KhunHeineken

A quick Google of "children sent home to die from hospitals Australia" revealed pages of horror stories. I chose "children" because they are one of the most vulnerable demographic in the community, so you would think they would receive more medical attention. As we are from all different states in Australia, to show it's nationwide, here's just a few. Queensland. https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/we-want-to-know-what-happened-baby-girl-dies-after-being-sent-home-from-queensland-hospital/news-story/c0b6e060bc4eda4e98e33e47b3c46ed6 "There, Toni and her partner Matthew were told their daughter’s breathing would be fine “once the Panadol kicked in” and Lola was discharged after two hours. The following morning, after continuing to monitor their daughter and setting up a mattress in her room, Lola was found lifeless on August 6." NSW. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/jul/01/nsw-sepsis-death-pippa-white-coronial-inquest-ntwnfb "Pippa White died on 13 June 2022, two months before her third birthday, after doctors at two central west hospitals wrongly assumed she had an acute viral illness rather than the bacterial infection that resulted in her death." WA. https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/perth-girl-13-dies-days-after-being-discharged-from-hospital-with-flu/news-story/411435730eb4939e1d7d6ce87815734e "Sharney Lee Mitchell stayed overnight at Joondalup Health Campus with influenza A on August 12 but was discharged the next day despite still suffering with aches and pains, according to her family who spoke with 7News. She died five days later at home, with paramedics called to her Perth home unable to save her." Victoria. https://www.9news.com.au/national/meningitis-sick-boy-was-so-much-worse-when-let-go-from-hospital-victoria-health-news/7bb8b727-613d-4160-ad4f-1f0c9adc517f "A severely ill toddler who died of meningitis was discharged from a regional Victorian hospital in a worse condition than when he was admitted, a coroner has heard." SA. https://www.kidspot.com.au/news/tragedy-as-12yo-dies-from-gastro-two-days-after-being-sent-home-from-hospital/news-story/c1bd5c51f3e84fa9eb0af64c8a6638f7 "The parents of a 12-year-old girl are in mourning after their daughter was discharged from a hospital with a stomach ache, only to die a couple of days later." NT. (adult) https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-11/family-blames-mans-death-on-nt-health-negligence/104332328 "Nicholas Roma Tipungwuti died of a stroke in May 2022 after he presented to Royal Darwin Hospital and waited over 12 hours to be transported to Royal Adelaide Hospital." TAS. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-02/baby-died-after-launceston-general-hospital-failures-coroner/102287910 "A 19-month-old baby girl may still be alive if the Launceston General Hospital had followed its own procedures, a Tasmanian coroner has found." ACT. https://9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/canberra-hospital-death-child-rozalia-spadafora/a6b0a82f-133f-485f-a25d-44f6bc91924a "Concerned about her daughter, Katrina took her back to the GP, where she was told to go to Canberra Hospital, the only place where blood tests could be done after hours. Arriving around 7pm on July 4, Katrina said she was told by two nurses to take Rozalia home, and go to the doctor in the morning. And almost 30 hours after Rozalia arrived at Canberra Hospital, she went into cardiac arrest and died." There are many cases similar to these from each state. They are all reasonably recent. Could you honestly look these parents in the eye and tell them Medicare is good? In relation to your friend, I note he had a "freak fall" with severe injuries. Obviously, emergency surgery. However, you don't mention anything about "elective surgery." Have you heard the term before? An example would be a hip or knee replacement. A common procedure in for the elderly. If something like happened to your friend happened to an expat in Thailand, I doubt they would be allowed to board a plane, so we are really talking about returning for elective surgery. Have you heard of the term "Medicare waiting list?" Your post mentions nothing about the long waiting lists for elective surgery. The terms "elective surgery" and "waiting list" is central to the service, or lack thereof, of the public system, Medicare. Here's an Aussie doctor's website on a knee replacement. https://rhysclark.com.au/knee-replacement-surgery/how-much-does-a-knee-replacement-cost-australia/ Public System. "You will be placed on a waiting list for surgery after giving your agreement. This surgical waitlist can be months or years before you get your knee replacement." Private System. " If a knee replacement is advised after evaluating your needs, surgery can usually be scheduled six weeks after your visit to accommodate pre-operative physical therapy." Self Funded. "The entire cost of a knee replacement, including hospital stays, the prosthesis, and surgery expenses, often falls between $25,000 and $35,000." From a Queensland clinic's website. https://coastalorthopaedicsurgery.com.au/how-much-does-a-hip-or-knee-replacement-cost-in-australia/#:~:text=Public waiting lists for hip,but other factors weigh in. "Public waiting lists for hip and knee replacement are out of control; at time of writing it can be 3 years or more from date of GP referral to date of hip/knee replacement surgery in many public hospitals around Australia." If you, and others are happy with "whoever" you get for a surgery, after waiting, who knows how long, possibly years, most likely in daily pain, then fine. I'll go private, chose a top specialist, and get the operation done ASAP, and back to health sooner.

