Thailand Office of Insurance Commission highlights New Health Standard copayment framework and integration talks for private health insurance

The Thailand Office of Insurance Commission (OIC) participated in the Chuan Mor Roo academic conference on the role of private health insurance in supporting the sustainability of Thailand’s social and health system, with Secretary-General Chuchat Pramoolpol outlining recent market trends and the regulator’s cost-management approach for health insurance. The OIC framed private, voluntary health insurance as a complement to Thailand’s three main public health coverage arrangements, citing medical cost inflation, population ageing and emerging diseases as drivers of rising demand and steadily increasing health insurance premiums. Measures referenced included the New Health Standard, effective 8 November 2021, which allows insurers to manage risk through renewal conditions requiring policyholder copayments, particularly for inpatient admissions deemed beyond medical necessity for simple diseases. The OIC also encouraged insurers to use telemedicine and technologies such as AI and big data for risk assessment and detection of inappropriate claims, and to develop health plans suitable for all groups, including older people. Discussions are ongoing with relevant agencies on guidelines to coordinate entitlements between voluntary private health insurance and the three main public schemes, aiming to integrate private cover with public welfare benefits and raise confidence in health insurance.