gk10012001

fantastically useful response. Thank you very much.

I am on US Medicare. Crazy how they do the IRMAA and premiums so I am considering dis enrolling, spending a year or a bit more in THailand, then returning to the USA and restarting Medicare. I know there may e a 10% surcharge for each year one doesn't get Part B when first eligible, but I got no firm answers today when chatting with Medicare about exact time frames, if part of a year is prorated, etc. They just do not handle non standard questions well from their playbooks. Any experience comments appreciated

This just seems unusual to say the least. Most people have few rights when traveling to a foreign country and that countries laws or constitutions may apply very differently to foreigners as compared to citizens of that country. How would a third country allow or accept some foreigner with no visa, money etc, unless they are strong armed to do so?

I am a USA citizen in the USA. I am looking at getting the Non Imm OA prior to going to Thailand. I am 68. I like the OA because I can do it from my country and keep all my monies in the USA initially. I will worry about extensions later. Anbody have some recent experience getting one of those visas? 1: What kind of Health Insurance did you get that satisfied the Visa requirements? 2: What did you get for the background/investigation report? In the past I did get a local police report for another reason, but this VISA seems to specify FBI or National agency? Does the FBI even do such a thing for you? I find it funny in a way because I have an active DOD Security clearance, but there is no way I can communicate that t Thai authorities that would satisfy the VISA statements they want. 3: Did you have timeline or expiration issues, such as the FBI report has to be withing two months of travel, or things like that? 4: I plan to list my Brokerage account as the financial satisfaction thing but could also use any of my IRAs. My accounts are all with Etrade and their statements including an income estimator are easily downloaded but The VISa seems to want some sort of letter from the bank. Has anybody gotten their financial institution to produce such a letter for either balance or income? 5: Any other unwritten things that you encountered that would make the process smoother? Anything else that you think might be useful please feel free to jot it down. Drinks on me when I get back to the LOS after a five year gap since 2019

yeah but if I plan on staying for one year or two if I use it the right way, then to get the Non imm O-A prior to going to Thailand they really want a proper Thai insurance that has all that COVID stuff

I have saved the vcf file off line. That has all the numbers I need. Many will be non essential or useless soon as my employment and future work will not be happening and I will not need any of my work agents

Who has reasonable health insurance for me, a male, non smoker aged 68? Below is the background of why I am asking about this. I plan to get the Non Imm 0 extensions based on retirement after I get to Thailand and while that does not require insurance, I prefer to get some. And since I will be getting Thai health insurance, I may get a slightly different visa, maybe Non imm OA in my home country first, start the THai health insurance, etc. I am on USA medicare. But they insist on charging me maximum IRMAA premiums based on previous years income even though I am now retired. Painful numerous phone chats and in person calls about the SS-44 form. So, since I am ready and planning to go Thailand for some long term stays, I am likely to dis-enroll from Medicare, go to Thailand and get Thai based health insurance. Then when I return to the USA I can enroll in Medicare again during a supplemental period and at that time my Medicare premiums will be low. Medicare bases premiums on previous two years of taxes. Their reduction request form and process just isn't working and they are charging me $670 USD a month which is crazy, now and will continue to do so for a year or more even though I am now retired and grossing much less money! So I do plan to put this in another forum but this is just background information.

I am aware of that but I do not sync to Google. Personal preference at this point in time. Thanks

yeah. I resist putting things out there on to google like that but I am aware of it and I know people that have used that and recovered things. Thanks

Yes it is only a single SIM phone. Many of my contacts were on the phone from when I first transported them over from my old phone, I just added all of them from my SIM to my phone.. At least I think I did!

errata. My phone does not support an Esim being somewhat old, i.e. 2020 model. MOTO G7 Power. So I may just do the Thai SIM unless I find some APP to download?

do you swim in the water there? I used to like jomtien beaches but over the years the cleanliness of the water did not improve. Would never swim in pattaya beach proper, but koh larn was fine. Have not been in country since 2019 but heading there this july

Ah, words from the old billy squire song circa 1982. "you play with fire, you might get burned".

Finally breaking free and heading to Thailand this July. I have an ATT unlimited plan that really by itself does not have good prices or options for overseas use. I want to keep my various contacts I have but plan to buy a Thailand SIM and package while in Thailand for about 88 days! Yes, visa exempt 60 days then 30 day extension. I assume the Thai SIM card replaces my current USA SIM card, so after I set up DTAC or whichever SIM and Thai plan I pre pay, how can I see and call my USA phone numbers contacts? What happens after installing the new Thai Sim? Does my android Phone Still have the same menus and look and feel? I haven't used a Thai sim in about 7 years since my last trip when I used a small cheap voice and text only thai phone!

yes. they do crap and pee.

I always loved Pattaya because of the baht bus. I love to walk around all the time and love the convenience of the baht bus. easy on and easy off. I take a moto taxi every now and then. Are the baht buses still running somewhat frequently? Just the major streets, Pattaya Klang, Soi buhkao, second road, Pattaya Tai, Pattaya Nua etc? I haven't been since 2019 but am finally breaking free from work

eh. depends on what on is looking for. I enjoy walking, eating at local places, daily foot or oil massages. Swimming in hotel pool on hot days. Catching a movie now and then, Thai or English. Some night life. Travel to another part of the country. Karon beach. National parks, nong nooch garden. Hook up with a nice lady and.. well

Have any of you gotten any sort of virus on your phones?m If so what did you do to fix it? I have a moto G7 power circa 2021 and it works great. I do not install any anti virus or spam thing except ATTs armour to block a lot of robo calls. I have never had any issues. I do not use QR codes at all because I have no idea what they really are containing. That is becoming a bit of an issue as many places no longer display menus, or whatever but nothing that I need. The only app I use on my phone that I put any data into is Etrade app and that is only because now and then I get some large paper checks and use the mobile app to deposit them. Etrade has few if any brick and mortar physical banks and being my primary checking it is slow for me to drive to my other physical banks to deposit anything physically. I do access my hotmail now and then and I always wonder how secure it is when I enter my account name and password.

Yes and some times I have accsess to the lounge and take a quick shower, etc..

My friend flew one of the Thai airways non stop flights from Los Angeles back when it was available. 17 hours non stop on a plane is just too much. I have no problem making a stop in Taiwan and most of my trips to Thailand were on EVA, once or twice on China Air and they were from LAX ~12 hours of actual air time, 2 or 3 hour layover in Taiwan, then ~< 3 hours on to BKK. I am OK with a break in between. A few extra hours for the trip is preferable to 17 hours straight on a non-stop

But you won't get a one hour foot massage there for <10 US Dollars

I been 15 times since 2004. Haven't been since 2019. Finishing up this contract job next week. Good, bad or indifferent I will be heading to Thailand in the next month or so as will two of my buddies. One used to spend more time there than I did. The other will be a newbie. Oh if only it could be like it was back around 2004-2008 years. But there is still plenty of an attraction for me

Agreed. I have monitored the situation for years

I did check out Safety Wing. Vastly over rated and not for me in my opinion

I must admit I had no problems with low season in past years (2004-2010). I went to Thailand in between jobs and never really planned the time I went there except a few times I did target the USA winter time. Thanksgiving and Christmas in warm Thailand really was pleasant. Remember all the girls dressing in red? In Pattaya you could actually easily cross beach road without getting run over. Soi Bukhao was peaceful. Soi Yume was barely paved! High season was nice also as it was a break from the cold winter weather if I had just finished working in a cold state here in the USA. Low season and hot was fine with me. Hotel pool, used to be able to swim in Jomtien beach water without getting sick. Too much runoff there now the last decade or so.