Social health insurance, health services utilization and procurement of private health insurance in Thailand’s multi-payer universal health system

Thailand’s entire population is insured under one of the three main public health insurance schemes: the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS), the Social Security Scheme (SSS), and the Civil Servant Medical Benefit Scheme (CSMBS). This study investigated differences in health care services utilization and ownership of private health insurance among adults aged 45 years and older across three public health insurance schemes in Thailand. The study demonstrated a marked variation in the utilization of outpatient services among beneficiaries of the three public health insurance schemes. Conversely, no significant differences were identified in the use of inpatient services or the ownership of private health insurance. The findings highlight the need to reduce disparities in healthcare service utilization within Thailand’s public health insurance system.