The "Big C" is one thing, and a poor example. What about bypasses, stents, prostate issues etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc, and more etc's? When it comes to health, anything is possible, at any time.

Too funny. In this thread, you said, and I quote, "Forget about Article 19." In the Property and Finance Forum, in a tax thread, you apologize to a member and state that under Article 19 he will have to pay tax. Do you deny this? Article 18 is subject to the "provisions" of Article 19, and Article 19 deals with government services pensions, not the aged pension. I posted a youtube video where a chartered accountant from Australia explains it. Another member screenshot it for this thread, You are posting like you accept it on the other thread, and posting like you don't accept it on this thread, then resort to a personal attack when picked up on it. Why email just one company? Cut and paste the same email and send it to at least six companies. Once again, you see one thing from one source and just accept it as across the board. You did this with Jim Quinn's comment on the DTA, despite three links from other ATO staff stating the opposite, because it suited your narrative. I would also suggest ringing / emailing from two different email addresses, or to speak with a second person from the companies. There's every chance you might get someone inexperienced or incompetent for the first reply. You may have to be inside Australia at the time of applying. I am not sure about this, because I have been privately insured for decades. Way longer before I moved to Thailand. What I do know is, as soon as I hop off the plane in Australia, I have private health insurance, because I have been paying their premiums. I am still a "financial" member, and in Australia. Go to a GP, get a referral for a specialist, go to the specialist, then operated on soon after. It's just as if Thailand had nothing to do with it. I am fully aware it is worthless to me outside of Australia. I am fully aware Medicare is worthless, FULL STOP, so I pay the premiums. Aussie expats relying on Medicare will be disappointed if / when they need treatment in Australia, but that's for another thread. Here's the ATO's information on non residents and private health insurance. https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-families/medicare-and-private-health-insurance/private-health-insurance-rebate/overseas-visitors-private-health-insurance-on-your-tax-return As an Australian citizen, you should be able to secure private health insurance. You may have a waiting period before you can claim, because you are not going from one company to the next, and, you may not get the rebate. Expect it to be expensive, possibly prohibitively so. Correct. However, you are paying for insurance inside Australia. They don't care where you live, as long as you pay them, but will have to return home for treatment. Why would it? Our circumstances are different. I've had the insurance for decades. You wish to apply for it from outside Australia, and at an older age, possibly with pre-existing conditions. This may or may not be an issue for one, or all of the companies. It will be interesting. You are trying to argue residency for tax purposes is a boundary to insurance in Australia. I still have a life insurance policy running. Before leaving, I got it in writing that the policy covers my life, world wide, and it does. I have properties in Australia. They are insured. Do you think they are not insured because I don't live in Australia? Same with my car in Australia. If a relative was driving my car and someone crashed into them, and the car was a write off, the money hits my back account. Nothing to do with my tax residency. The difference is, to claim on health insurance, you need to be inside Australia because private health insurance companies use Australian medical staff and hospitals. They have negotiated prices with surgeons and hospitals. I believe they even own some of the hospitals. You are taking it way too personally. It's been well discussed on many threads on this website about expats burning their bridges. I didn't with private health insurance, but it comes at a cost. I also didn't do it with a property for myself, and a vehicle, and a few other things. As discussed, to have the appearance of remaining "domiciled" in Australia, mainly for tax purposes, but also should I suffer a catastrophic injury or illness. If they say you must be inside of Australia to apply, is that some type of "victory" for you? Will you "bla bla bla bla" about it? What does it prove? You have to be in Australia to apply for the aged pension. Why don't you send two different type of emails, or phone calls. One saying you are in Thailand and want private insurance in Australia, and the other just asking about it and not telling them you are in Thailand? Do you even have an Australian address and phone number you can use? If you are declined over the phone / email, be sure to ask, "How long to I have to live in Australia again before I can apply?" I would find their reply interesting. If they say you just have to be in Australia at the time of applying, will you fly home for it? If you are refused over the phone / email, will you post on here that no Aussie expats can have private health insurance, when I do, and some of my friends do?

