gk10012001

partial denture eh? I like the sound of that.

You are totally unaware of what is covered or what is not covered. Emergency treatments are covered by Medicare and medicare advantage plans. Other than that I am well aware of what is covered or not covered when dealing with routine things. As for no Government insurance, well you are wrong. People under Tri Care are covered

As Dan O stated. USA in my case does not issue the letter. Quite a nuisance that I was not expecting when I retire to Thailand. That would have just made financial things simpler and less other agencies one would have to deal with. Setting up monthly transfers. None of my current three USA banks do that automatically to overseas accounts. I have to contact them each month, and usually deal with somebody on their staff that has little to no experience with it. Then of course one has to check and hope it gets coded properly on the Thailand end. As for 800k baht on deposit, well, that would now require that FINCEN or FBAR report. Easy yes, but it would require me to report that on some other forms due to my work and security clearance. Just one more thing I don't desire to have some US Government official asking about. Anything dealing with foreign countries can lead to time loss due to inquiries, etc.

I can believe the driver was trying to back into the parking space, but at some speed. He even went over the bump blocks that you can see in the photo

Yes. I have been aware of the Chinese "investments" in Africa for many years now. A subtle form of hegemony.

Thailand needs to decide how much foreign investment and control and influence they want or need. There is lots of money in the world that could swoop in. China already has probably more in Thailand then most people realize.

Saw that movie as a young teen in about 1972 just starting high school. Classic

I still get all the emails promising me monies ready to be released, etc. As far as the romance scams, did they ever face time with the person to see they are at least physically what they represent? It is trivially easy to create profiles using other's pictures, documents, etc. Kind of like hostage mob movies. send a current photo or video, with today's newspaper, etc.

I did it once back in 2005. Pffff. Too messy and too long. I don't mind a few days of wildness, or a weekend. But a whole week is too much. Can't walk to the stores, shops, mall without getting soaked. Not the way to enjoy every day. Definitely might not be something somebody with a short holiday might want.

Well, the system has its pros and cons. I certainly didn't set it up. One can get more robust dental coverage if one chooses higher priced premiums. Medicare and Supplements are a strange setup that has years of evolution behind it. This is my first year using it so being a life long test engineer that has a knack for finding defects or unanticipated results in things, I am sure I will stumble into the worst of things. 66 in May and Social Security and semi retirement on the horizon. Go Pattaya! Trip 16

Thanks all for the replies. I guess I will have to decide if at my age 66 it is worth doing the full implant path. I know several people at my age who had them and so far no issues. I also know some people that are doing quite well missing one tooth. I'm getting a second opinion and evaluation and exam from a local dentist here near work in CT before I decide to travel to CA to see my normal regular excellent dentist. Probably am leaning towards just the extraction, a graft for the future if it looks like I may need one, in case I decide to go with implants after things heal up.

yeah, I have heard rumors of needing a source of income statement. I also pointed out years ago when the USA stopped doing the income affidavits, that somebody could be just spending down some money and sending it to Thailand every month in the required 65k baht amounts. Those transfers in no way prove a source of income in the traditional sense of the word. Many people cash out their 401ks or IRAs due to market uncertainty and decide to just spend it down. Anyway, thanks.

Expect a lot of foolery with the Elite Visa systems? 1,000,000 1 million Thai Baht for the 20 year visa. I can see many people come up with that money, but then, how do they support themselves?

Years ago when the first Russian masses came, there were many many tour companies set up. You would see the buses all over Pattaya. I think one was "Pegus". A cruder version presumably of the Greek Pegasus. At that time Thailand started cracking down on foreign so called tour guides as many if not most were working illegally and without proper work permits. I would expect more Russian "service girls" to use a nice word patrolling walking street and handing out fliers and pamphlets. Tsk tsk. Need a work permit I remember when the Russian lettering started showing up on restaurant menus in Pattaya years ago. At first I thought it was not good, then I stepped back and reconsidered. Why should English be so special in addition to the nominal Thai? Or for that matter German or Swiss or other western languages? Well, none of those groups tried to take over Pattaya. They opened a French or German or whatever restaurant which was great. I have stayed in several hotels that were started by German owners. I don't see that with the Russians. I see them sticking together. I never saw or heard a lot of Russians in many of the Thai eateries I went in to over the years. So I presume the owners had Russian backing otherwise why spend the money on Russian signage?

