{"id":520,"date":"2021-02-05T14:38:36","date_gmt":"2021-02-05T07:38:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.co.th\/blog\/?p=520"},"modified":"2021-12-17T16:31:32","modified_gmt":"2021-12-17T09:31:32","slug":"thailand-maternity-insurance-can-purchase-youre-pregnant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.co.th\/blog\/thailand-maternity-insurance-can-purchase-youre-pregnant\/","title":{"rendered":"Thailand maternity insurance: Can you purchase it if you\u2019re already pregnant?"},"content":{"rendered":"

There is so much planning to do in life – which school you want to go to, what job you want, your wedding, your professional and household projects, social gatherings, vacations, annual budget, and retirement plan. With so many things that need to be planned in our lives, both large and small, it\u2019s understandable if something slips through the cracks. Then there\u2019s also the fact that not everything can be planned for. Sometimes accidents happen and we have to do our best to roll with the punches. For instance, if you suddenly find that you have become a parent-to-be, you may be unprepared for everything that comes along with that.<\/p>\n

Unexpectedly having a baby on the way may leave your world turned upside down, and you\u2019ll begin questioning how you can \u2018right the ship\u2019, so to speak. If you are already pregnant, can you still cover the costs of pregnancy, labor, and delivery with Thailand maternity insurance<\/a>? We discuss the topic in more detail below.<\/p>\n

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About maternity insurance\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Medical care in Thailand is normally provided within the framework of the country\u2019s universal healthcare system. Expats working in the country legally and enrolled in the system will be assigned to a local healthcare provider that they can turn to for publicly subsidized healthcare<\/a> at a cost that is fair to patients. This system does include maternity services, which has now enabled 100% of Thai babies to be born in a hospital.<\/p>\n

However, not everyone desires to have their baby in their designated public hospital, for reasons that we will go into later. This demographic only has a couple of options when it comes to addressing the costs of birthing their child and the months leading up to it: pay for all fees out of pocket, or obtain maternity insurance in Thailand.<\/p>\n

Maternity insurance is a form of health insurance that is oftentimes not included with a standard health insurance policy, and, as such, needs to be purchased as a separate policy. Many maternity insurance plans include coverage for a number of tests and check-ups during the prenatal period, as well as coverage for labor, delivery, and possible complications. Where post-birth complications arise, maternity insurance will generally cover a newborn for up to 30 days after birth, as long as any illnesses or other conditions are related to the birthing process or were contracted in the womb.<\/p>\n

Do you need Thailand maternity insurance?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you are an expatriate in Thailand, or simply don\u2019t want to take any chances with the quality of medical care you and your baby will receive, the answer is likely to be yes. But why?<\/p>\n

First of all, the differences between the quality of care found in public hospitals in Thailand, and the private international hospitals in the country are significant. While public hospitals can certainly address people\u2019s medical needs adequately, these facilities still run into the problems as public hospitals in other countries, in that they can feature long queues and wait times.<\/p>\n

Another difference that is more pertinent to maternity wards is that private hospitals will have access to the most cutting-edge medical technologies and procedures, while public hospitals will not. Finally, the doctors and other staff employed by private hospitals in Thailand are likely to be better trained and educated. Many private hospital staff members will have received their education abroad, and also will be able to converse with foreigners more easily – even in their native language.<\/p>\n

Of course, choosing to use a private hospital for the birth of your child is going to cost much more money than a public counterpart. Depending on the hospital you choose, a standard delivery alone could cost well over THB \u0e3f 100,000. Meanwhile, a Caesarean section could cost up to THB \u0e3f 200,000, and any significant complications could raise this cost exponentially. While some people may be able to address standard costs out of pocket without too much trouble, being ill-prepared for unforeseen and unfortunate circumstances could lead to a heavy financial burden. This is why having Thailand maternity insurance in place can be so valuable.<\/p>\n

Maternity insurance waiting periods<\/strong><\/h2>\n