Sheryl

Besides the wiring capacity may also need to consider if your water pump has enough power, especially if your shower is on an upper floor. These tankless point of use water heaters need a certain water pressure to operate properly.

1-2 sorry, typo

It is not always the case that subsequent infections are worse. I had it 3-4 times (4th infection a bit in doubt) and only the 1st time was bad. The other times, others in the same household had it , I was a bit achy and tired (but still able to work), but not sure I had it until the rash broke. Interesting the rash was almost imperceptible after the first, bad, infections (2 weeks in hospital; it hurt to even breath let alone move and I couldn't keep anything down), but very pronounced and itchy with the subsequent infections. However it is true that severe/complicated dengue more often happens in subsequent that first infections -- but not exclusively so, occasionally severe dengue hits people with no prior dengue infection. When I worked in the border refugee camps in the early 1980's, a continuous supply of new, non-immune farangs housed in traditional Thai houses with open water jars etc led to a huge number of farangs with dengue every rainy season. So in addition to having it myself several times I got to witness countless farangs with it. One or two - -who had never lived in SEA Asia before -- got hemorrhagic dengue despite it being their 1st infection. Most did not, and the range of severity of people with simple dengue (maybe 98% of all who got it) ranged widely from very mild to severe enough to need hospitalization (due to the pain and dehydration).

Correct. They have no preventive effec t against dengue whatsoever. Doxycycline does have some use as prevention for malaria but for that, must be taken daily starting 102 days before entering the malarial area and then for a month after leaving it. In Thailand, malarial areas are few and mostly deep jungle.

It could just as easily be tendonitis. Common when somebody suddenly takes up an activity that works muscles not previously much used. I developed pain in the exact spot described by OP after (unwisely, for me) attending a "boot camp" for weight loss and fitness. Was on crutches for 6 weeks as a result (which of course totally undid the value of the boot camp!). Readily diagnosed with just an Xray and physical exam and fully resolved with rest, time and NSAIDs. I would not jump to something like torn meniscus or osteoarthritis from the history given.

Some people have way, way too much time on their hands and , as the Thais say, "think too much". If your HB1Ac is well within normal range and you are not overweight or have an excessive waist circumference, then your body is coping just fine with your diet and it really does not matter that your glucose goes up more rapidly after certain foods than others. That is a normal temporary occurrence (and useful at certain times).

A flaming post post been removed

Many people have had it but there us no reason to think you need it. See an ortho. You'll need a physical exam and possibly an Xray. Might just be tendinitis commonly occurs when new ir repetiyive activities strain muscles and tendons. ....and does not requirw surgery of any sort.

Indeed no doctor will prescribe this for a non-diabetic and absurd for one to want one. I think we can assume OP's wife is diabetic. CGM is little used in Thailand and other than a few private hospitals I do nto know where one can get it.

Since this thread has devolved into the predictable anti-vax debate I am closing it. Free COVID vaccination is available for adults of any age in the US but not at every pharmacy; might have to go to a health department clinic. @sqwakvfr has been so advised and given links.

The process of being seen at a government hospital is complicated and, at least initially, confusing. You have to register first at one of several different lines, signs are only in Thai and often no-one around who speaks any English, easy to get in the wrong line which you will find out only after waiting an hour or more to get to the front. Other steps then ensue before you get to go to where the doctor is and the process there is also confusing. Just bring a Thai speaker with you, first time at least, and come armed with reading material and drinking water and be prepared for long waits. It is nto the SS factor which makes it complicated, it is that way regardless of payment status. Oh and arrive at crack of dawn to get in the queue if using the public channel. Otherwise use the "after hours", may have to pay 500 baht extra but worth it

Retirees are not the focus of the policy but they are badly affected by it. It would be easy enough to build in an exception f(or lower threshold) or people with UK citizenship from birth who are now aged over say 65. The impact in terms of numbers would be minimal and it would avoid considerable hardship for retirees.