I see you are again posting inaccurate information, your interpretations, and poor advice to members. The "non resident" terminology Australian private health insurance companies use relates to migrant workers and for overseas students who are studying in Australia, also longer stay family visit visas. It has nothing to do with an Australian citizen's geographic choice of living, anywhere in the world. Basically, it means a Thai citizen, for example, can not insure themselves with a private health insurance company in Australia, and they are not even in Australia, not have they ever been. In other words, private health insurance companies only insure foreign nationals, if within Australia, legally. A foreign national can not insure with an Australian private health insurance company, need treatment, and fly to Australia for the treatment, similar to medical tourism. I continue to pay private health in Australia, and it's not cheap. It's absolutely worthless to me in Thailand, but if I have a major illness or injury, as soon as I get off the plane in Australia, I am straight to a doctor of my choice, and no doubt operated on days later, not months, or years later, like under Medicare. I have this in writing from them. It is not like Centerlink and re-establishing residency. If you "financial" with a private health insurance company, as soon as you are back on Australian soil, you are entitled to claim. It is like insuring a house in Australia, but you don't live in Australia. If the house burns down, the insurance company pays out. I am insured within Thailand, and when leaving Thailand, I get a short travel insurance policy, as I did last week for the Singapore F1. See the below link. That's the "non residents" they are talking about. https://www.medibank.com.au/overseas-health-insurance/

If someone is looking at retiring to Thailand in the near future, they probably should consider moving their 800k, buying a condo, buying a car (if they want a car) and living expenses for a while, and then staying outside of Thailand in that tax year. Moth ball the condo and car. Why risk paying tax on all the funds, for the sake of staying out of Thailand just for 6 months?

Your post indicates the Thai's will implement this policy to the letter of the law, for everyone. I don't have that confidence in them, for the majority of expats. My opinion is they will pull out the law book for high net worth individuals. For the rest, I have a feeling it very well may be another BS earner for visa / extension, paying for a TRD document, similar to the Certificate of Residence that we pay 300 baht for, but should be free. Time will tell.

46 days inside Australia every 3 years should see you ok, but that will come out in the wash. Is that the majority of expats living in Thailand? Many haven't been back to Australia in several years. Any advice for those guys, and they are many?

Something discussed months ago, yet, some either forgot, disbelieve, or refuse to accept. Changed to 30% recently. Not much better though. The pension is deemed and income. The pension is taxable. Expats are non residents, but hey, it's only for guy guys like Paul Hogan. Centerlink know you are outside Australia, but fear not Centerlink, it's the TRD an Aussie pensioner must fear.

Changed to 30% on 1st July 2024. At this stage, but they have given warning of of world wide taxation. They have signed up for it. I have posted Article 19 of the DTA deals with "government service pensions." Posted a youtube video about it also. Are they wrong? By Australia, after the proposed changes are passed, or by Thailand, early 2025? Foreign resident tax rates 2020 to 2025 Foreign resident tax rates for 2019–20 to 2024–25. Foreign resident tax rates 2024–25 Taxable income Tax on this income 0 – $135,000 30c for each $1 $135,001 – $190,000 $40,500 plus 37c for each $1 over $135,000 $190,001 and over $60,850 plus 45c for each $1 over $190,000

Why didn't you? They like bureaucracy here. Also, can't hurt to have a TIN up your sleeve,

It's Australia's 30% that is the most concerning. Thailand's tax is chicken feed.

And governments never promised you a tax free retirement.

But you have world wide income, right? Watch this space.

No mention of Australia and world wide tax. Have you considered it?

Do you think it's going to 100% tax free living in Australia, also?

I was at the Singapore F1, and lowering my Thai tax liability at the same time.

That's the way I read it, and has been said by tax professionals. The aged pension is not exempt under the DTA. That's it. Happy to read any other links etc. Article 18 relies on the provisions of Article 19, and Article 19 is about government service pensions, not the aged pension. True, and I haven't heard of anyone earning a passive income in Australia being taxed in Thailand also, including myself. Why do you think they want to update 90 year old laws? The TRD won't miss their chance to make "something" out of this. As said before, it could be as simple as 1000 baht for a TRD certificate for the annual extension, and have nothing to do with the correct amount of tax one should pay. It could all end up being laughable.

Do you know how long before, with a half serious attempt at "pretending" you have the "intention" of staying?

