Thai Social Security (Section 33)
Review for expat families in Thailand
Government scheme · Thailand, at your registered hospital
Best for
Anyone employed on a Thai payroll, as a safety net for themselves.
If you work for a Thai-registered employer, you are enrolled in the Social Security Fund under Section 33 whether you plan to use it or not. Both you and your employer contribute 5% of your salary, capped at a wage ceiling that rose to 17,500 baht a month on 1 January 2026, so the most you pay is 875 baht a month. The ceiling is scheduled to rise again to 20,000 baht in 2029 and 23,000 baht in 2032.
In return you get medical treatment at one registered hospital that you choose when you enrol, and can change once a year. Treatment there that a doctor considers necessary is free, including for pre-existing conditions. The scheme also pays a maternity benefit, a small dental allowance, a child allowance for young children, and income replacement during sickness and unemployment.
If you leave your job but stay in Thailand, you can usually keep paying in voluntarily under Section 39, provided you have contributed for at least a year and apply within six months of leaving.
Pros
- Very cheap, capped at 875 baht a month in 2026
- Covers pre-existing conditions
- Includes maternity, dental and sickness pay benefits
Cons
- No medical cover for your spouse or children
- Tied to one registered hospital, changeable once a year
- Registered hospitals are usually busy public or mid-tier private ones
Worth knowing
Social Security is medical cover for the employee, not for the family. Your spouse and children get no medical treatment from it. It is also tied to one hospital, and the recommended choices tend to be large public or mid-tier private hospitals with long waits, not the international hospitals most expat families use. Treat it as a safety net that you are paying for anyway, and insure your family separately.
How much Thai Social Security costs
- Employee contribution at the 2026 wage ceiling
- ฿875 a month
- 5% of salary up to 17,500 baht a month. Your employer pays the same again. Covers the employee only.
- Source: RBA Group, Thailand Social Security 2026, checked 17 September 2026
Practical details
- Type
- Government scheme
- Where it covers
- Thailand, at your registered hospital
- Phone
- 1506
Thai Social Security: common questions
How much does Thai Social Security cost?
Employee contribution at the 2026 wage ceiling: ฿875 a month. Figures are from the sources linked on this page and were checked on 17 September 2026.
Does Thai Social Security cover pre-existing conditions?
Yes. Treatment at your registered hospital that a doctor considers necessary is covered, including for conditions you had before you joined.
Other kinds of cover
- AIA ThailandThai-licensed insurer
- LUMAThai-licensed insurer
- Pacific Cross Health InsuranceThai-licensed insurer
- Allianz CareInternational insurer
Last checked 17 September 2026. This review is general information, not financial or medical advice, and we are not licensed insurance brokers. No provider pays to appear here. Confirm benefits, prices and exclusions with the provider before you buy.