wwest5829

On O-A Visa Extensions, so have the LMG useless 11,400 baht insurance. Am sending out inquiries with a total background information. Got a bid back yesterday at $2100 USD per month. My monthly retirement budget here in Thailand is $2400 uSD … right. I’ll get right on that.

One of the reasons I came to Thailand … I am now a millionaire … in baht!

Ah, but say, ain’t it beautiful today?!

More power to all, personally I prefer a smaller city and after traveling around Thailand, while I found a few cities where I think I could live comfortably in retirement, Chiang Mai got the nod. Happy here for over a decade now. International level medical care availability was a major consideration.

Open to a PM from you but I am worn out from relating my personal experience as a US Expat in Thailand for over a decade.

Ignorance is bliss in the view of some. Not rocking a bureaucratic boat is wisdom for others.

Not ex military. My understanding is that fully retired military get global healthcare coverage through Tricare. Unlike fully retired civilians under Medicare.

Agree, it is moot. Had the company had any residency question it would have been asked at the time of my heart attack bill payment that they made in 2015. Thanks for the exchange of views.

Hmmm, my policy as part of my retirement package paid RAM Hospital directly the $5000 it states it will pay for foreign medical care. I’m thinking you are incorrect as it depends on the company contract, Mine continues currently as an Expat.

Sorry, I was addressing not using my Thai residence address with SS as being told it was fraud.

And were not enrolled. I continue to pay the monthly Part B premium as a worse case, (for example cancer). My next hoped for trip would be in 2023. Hopefully without Covid issues. If I had the opportunity I might have the annual physical allowance visit but probably not. Fraud, I believe by definition would be, “wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain”. At any rate, I will continue to lobby for those retired with Medicare to be treated equally with retired military who can have medical coverage, at least reimbursement through Tricare.

Yes, had an Expat here who did not receive the letter here in Chiang Mai and was cut off. Mail services between the US and Thailand have been interrupted for the past two years. I am still awaiting a credit card mailed from the US over a month ago.

Thanks, I am enrolled only in Parts A (automatic when you turn 65) and Part B (paying the monthly premium out of my SS). I have not enrolled nor use any other Medicare. I do have the additional insurance policy that pays for some covered care outside the USA. Not sure if it is “advantage” or “medigap”.

No, I would not claim to be in compliance. But “fraud” is another matter.

How would one “enroll in and make claims during a trip to the US using any Medicare parts other than A and B including Advantage when you actually are an expat”? I am confused in the meaning here?

I fail to see a “fraud” case here. The one protection each small fish has is that we are not important enough to bother with. In my case, I report and pay my federal income taxes with my Thai address listed and have had conversations with the same noting I am currently in residence in Thailand. As to SS, my monthly payment is directly deposited into my US institution account and I then transfer monthly. In this time of Covid, mail services have been severely compromised. No way would I encourage not getting critical mail from the US here … I had to deal with getting Covid payment checks mailed again due to SS (they make direct deposits) not reporting my bank information to IRS. SS and Medicare send me email announcements.

Hmm, just a thought. As I am a heart patient, retired in Thailand under continuing care of my Cardiologist in Chiang Mai. So? But I see no current advantage of this for me.

I address only the fully Retired Military able to receive global medical care while fully retired civilians are forbidden to use their Medicare on an equal basis. I am not aware of differences in any add-on insurance comparing the same groups of retirees. My additional medical policy came as part of my institution’s retiree package and does pay up to $5000 USD per year for foreign medical care. I have used it for my heart attack in 2015 and submitting medical bills for my quarterly checkups here in Chiang Mai. It is a publicly available company Seniors Plan for retirees. While I think it is an “advantage plan” it may be a “medigap plan”. I cannot seem figure out which.

Critical thing brought me to realize all the childhood vaccinesI received and that were required by the government to attend the schools in the US. I add, that included the newly developed polo vaccines. Actually got both the Salk and Sabine vaccines.

I and Thai Stepdaughter have had our two shots of Pfizer. Thai wife was registered and paid for Moderna. Four sites were listed for Pfizer walk-ins today. We went to the Psy. Hospital - full. Went to Central Airport - 500 does available and the place was packed. Found out that SanSai Hospital was vaccinating. We live in San Sai and she is registered there. Received here first shot of Pfizer today. Second Pfizer dose later in the month.

I retired at age 64 1/2 in 2011 (regular age for my birth year group was 65). I sold all property in the USA and showed my youngest Son’s address as a mailing address. That address is registered with Social Security and Medicare, my USA financial institutions … although almost all communication is via email. When I retired, a Medicare Advantage Plan was (is) part of retirement. That Advantage Plan will pay up to $5000.00 USD annually for overseas care. It paid that $5000.00 in 2015, directly to RAM Hospital here in Chiang Mai. My Thai mobile number is also registered with institutions requiring a direct phone number. I have been (am) registered with the STEP program with the US gov’t - IRS (thus I do not believe there is any fraud involved). I have viewed the Medicare Part B premiums as insurance against, say cancer but even there, I think that this is an increasingly false idea. The co-pays and deductibles (non-covered) expenses may well still ruin me financially. So, the Medicare monthly premiums are increasingly questioned as to value. In the decade in Thailand thus far, Thai medical care has been excellent at a fraction of what the costs would be in the USA. I will continue to lobby for equal treatment of retired workers under Medicare with those fully retired from the military. Currently, military retirees can get medical coverage globally while Medicare recipients cannot.

Reading about Europe, it seems one does not need to be a supporter of he whose name cannot be spoken…

My first thought when an apron was mentioned.

Thanks, read and reposted to my FB page.

Big oil???