Thailand’s Public Health Ministry is now looking into pricing the health insurance cards for migrant workers of their dependents higher as compared to the budget for Thai user under the universal coverage scheme – the 30-baht “gold card”.
According to Mr. Somsak Thepsutin, Public Health Minister, the health insurance cards cost around 1,600-2,400 baht each, while the budget for the universal coverage scheme is 3,000-3,800 baht.
Employers are required to provide the health insurance cards to allow migrant workers to access treatment under the ministry regulation, he said on Wednesday.
He adds, “If possible, the price of health insurance cards for migrant workers or their dependents should be close to or equal to expense under the universal coverage scheme. Adding that the ministry would escalate the issue to the Cabinet for consideration.
In a The Nation report, according to the health insurance fund for migrant workers, there are 309,416 registered individuals, which may also include their dependents, as recorded in October 2024. Most of them come from Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos. Around 262,843 were workers and their dependents aged 7 years and up, 39,602 were dependents aged 7 below, and 6,971 were general migrants.