Thailand's Social Security System development guidelines for insurer’s contribution for pension in place of healthcare
Keywords:
Social security, health insurance contributions, old-age pensionAbstract
The concept of developing Thailand's social security system, where insured persons are exempt from healthcare costs and their contributions are added to their old-age pension, arose to address the potential challenges of an aging society in Thailand. The objective is to amend Thailand's social security law so that insured persons do not have to pay for healthcare services, but contributed for their pension instead. This is achieved by analyzing the system of insured persons under Articles 33, 39, and 40 of the Social Security Act. The study used a comparative approach with case studies from abroad.
The study found that a practical approach to develop Thailand's social security system, by exempting from healthcare costs but contributed for their old-age pension, is feasible. This requires amendments to the social security law to accommodate this approach, as well as improvements to the National Health Security System to support insured persons who voluntarily choose this option.
Conclusion:
Section 40/1 should be added under Chapter 1, "Insured Persons under the Social Security Act," because the existing health benefits of insured persons under Section 40 already utilize the National Health Security Office (NHSO) system. Therefore, amending just this single section could resolve the issue of insured persons not having to pay for health services, but contributed to their old-age pension. Initially, it should be voluntary to avoid negatively impacting the overall social security system.
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