Thread: Health Insurance: Is it compulsory for schools to offer minimum coverage?

I am going to get the boot soon from my school because I am asking for health insurance. At least... minimally gvt health coverage.

I was rushed off to get my work permit with a "so-called" temporary contract that would be re-negotiated upon my return. Hence, I took off and did not think twice about it.

On my return I started to ask about H-I and I was told that it was not offered to the foreign staff... my bowels were in an uproar... but I did not yell... or pull a tantrum...

My Thai coordinator told me that the law had changed and that it was no longer compulsory for schools to offer H-I...

As far as I care I am already looking for a new job... specially since I know that they will give me the boot.

1. Is it true that schools no longer have to offer H-I?
2. If not... how can I go about rectifying (legally) this situation for the future teachers that will come work for this ... well... "Christian" school?

I need facts... who should I contact... I tried labor... they told me MOE...

Let me know...

Thanks

HMMM
The reason I put this post forth is that before it was compulsory for any business with more than 6 employees to cover them with the GVT health plan...

I am not talking AIA or BUPA...

Thanks for the feedback...

I would still like to have facts from someone who know about the Thai law...

Anyway ...

thanks... for cheering me up

555

cheers

If you work FT for AUA, they'll give you full insurance from BUPA. As will many international schools.

Beyond that, you're lucky to get the capped accident insurance through AIA/AIG.

If you pay tax, you will be covered for free hospital treatment and the name of the hospital that has been assigned to you will be on a card that your employees are supposed to give you. It comes with paying social security. You do not have a choice of hospitals though.

I am not sure how much this covers because I never used it, but I had the card.

When I was in LOS schools were obliged to take deductions from your pay which contributed to healthcare and I think a form of superannuation. It wasn't free and it was a good earner for the government because few TEFLers claim or stay to collect their pension.

My school did not arrange medical insurance...which bothered me little because it is only very basic and I purchased insurance from Tony Dabbs (who you can contact through this site). The insurance from Tony was good value and if I return to Thailand that is what I will do...so fret not and enjoy the rest of what Thailand has to offer.

Ahahaha... that is the kind of answer I am looking for...

The other teachers are paying tax... and the school used to give them H-I and stopped 4-5 months ago...

I am new and no taxes were taken on my pay slip... so they covered their toods...

Even if and when they fire me... it will be a costly learning experience...

Are you sure about this??

Where should I have my GF call or where can I get the right information...???

MOE??? Labour???

Thanks a million

I pay half of this and my employer pays the over half in total 1500 THB per month but really if I speak truthfully about it, the hospital, it isn't much cop and it would probably be better not to have to pay for it and get a private plan outside of any employment contract. Yeah, it's not a great deal of money when push comes to shove but in my opinion it seems a waste.

Originally Posted by Yogi

The other teachers are paying tax... and the school used to give them H-I and stopped 4-5 months ago

You should have a social security card if you are paying tax. It is a blue plastic card with your name in English and all the rest in Thai. I also had a thick paper card which was morone and yellow and had a logo printed all through it and had my name, lots of Thai, and the hospital that I could get free treatment.

I think if you are paying tax that you have to pay social security (a pittance) and apart from that, I didn't contribute at all. I didn't use it because my employer also provided a basic BUPA insurance.

I have no idea where you would find out about it though.

I had to get my employees health care at my other job... and I got them BUPA... now... working for a lesser tier school... I cannot afford AIA or BUPA as of yet... It has been a crap year for me...

However, for now... I am wondering at the ... well ... meanderings of this school... hehehe Christian they say...

Still wondering which GVT office could give me answers...

Do you have a WP and are you paying tax?

If you are speaking about the school with three word name and one of them is Christian, I know that they pay their staff properly.

It is not B....
They did not take taxes and they did not even start processing my WP... saying that they wanted me to finish probation... that is a contradiction... cos non-B is good for 3 months and probation is 3 months...

this school wanted us to go work on an official GVT holiday...

Anyway... I won t go there... but it goes to show that they do not abide by the law...

and that is why I want to know the law...

Originally Posted by Yogi

They did not take taxes and they did not even start processing my WP... saying that they wanted me to finish probation... that is a contradiction... cos non-B is good for 3 months and probation is 3 months...

That is pretty normal procedure and you wont pay tax until your WP is processed and you cant get the free treatment under social security until you pay tax.

You dont think you may be being a bit unreasonable here, do you?

They will start the proccess with two or three weeks left on your non imm B or get you an extension and then do it.

You make a point... maybe I seem unreasonable...
However, as I pointed out previously, the other teachers used to have it and now the school has cut it... hmmm... the reason no fuss was made is that some of the staff were... well all of the staff are non-native speakers and they did not say anything out of fear I guess...

As I mentioned previously... my contract was to be negotiated on my return from my visa run. So I did the border hop on good faith...

The other teachers are paying taxes and I don t know what else... the pay slips are all in Thai ... I have to have my GF translate it to me soon...

So I guess that no one can actually point me to the right GVT office...

But I appreciate your efforts