I have a tooth that broke. Also the central part that had a root canal fell out with the pin. So I have partial tooth base for lack of a better word still in the jaw. This was a lower third from the back tooth. Had issues from it a long time and dentist did a great job keeping it intact the last 15 years but now wondering what to do. I am 66. I don't have any other dental issues. At my age, I am pondering the need for going the full route of extraction, graft, implant, crown. I am not going to live a long time! I don't mind missing a tooth back there. I am aware of possible issues with other teeth extruding or moving, etc. but I also know several people that have done just fine with a space. I am on USA Medicare and have an advantage plan with United Health for Dental. That only covers about $1,000. I had one full quote from my favorite dentist of $5200 which would be my final out of pocket cost. I happen to be in CT working and he is back in California. But he is worth the visit. Coincidentally I am about to finish a contract job and was looking to go to Thailand for a long vacation if not full semi retirement, so I am considering taking months off and going to Thailand and getting this dental work done there and just paying out of pocket. I been to Thailand 15 times going back to 2004 so I am familiar with Pattaya. So wondering on cost of a simple extraction. Then wondering on cost of the full nine yards, extraction, graft, implant, crown. Any experience, or prices or good dental recommendation in Thailand? Thanks

Indians lolling around in groups just lookie loos, or groups of Russians... Which would you prefer to see more of? Oh add those groups of dozens of Chinese mass tour groups that wander around just clogging the streets. I long for the days when Pattaya had a low season. So few crowds. One could safely cross second road. Jomtien beach water was actually swimmable

So much for elections and any sense of democracy.

I remember the first Russian large arrival numbers. All the illegal restaurant openings, bending or breaking all the visa rules, the Russian hookers down on walking street handing out fliers. Got a work permit for that? I have seen foreign owners of bars kicked out of the country for washing a glass or sweeping the floor of their bar. All the illegal russian 'tour guides'. The russians are not used to and will not try to follow the rule of law. They grew up with horrible autocrats and a tough system. Of course some are fantastic people. But large over whelming numbers of them is not good. Amazing how the demographics of Thailand has changed the last 20 years. If too many Russians or any group for that matter start buying up too much , then at some point it will probably hurt others.

seems like the 20 year Elite Visa one time thing is a better deal. Oh and no health insurance requirement. Insurance can be quite problematic for older retirees in Thailand

I am aware of the costs and fees, but for simplicity can I use ATM withdrawals to satisfy my monthly income transfer requirements?

Looking to the future, and the aging population, both Thai and Expat, open retirement homes, hospice company, etc. Big business. Many variations between just providing daily visits to a person's home for an hour or two to cook and clean, keep the person company, make sure they don't burn the place down by leaving the gas burner on, etc. Have some registered nurses on staff to provide home services. Then at the other extreme some facility for palliative care, or just dementia full round the clock care, etc

As you pointed out, usually there are just many places doing the same thing. Even if you come up with some niche that is new or different, be it entertainment, food, service or whatever, it would not be long before you economic moat goes away and you are over run by copy cats.

Oh man, my first trip to Thailand was in 2004. over 40 baht to 1 USD. Bar fines, soapy massages, foot massages, food prices all fine. Hotels say of the Flipper or Eastiny Place class were like 700 baht per night. Prices cost more, baht buys less. The higher quality hotels have raised prices much more. Still, mid range places are not horrible, but not a big bargain, that's for sure.

average price of 21 USD per night? You will get what you pay for. As an example, 600 baht per night hotels in Pattaya are not impressive. Small non air con rooms can be had. In the up country yes there are cities with cheap hotels. But they are not in areas that tourists flock to. So take the survey with a grain of salt

I can think of a few bars that should be turned into beach spots