Cabinet to Discuss Second Phase of Co-Pay Plus Scheme
The Thai cabinet will formally discuss the second phase of the Khon La Khrueng Plus (Co-Pay Plus) scheme on Tuesday, with a rollout expected early next year, Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas announced.
Key Takeaways:
- Phase 2 of the co-pay scheme to be discussed on Tuesday
- Over 19 million people used Phase 1 in just 18 days
- Scheme generated 40.07 billion baht for participating vendors
- Current benefits available until December 31
Strong Public Response to Phase 1
Vinit Visessuvanapoom, director-general of the Fiscal Policy Office, reported impressive figures from the scheme’s first phase. As of Friday — just 18 days after launch — more than 19 million people had used the co-pay benefit, generating 40.07 billion baht in revenue for participating vendors.
Of this total, 39.22 billion baht came from physical stores while 854 million baht was spent through food-delivery platforms.
How the Scheme Works
Consumers can continue using the Phase 1 benefits until December 31, from 6am to 11pm daily, via the G-Wallet on the Pao Tang app. Importantly, daily spending does not have to reach the 200-baht limit to qualify for the subsidy.
The scheme has seen massive vendor participation with 933,300 vendors registered as of Friday. Of these, 795,699 vendors have already reached the maximum transaction count under the program.
Eligible and Excluded Items
Eligible spending includes goods and services such as:
- Massage and spa services
- Nail services
- Hairdressing
- Public transport
Excluded items include lottery tickets, alcohol, tobacco, gift cards, cash cards and prepaid goods or services.
Payment Requirements
All transactions must be face-to-face with QR code payment — no online or intermediary payments are allowed except for registered food-delivery platforms.
The ministry is finalizing Phase 2 policy details following the prime minister’s instruction to continue supporting the public while helping small businesses expand access to finance and avoid loan sharks.
Vendors offering massage and spa services are advised to ensure their business details in the Thung Ngern app match their health-service establishment licence for faster verification. Instructions for updating information are available on the Thung Ngern (Krungthai Bank) website via QR code.
