Table 4 Social health insurance structure in Thailand before and after the merger

Thailand

Before

Medical Welfare Scheme, 1975

low-income individuals, elderly (those older than 60) and all children younger than 12, the disabled, monks and religious leaders, and war veterans (32% in 1999)

free medical care at public facilities: outpatient care, inpatient care, diagnostics, and medicines, Annual physical checkup (41% of the whole population in 1997)

general tax revenue

Ministry of Public Health

Civil Servant Medical Benefit Scheme (CSMBS), 1980

Civil servants themselves, their parents, spouses and up to three children under 18 years old (9%)

Inpatient services, outpatient services, Annual physical checkup

general tax revenue

Ministry of Finance

the Social Security Scheme (SSS), 1990

Formal workers in firms with over 10 employees for non-work related sickness, maternity, invalidity and funeral grants (7%)

Inpatient services, outpatient services, prevention, health promotion

compulsory tripartite (employers, employees and the government) contributions of 1.5% of payroll each

Ministry of Labor

The Health Card Project (HCP), 1983

Covers non-poor households, mostly in rural areas, who can voluntarily buy a card which attracts a matching tax subsidy and which gives them access to free care at public facilities as long as they follow referral channels (16% in 1999)

Inpatient services, outpatient services, Annual physical checkup, prevention, health promotion

Household: B 500 + per year, government subsidy B 1000 per year

Ministry of Public Health

After

The Universal Coverage scheme (2002)

All the uninsured, voluntary health card holders, and those covered by the medical welfare scheme under a single unified program (47 million, 74% whole population)

Inpatient services, outpatient services, prevention, health promotion

General tax, non-contributory

National Health Security Office (NHSO)

CSMBS

As before

As before

As before

As before

SSS

As before

As before

As before

As before