Access to health services for foreign workers

       Foreign workers and their dependents may obtain health insurance after taking a medical examination. When they need to go to a hospital or clinic to receive health services, they should do as follows:

1. Prepare identification documents for obtaining health services, such as a passport or temporary passport or documents used in lieu of passports or identification documents from the country of origin or identity card of a person who does not have Thai nationality, or a document, a certificate of history registration, Thor.Ror.38/1, or a birth certificate for a person who does not have Thai nationality issued by the Department of Provincial Administration, or a document issued by the government with a 13-digit identification number

- Health insurance card or receipt or proof of payment of health insurance issued by a medical facility;

- In the case of workers in the fishing industry who use the services of hospitals participating in other projects in coastal provinces, they must have a work permit stating that it is a laborer or fisherman or a seafarer’s book.

2. Verification of service eligibility

- Check the eligibility of the medical facility by logging on to the website fwf.cfo.in.th. Under the menu “Insurer Registration,” select "Find Insurer";

- Check the rights of health insurers by logging into the website. fwf.cfo.in.th, "People's rights check" menu.

3. Service access

- Foreign workers and their dependents may receive normal services at the hospital specified in the health insurance card, on official days and hours or according to the time specified by that hospital;

- Foreign workers and their dependents have the right to receive medical and public health services 15 days after receiving health insurance, except in the case of foreign workers or dependents who have purchased a health insurance card at the One Stop Service for Foreign Workers Registration (OSS) or have purchased a continuing health insurance card within 15 days from the day following the expiration date of the original health insurance card;

- Regarding the coverage period, they have the right to receive medical and public health services in a public health facility that participates in the project immediately from the date of purchase of health insurance;

- A foreign worker’s dependent who is a newborn (and who already has health insurance) has the right to receive medical and public health services in a public health facility that participates in the project immediately by reimbursing the actual expenses from birth to 28 days, from the central fund in case of high expenses for in-patients. After that, payment shall be made according to the prescribed joint diagnosis group system.

4. Service access in case of emergency or accident

- In case of emergency or an accident outside the area where there is a government hospital, the hospital providing services will coordinate the collection of medical expenses from a registered hospital;

- Out-patient cases providing hospital services may charge them to the registered medical facility at the actual expense rate within the province, according to the provincial committee, but not more than 700 baht;

- In the case of an in-patient, the rate is in accordance with what the joint diagnosis group system prescribed.

5. Access to medical services for foreign workers in the sea fishing business

- In the case of foreign workers in the sea fishing business who need to receive services in a hospital designated by each province in 22 coastal provinces and providing medical facilities that provide coordination services;

- Regarding medical service fees from registered hospitals in out-patient cases, the medical facility that provides the service will send the charge to the registered medical facility. The charge will be in accordance with the actual expense rate, but not more than 700 baht for in-patient cases to pay the rate, according to what the joint diagnosis group system prescribed.

Source: Health Insurance Operation Manual for Aliens and Foreign Workers, Ministry of Public Health 2020.

Division of Health Economy and Health Security, Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Health 88/20 Tiwanon Road, Talad Khwan Subdistrict, Mueang District, Nonthaburi Province 11000

Tel. +66 2590 1553

Tel. +66 2590 1553