hbullinger

The PAD has its finger firmly on the self destruct button. I just wonder if the public will notice when they finally vanish. The UDD has been standing with their feet on the same button for quite some time, but they are so disconnected from reality that not even the self destruct command is functioning any longer. So we have to wait for the process of decomposition to take its course. So let's be patient and hope that one day Thailand gets rid of any colour coding.

As usual our so-called Climate experts are talking out of their rear ends.

What sort of bail conditions apply to these Red Barons? Are they free to incite their followers to more violence? I would have thought that any political activity during bail is out of the question.

A good idea as long as there is easy access via escalators for the benefit of older people and for those with walking disabilities and for people with young children. A lot of these walkways could be attached to the underside of the sky train structures as they are in some places already. The greatest need for the these new walkways is on Sukhumvit between Asok and Nana. Try to walk there at any time from mid afternoon and you are lucky if your walking speed wil reach more thn 2 km per hour.

In his letter in the Bangkok Post, George Morgan wrote about the so-called Gold Card and wondered why foreign retirees had not applied for Thai Universal Health Care Gold Cards. He is telling us that he has been a member of tha scheme since it's introduction in 2001. He explains that it was then called the 30 baht scheme, including anyone in a "house registration book".

He went on to say:

"Although it used to be difficult for foreigners to obtain house registration books without permanent residence, the Civil Registration Act of 2008 requires district offices to register all persons living in their districts in house registration books, regardless of nationality or length of or type of visa. the only exceptions are illegal immigrants and foreigners on tourist or transit visas.

Those on retirement visas, whether rightly or wrongly, clearly qualify for both the house registration book and the gold card."

Mr Morgan's letter leaves a lot of questions open.

Does anyone know about such a scheme and whether foreign retirees can indeed receive medical traetment under a Thai healthcare scheme. and if so, how and where do you apply for registration. Also, what exactly is a "house registration book". Does a foreigenr who lives in a rented accommodation, say on an annual lease contract as in my case since 2008, qualify for registration in a house registration book, or is he even required to register?

What exactly does "permnent residence" mean and how do you have it certified and by whom?

If you qualify for the house registration book, who is actually issung the Gold Card?

As the healthcare for foreign retirees is becoming an ever increasing problem, I would be grateful if someone could provide some clarification on this issue.

Strictly speaking, the embassies should advice their nationals living in Thailand on issues like this. I shall try to find out what my embassy knows about it.

I just wonder whether we are we discussing here a lot of wishful thinking?

There was a readers letter in the Bangkok Post from George Morgan, who wrote about the so-called Gold Card and wondered why foreign retirees had not applied for Thai Universal Health Care Gold Cards. He is telling us that he has been a member of tha scheme since it's introduction in 2001. He explains that it was then called the 30 baht scheme, including anyone in a "house registration book".

He went on to say:

"Although it used to be difficult for foreigners to obtain house registration books without permanent residence, the Civil Registration Act of 2008 requires district offices to register all persons living in their districts in house registration books, regardless of nationality or length of or type of visa. the only exceptions are illegal immigrants and foreigners on tourist or transit visas.

Those on retirement visas, whether rightly or wrongly, clearly qualify for both the house registration book and the gold card."

Mr Morgan's letter leaves a lot of questions open.

Does anyone know about such a scheme and whether foreign retirees can indeed receive medical traetment under a Thai healthcare scheme. and if so, how and where do you apply for registration. Also, what exactly is a "house registration book". Does a foreigenr who lives in a rented accommodation, say on an annual lease contract qualify for registration in a house registration book, or is he even required to register?

As the healthcare for foreign retirees is becoming an ever increasing problem, I would be grateful if someone could provide some clarification on this issue.

Horst Bullinger