However, some people who retired here adequately funded are now not, due to a combination of rises in the Thai cost of living (which has been considerable in the last 2 decades) and worsening of the exchange rate. By the time all this hits, they are usually 70+, consider Thailand their home, may have a Thai family. So while it is easy to say they should nto be here/should go home, in practice far from easy for them to do. The other considerable group (with some overlap with the above) are those who completely omitted health care from their financial planning, and by the time they figure out that it needs to be factored in, are no longer insurable. Or (due to the above) can't afford insurance. I'm not saying either group planned well -- I worked to the age of 71 precisely because my planning assumed inflation, need to cushion for currency fluctuations, and rising health care needs/insurance costs as I aged. Most of those in difficulty now retired too early, basing their decision on current cost of living in Thailand, their current state of health and not considering the likelihood both would change. But I think that stops short of "feckless". The completely feckless folk come here already inadequately funded. They exist but numbers not huge. The others just did not foresee or plan on the magnitude of changes that might (and did) occur over the long term. In retrospect an error, but I would nto be too harsh on them. Lost of people, including ones who never leave their home countries, do nto know how to plan adequately for long term retirement. (It does irritate me, though when people who retired in their 50's tell me I am "luckier" than they are financially. Luck had nothing to do with it, I'd be in their financial shoes had I retired that soon! Ditto people who've been abroad for a long time tell me I am lucky to have good insurance because they can't get a policy due to pre-existing problems ... If I had left health insurance until now, I would have trouble getting a policy too. I'm well insured because I took out insurance at the start, at a younger age and in good health).

Very few UK retirees have that high an income. Of course they may own thir homes outright but that is nto taken into account under this law.

??? Please see the link. "Adults 18 years and older without health insurance". See this listing of health centers that provide free vaccination in California https://bphc.hrsa.gov/funding/coronavirus-related-funding/covid-19-bridge-funding/fy-2023-awards/ca

Who registered you? If the HR department where you work, ask them. Otherwise you'd have to go to the hospital and ask and it will nto be a quick or easy matter. Lerdsin is fine (quality wise - a nightmare in terms of crowding, wait times, red tape etc).

No, still happening though they very slightly reduced it the new threshold. Proposed 38,700, settled on 29,000 which is still a huge increase form the current 18,600. The number if retirees with an income of 29,000 is surely much less than the number with 18,600, taking all sources into account.

I take it you do not have take Medicare? Even if not, free COVID vaccination is available for the uninsured in the US through the "Bridge" program. See https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/bridge/

What he means is that some Thai insurers charge premiums at older ages equal to the full maximum coverage. Incredible, but true. Apparently the assumption is that anyone that age will be hospitalized every single year and run up bills at or over their maximum cover. Ridiculous but that is the way it is. Many will not insure past age 65 at any price. It is a rare Thai policy that guarantees lifetime renewal.

I do know some who are very dissatisfied but this is due, in every instance, of being registered at a sub-standard hospital. Many people make the mistake of not choosing the hospital carefully (some just let their employer's staff decide it, usually a bad move). And in some localities the choices are poor due to the better hospitals being fully subscribed already. As long as you can register at a decent hospital, it's a good deal. Just remember if you travel out of country to get travel insurance as Thai SS is of no help abroad. And be prepared to argue the point if, due to emergency, you are charged for initial care at a different hospital in Thailand.

I am not sure what you mean by "only part coverage"? Most private hospitals do not accept SS, and some (but not all) of those that do are best avoided. But if registered at a private hospital under SS., it is the same full coverage as at any hospital. SS does have a maximum reimbursement for room charge (I think 700 baht) so some private hospitals might require you to pay that difference, you would also pay extra if you chose an optional private room in a government hospital under SS. (Usually well worth it). But treatments, meds, surgery etc all fully covered.

Not the case in all countries. (To put it mildly). Certainly not true at all in the US. And it seems now that for UK retirees, while they might be able to go back they would not be able to bring their Thai spouse. And UK retirees are disproportionate among those living in Thailand without adequate funds...frozen old age pension and unfavorable changes in exchange rate have hit hard.

You need to go to SS office in person to set it up continuation of SS after you stop working and must do so not more than 6 months later. Be fore-warned that some wrongly tell people that it is not possible, or not possible for foreigners. If you encounter that ,call the head Office. Another bit of wrong information many give is claiming that taking a lump sum retirement benefit rules out continuing the insurance. Not true. Very few Thais continue their SS insurance upon retirement because they automatically get covered under the 30 baht" system. As a result many SS offices have little experience in this. For automatic deduction from bank account might also need to visit your bank or set it up on your banking app.

True but you would have very limited options in terms of available policies if no pre-existing conditions. And some would automatically apply exclusions you could otherwise avoid by getting in earlier. If you have pre-existing conditions (most people do, by age 75) then you might be completely unable to get insured. All that said, best to not get (or get rid of) O-A policy in favor of extensions basedo n non-O so that you are not tied to Thai insurers. International policy rates also go up with age but not as severely as Thai policies. (Many Thai companies will not insure at all past a certain age, or will drop you at a certain age). I would not call the rates for inpatient only interntional insurance at age 75 "astronomical". Higher than at younger ages certainly, but not "astronomical". Some Thai policies really are, though.