The government is studying the possibility of offering a health insurance policy for state officials as an alternative to the current state-run medical care system.
Government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd yesterday said the government was conducting a feasibility study to assess whether it was worth bringing in a commercial health insurance scheme for officials.
The government has assigned the Thai General Insurance Association (TGIA) and the Thai Life Insurance Association (TLAA) to conduct the study, which will take about a month.
The government will not change medical welfare extended to state officials in the meantime.
He said taking out private insurance would only be feasible if two conditions are satisfied: medical benefits from private insurance firms must not be lower than those currently enjoyed by officials, and the insurance premium must not be higher than the existing medical care budget per head.
If the proposal is not feasible, the state will continue treating officials under the medical care system rather than opting for the insurance change, he said.
About 60 billion baht is spent on medical expenses for about 10 million state officials and their families each year, according to Maj Gen Sansern.
Some state officials are required to pay in advance for their expenses for certain treatments and receive reimbursement later. In other cases, advance payments are not necessary.
The treatments in both cases must be provided by state-owned hospitals only.
Maj Gen Sansern said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha wanted state officials and the public to be open-minded about the private insurance scheme.
Several countries extend private health insurance to officials as means of preventing fraud, Maj Gen Sansern said.
Besides the study, Gen Prayut has instructed the TGIA and the TLAA to poll state officials about the proposal.
Earlier, Finance Minister Apisak Tantivorawong said the scheme could help the state save money.