Value of household consumption on healthcare Thailand 2011-2023

In 2023, the value of household consumption expenditure on healthcare amounted to approximately 585.9 billion Thai baht. The healthcare sector contributes to Thailand’s gross domestic product (GDP) greatly, its contribution has been steadily increasing in the past decade. 

Healthcare coverage in Thailand

The majority of the Thai population is covered by the Universal Coverage Scheme, or UCS. This scheme allows Thai citizens to receive health care and medical treatments provided in public hospitals. The advantage of UCS is the comprehensive healthcare accessibility with a fee of as little as one dollar. However, the disadvantage of such a scheme is that only public hospitals participate in this scheme. Therefore, the waiting time can be lengthy. Since 2010, the Thai government has been adding more budget to the Universal Coverage Scheme, reaching more than 207 billion Thai baht in 2023. Apart from public health insurance, the Thai people can also opt for private health insurance. 

Private health insurance in Thailand

Health insurance is the leading insurance product in Thailand, with the number of health insurance policies amounting to over a million every year since 2019. As of 2022, Cigna Health and Aetna Health were among the leading providers of health insurance in Thailand. The primary factor that consumers in Thailand consider when purchasing insurance is the coverage provided by the policy, including but not limited to inpatient and day-patient treatments, emergency services, and other related services.