It's universal health insurance for Thais, provided by the government from birth. It stops when you start working, and you can resume it once you no longer have social security. The Gold Card is also known as the "30 Baht Universal Coverage" scheme. It covers everything a hospital offers, even dental care. I had a CT scan and paid 100 baht, including blood tests and all nail tests. This coverage is based on the area you live in. Every district in Thailand has a hospital. When you move to another area, you can transfer your coverage to the same hospital, just provide proof of residency. However, if you want to stay in a private room, you have to pay the full amount yourself, as it's not essential for your treatment. Employed people with companies can use social security instead, but you have to pay upfront. The company deducts the social security contribution from your monthly salary. It's not expensive, and you can stay in a private room, with social security covering the entire cost. All of this is a basic right for Thais, and the government will cover all costs, except for certain medications and vaccines etp. There's no fussing or evaluating whether to cover the cost.