I've been in Singapore for the F1, so catching up on some posts. Brought a wad of cash back. Not over the declarable amount. May just help lower any possible tax liability early next year. I'm giving Thailand a chance this year. So, Will27, perhaps you can clarify, and go on the record. Is the pension deemed an income? Yes, or no? Is the pension taxable? Yes or no? Are expats who have been living in Thailand for several years non residents for tax purposes? Yes or no? After the proposed changes have been passed, will expats be able to continue to declare they are residents of Australia for tax purposes? Yes or no? Is there are tax free threshold for non residents for tax purposes? Yes or no? Are there any exemptions in the proposed changes for pensioners? Yes or no? Is the non resident for tax purposes for income derived from Australia 30% from $0 to $135,000? Yes or no? Given your answers to the above questions, how do you propose any expats deriving an income from Australia escape paying no resident tax? Ah, so now the DTA gets wheeled out. Good old Article 18 and Article 19. Article 18 relies on the provisions of Article 19, and Article 19 is all about "Governmnet Service" and their pensions. I have posted a youtube video, with input from a Chartered Accountant in Australia about it. I posted it in the tax forum. I'll post it here also. Another member posted some screenshots from it. No exemptions for the aged pension in the DTA. Is that a yes or no from you? It's not about who is right and wrong. It's about the correct answers to the above questions. Bear in mind, Centerlink already know when a pensioner is outside of Australia for 6 weeks, thus the cutting off of the supplements. Many accounts of this in this forum. Why is it difficult to contemplate they could also withhold 30% in non resident tax? Just waiting for you to get off your meds and deflect all of the above with a one line personal attack, but I am interested in why you, and every other aged pensioner, thinks the aged pension will stand outside of ANY non resident tax. If I could hear that argument with more than comments about Paul Hogan and Medicare Cards, I would be happy to consider replies. Sell it to me how YOU are right, and the answers to the above questions, and the below accountant, are wrong.

How do you propose to get around the non resident tax bracket in Australia? As many members have said in the tax forum, it's not Thailand's tax rate you have to be worried about, it's your home country's tax we should be concerned about. Perhaps in Thailand, but most of it is already in place in Australia. Eg. Cutting off the pension supplements after 6 weeks outside of Australia, despite the recipient not informing Centerlink they are leaving Australia.

Correct. The elephant in the room. Yes, and not just for guys like Paul Hogan. Perhaps not as many years as you think. Computers doing most of the heavy lifting.

There is no tax free threshold for non residents. If you have a link to show there is, post it. As I have said, pensioners WANT / NEED to be a resident of Australia for taxation purposes, to avail themselves of the tax free threshold, but they live in Thailand full time. How will they be able to continue this "domiciled" appearance, after the 183 day law is passed? That's the luxury, or loopholes, of the current 90 year old laws. They are set to change. In the future, the ATO will have information from immigration that you are a non resident for taxation purposes, thus, 30%. Immigration is already talking to Centerlink, hence the pension supplements being cut off after 6 weeks, despite expats not reporting their departure from Australian. There have been many reports of this. The ATO data base will line up also, and there will be no way to request a review, or appeal. 183 out is 183 out, in the same way 180 days in Thailand is 180 days in. They will reinstate you for you. Why do you think you are running the show? They are. I have a feeling it's not going to be as simple that. In my opinion, they will not understand, nor care, about any documents you may produce about pre-2024. Here's your bill, pay, or leave, or take us to Court and die trying. You'll pay, because the alternative is soooo much worse.

I believe it changed on the 1st July 2024 to 30%. See below. Now, I know what you would all like to think. You are an Australian citizen, so not a foreign tax resident, but they are two completely different things. No, the below is not just for the super rich Chinese investing in Australia, or Paul Hogan. In the future, the law will be for every Aussie deriving an income within Australia, who has been outside Australia for more than 183 days. I agree. I would rather be taxed for small in Thailand as a tax resident, than taxed for 30% in Australia, as a non resident. Interesting times ahead. Note below, from $0. No tax free threshold for non residents of Australia for tax purposes. Foreign resident tax rates 2020 to 2025 Foreign resident tax rates for 2019–20 to 2024–25. Foreign resident tax rates 2024–25 Taxable income Tax on this income 0 – $135,000 30c for each $1 $135,001 – $190,000 $40,500 plus 37c for each $1 over $135,000 $190,001 and over $60,850 plus 45c for each $1 over $190,

Correct. Times are changing. It's not rocket science to see the direction all of this is going. I look at it this way, basically, an Interpol, but for taxation of the masses. No where to run, no where to hide, from the tax man.

I agree. That's the current state of affairs. Nothing Thailand can do, but what about Australia? When the proposed changes are passed, interesting for when the pension is coming to an Australian who is a non resident for taxation purposes, and can be easily proven so. You see, yourself, and many others, only see Thailand wanting to tax residents for tax purposes, but many don't want to even contemplate Australia wanting to tax non residents for tax purposes. That's only for guys like Paul Hogan, right? No issue before, with the "domicile" law, but that's going to change, for sure. What pensioners want, when the proposed changes are passed, is to remain a tax resident of Australia, for the tax free threshold, and I have no idea how, when they are living full time in Thailand, but to also escape Thailand taxation, despite living in Thailand more than 180 days a year. Tough gig to pull off, particularly for pensioners, as the payer is also the taxer, which is Centerlink and the ATO.