Essential Coverage for Thai Nationals Living Abroad
In 2016, the Bank of Thailand estimated that 1,120,837 Thais were working overseas. Combine this with retirees, digital nomads, and students, and you have a lot of non-resident Thais who are living the expat life. In the United States alone, there are more than 300,000 expats from Thailand.
Not surprisingly, the United States is also the top destination for Thai students seeking to study abroad. Given how steadily the number of Thai university graduates is rising – with enrollment in graduate programs up over 300% in the past ten years – it’s safe to assume that the number of study abroad participants and expats will continue to grow.
Whether Thai expats are moving for school or making the plunge to start a new life, healthcare should be at the top of their minds. Health insurance for expats from Thailand is an integral part of that.
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Does the Thai Healthcare System Cover Citizens Abroad?
Thailand’s healthcare system is based on contributions to the social security system. As such, if you’re no longer living in Thailand, you’re not contributing to the system through payroll deductions. Thailand’s healthcare system won’t cover you overseas.
Best Health Insurance for Expats from Thailand
Cigna Global Insurance Plan
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Thai Citizens Living in the US: Best Health Insurance
BCBS Global Solutions Worldwide Premier
- Unlimited annual and lifetime coverage
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- For U.S. citizens abroad or foreign nationals in the U.S.
What to Expect From Private vs Public Care
Each country has its own standards for public and private healthcare. Many countries will pale in comparison to Thailand’s affordable, universal care model.
On the other hand, the standards of public healthcare in some countries will leave Thai citizens greatly impressed.
Private healthcare is more standardized, although differences persist between countries. Patients in private facilities are more likely to have doctors and staff who are multilingual.
Wait times are much shorter, especially when it comes to seeing specialists. Patients can expect private, comfortable facilities.
In some places, such as Dubai, private healthcare facilities can be remarkably luxurious and hotel-like. In others, like Guatemala, they’re more modest and less flashy but still exceed the standards of the local public system.
Visiting a Doctor in Thailand
Many doctors in Thailand are specialists, especially those working in the public sector. That’s great when you know what your problem is and who you need to see.
However, it can be frustrating when you want someone, such as a general practitioner, to guide and direct your care.
Many countries have the exact opposite problem. There are a large number of general practitioners and family physicians, but specialists can be somewhat scarce.
Additionally, to see a specialist, your family doctor must make the referral on your behalf. This can be really frustrating for expats from Thailand when you know who you should be seeing, but you have to go through the extra step of seeing your GP first.
On the plus side, for serious situations, your GP can often pull some strings and arrange an appointment that’s much quicker than what you’d be able to secure on your own.
Additionally, they can help coordinate your care when multiple specialists are involved.
Accessing Public Healthcare Overseas
Thai law requires everyone working legally in Thailand to have health insurance. In most cases, this occurs through the national social security program, which employers administer.
They take care of all the details for their expat employees, including automating the appropriate salary deductions.
Many other countries follow a similar model – but not all. Some countries put the onus on the individual to apply on their own. In doing so, you must prove not only your identity and your legal status in your new country.
You must also prove your residency. For this reason, it’s prudent to start receiving mail such as credit card bills at your new address. Credit card bills and utility bills are two of the most common documents used to prove residency.
In other words, if you tend to slack on this and have your parents forward your mail when they get around to it, be proactive and change your address right away!
Paying For Healthcare Services Abroad
In 2006, Thailand’s public health minister announced that all medical visits would be free of charge under the country’s universal healthcare program.
Previously, patients paid a small fee at each visit, a program known as the 30 Baht Project. Now that this particular fee has been eliminated, patients can consult with healthcare professionals without financial concerns.
This setup is far from universal. Many countries still have a co-pay model. Others cap health expenses so that patients don’t pay more than a certain threshold in a given year. This is excellent for people with frequent appointments.
However, it’s not so suitable for occasional users. They’re likely to pay the bulk of their deductible through their sporadic visits but never use the system enough to benefit from lower-cost follow-ups.
In other circumstances, patients pay the entirety of their medical costs upfront and then submit a claim for reimbursement.
To avoid a nasty surprise when you’re feeling ill, expats from Thailand should find out what model their new country uses before their first visit.
Emergency Care Abroad
One of the hallmarks of healthcare in Thailand is the country’s unique approach to managing first responders. The majority of first responders in Thailand are volunteers.
In Bangkok, for instance, 65% of emergency cases handled by first responders are led by volunteers. Expats from Thailand will soon notice that this inspiring, community-focused approach is a rarity in the world.
Many countries have a voluntary program similar to Thailand’s first level of care, known as FR or first responder.
Worldwide, teachers, charity workers, and sports leaders are taught basic first aid so that workspaces, community programs, and recreation facilities are safer.
Occasionally, larger organizations will send a representative for more advanced training, which corresponds with Thailand’s BLS (Basic Life Support) level of training.
However, no matter how extensive the training, it’s nothing like the kind of first responder care you find in Thailand. Paramedics and ambulance attendants around the world are almost always full-time jobs and not volunteer positions.
In fact, one of the first things that first aid classes teach is that you should always call the professionals as soon as you assess the situation!
However, while paramedic care and ambulance drivers are integral parts of the healthcare system in many countries, that doesn’t mean that their services are free.
In some countries, you must pay for ambulance transportation in all but the most extreme emergencies. In others, it doesn’t matter the situation – unless you have insurance, ambulance rides are a cost you must bear.
For Thai nationals accustomed to the volunteer-based, community approach to first responder care, the cost of ambulance care comes as quite a surprise.
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- Compare multiple quotes from top insurers
- Get expert advice at no additional cost
- Find the right plan for your needs and budget
International Citizens Insurance has an experienced team of authors, including expatriates and world travelers, providing curated guidance for our clients.
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