Government to pay for COVID-19 care
Image adapted from: FindThaiProperty
The Thai government has issued a warning against private hospitals to not bill COVID-19 patients or their families. This follows complaints that patients are currently required to pay for treatment and healthcare at private hospitals.
Medical expenses have even reportedly gone over ฿100,000, Bangkok Post reports.
The warning was posted on the Government House’s Facebook page.
Hospitals to seek reimbursement
Hospitals have been instructed to keep all records of medical treatments and services provided and send the bills to related agencies for reimbursement. Patients that have health insurance have also been encouraged to use their policies first.
Department of Health Service Support had also stated that the cost of treatment for COVID-19 would be covered by the country’s health security funds as follows;
- Social Security Fund for workers in the private sector
- Welfare Fund for state officials
- “Gold Card” Universal Fund programme
An announcement in the Royal Gazette also stated that those covered by the “gold card” programme are eligible for free COVID-19 treatment from 2nd April. This was endorsed by Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
Image credit: Thailand Ministry of Public Health
The Social Security Office (SSO) also released a statement regarding reimbursement regulations for medical expenses and service charges. Out-patients will pay for costs incurred by lab tests and personal protective equipment used by medical personnel, but no more than ฿3,000 each time.
Bangkok Post shared that the announcement also covered medical treatment for in-patients, capped at ฿7,200/case for drug costs, and ฿2,500/day for hospital room charges.
Patients seeking treatment from private hospitals will have reimbursements arranged according to the Public Health Ministry’s regulations.