sign up and provide service for social security, so it is worth checking that out before you go. For many private facilities, you’ll likely have to pay for treatment up front and then get the costs reimbursed for anything that’s covered in your healthcare plan.

Emergency services

The telephone number for medical emergency services is 1669. There is also a special emergency service to help people visiting Thailand, which can be reached by dialling 1155. 

In an emergency, Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health has outlined certain conditions that qualify for Universal Coverage for Emergency Patients. This technically means you can be admitted to any hospital without having to pay for any costs incurred in the first 72 hours. 

In reality, though, a private facility may try and transfer you to a public hospital or ask you to pay for all the costs incurred. This is because they often struggle to get full compensation from the government so, if possible, try to go to a public hospital in an emergency as they won’t turn you away or ask for up-front payment.

Dental cover

Thailand’s public scheme does cover certain expenses, through your social security, you can be covered for basic procedures like routine cleaning, extraction and fillings for up to 900 baht per person per year. For any more advanced procedures or regular dental treatment in Thailand, you’ll need to take out a separate dental insurance or ensure it’s included in your international healthcare plan.

Pharmacies and medicine

It’s quite common to see medications, for which you’d usually expect to need a prescription, being sold over the counter in Thailand. These include antibiotics, pain medication and anti-malaria tablets. 

There are a lot of pharmacies within larger cities, and many of them stay open late. Most pharmacists in Thailand are able to offer some guidance and advice, though you need to be aware that important information can be lost in translation, so it’s always best to get a note from a doctor or bring translated details of the medication you need to be on the safe side. 

If you don’t plan on getting a job in Thailand – if you’re retiring there, for example – then you’ll need private healthcare cover. This has been made compulsory by the Thai government and you may need to provide proof that you have health insurance to apply for a long-term, non-immigrant visa.   

If you’ve got a job in Thailand, there’s a bit more flexibility. It’s no longer mandatory to have health insurance to enter the country and you can access the public (and sometimes private) healthcare system via your employer. Public healthcare will only cover you for appointments at a specified hospital², so many expats opt to get private cover as well. 

A local Thai health insurance plan will cover you for any treatment you need in the country, but your documentation will probably be in Thai and it won’t cover you during visits home or when you’re on holiday. Whether you’re travelling, working on a short-term contract or relocating permanently, you’ll likely expect to travel to other countries, so worldwide healthcare cover could be a more suitable option.