Phuket hospitals rejecting migrant workers’ insurance
Some women are forced to abandon their babies at hospitals as they’re being denied universal health coverage. Financial difficulties in the healthcare system is leading to pregnant migrant workers only in Phuket province being denied access to Universal Coverage health insurance scheme when they deliver babies. Usually migrant workers in Thailand are allowed to buy health insurance in order to get access to affordable services while living in the Kingdom, paying Bt2,100 annually for UC insurance. That insurance is equivalent to coverage under the Bt30 scheme widely used by citizens. However, many migrant worker families in Phuket face bankruptcy due to medical expenses incurred after having a baby, as they have to pay the full cost of health services. The Provincial Public Health Office has stated that hospitals will be overburdened with expenses if it allows pregnant workers to buy insurance.
