Sheryl

In addition to being still a pilot and not in all provinces, I am not sure this new scheme allows people to go directly to any govt hospital. I think the emphasis is on primary level care and linkages with privste pharmacies etc.

Then lack of referral letter is probably not the issue. If it was, cost would be much higher, around 200-300k. Likely a private fee to the surgeon & hospital to jump the public sector queue. Was the surgery performed aftet hours?

There are a number of possibilities: 1. Might be stent placement and while the procedure and hospitalizarion is free the family may have to pay the cost of the stent device (if really 70k then likely 2-3 stents). 2. Scheduled on a private basis in order to expedite things especially given the Songkran holidays. There definitely IS a wait list for cardiac surgeries in many public hospitals. And people do die as a result, or get worse outcomes (more permanent damage to cardiac muscle) . The system is overburdened, especially in Bangkok. I have friends who went deeply in debt to pay for bypass surgery at a private hospital recently because the wait for it in govt hospitals in Bangkok was up to 6 months. This was for bypass; stent placement wait time would have been less, but still a wait list for it. 3. Due to not having a referral letter from her registered hospital under the 30 baht scheme. Actually in case of emergency where patient cannot be safely transferred, emergent care can be received in any govt hospital. But cashier will not know if something qualifies as an emergency and will demand payment and yes, will be required in advance. It usually needs a call(s) to the NHSO hotline to resolve this. Which family should certainly try if this is the issue. Last possibility is that whole thing is a scam to borrow money, only OP is in position to know if family really does have critically ill relative. In cases like this, any delay can seriously affect the outcome because the heart muscle is not getting enough oxygen and will die. Keeping the patient alive with conservative treatment （medications etc) risks both death and long term disability because even if they survive till surgical intetvrntion there will be more permanent damage to the heart muscle.

Forgot to mention -- unless this proves to be an infection or eczema which disappears with treatment, insist on a biopsy even if doctor does not suggest it. Doctors here have not seen as much skin cancer as Drs in the West.

https://www.phukethospital.com/doctor/apasee-sooksamran/

Costs will vary with the hospital. Private hospitals about 350k baht. Government, maybe half that. I suggest you see this very qualified specialist at his private clinic to get a better idea of options https://www.warakornclinic.com/services/ He might be able to do the surgery at Maharaj Nakorn Hospital (government) Wherever it is done, in Thailand the surgical aspect is usually fine but after care physio is a weak point, pretty much have to google it and DIY.

Is this for skin cancer/skin disease or cosmetic isdue? Makes a difference in terms of doctor.

Visa expirations don't matter as visa was already used on entry (if you in fact had one; nowadays most non-residents enter visa exempt). Visa exopiration is the date by which you must use the visa for entry, not the date yoylu can stay till. What matters is your approved length of stay as indicated on the stamp you received on entry. If that date is coming up then what you need is an extnsion of stay, snd presumably this is what you mean. In which case you are all set except that I think in Bkk sppointment in advance may be required.. @DrJack54? But if you actually had a visa, and it is the expiration date shown on that visa you refer to then you need to check your entry stamp to see if/when extension is needed.

It is no more expensive than other private hospitals and less than some.

It would be worthwhile coming to Rutnin Eye Hospital in Bangkok. You need s thorough retinsl exam. As part of thr routine checks they do on new patients your prescription will be measured, no need to separatly see an optician (who are often not very well trained in Thailand and certainly ard not skilled re contact lenses). Just tell the doctor you need a contact lens prescription when you see him re the floaters. Suggest this doctor at Rutnin: https://www.rutnin.com/en/doctor/resume.36.1_Medical_history_0_0.html If unavailable then: https://www.rutnin.com/en/doctor/resume.5.1_Medical_history_0_0.html

Multiple posts have been removed for being: Off topic and/or bickering and/or misinformation/conspiracy nonsense etc etc The only posts hat actually respond to OP's question remain. OP's question has bern answered, thread is now losed.

Visa or extension type, anc marriage to a Thsi, has absolutely no effect on tax liability. The only factors are whether here 180 days or more in a year and the amount of assessable income either earned in or remitted to Thailand.

Illegal to buy without a prescription. That law is not always followed, especially in tourist areas, but it is the law. Ptescription can easily be gotten fom any clinic or hospital. There are some important contraindications to these meds, especially for people with cardiovasvular problems. Hence the requirement.

No, their prices are competitive. It is expensive because it is an import.

Thanks for the follow up, and glad it went well. Small hairline fracture makes perfect sense.

AN is not "promoting" her nor encouraging anyone to donate. Just reprinting a story related to Thailand. The reprinted article mentioned the GoFundMe page because several of our news sources, including the Daily Mail, routinely link to that site and pick up Thailand related articles from it.

"Begging" implies approaching peopke unsolicited. They simply created a site on a forum which coordinates and collects donations from those who choose to go on it to give. We have no idea what the insurance situation was.

It is not "begging" to establish a GoFundMe page. Nor -- contrary to what people here seem to assume - is it primarily aimed at strangers. In a situation like this, close friends, coworkers and extended family often want to contribute. GoFundMe and similar sites offer a convenient service for making and receiving multiple donations from many people without the family having to coordinate it all at a time when they are already busy. It is the most practical solution, and except for the misanthropes on AN, most people understand this. Certainly does not imply empty pickets. Just a large sudden misfortune & expense, and people who want to contribute.

Cost of family flying to, and staying in, Thailand Special medivac flight from Krabi to private hospital in Bkk Several specialized surgeries at Bkk private hospital And possibly some extra costs related to return flight. Easily reach that amount or more. She also probably has a deductible (excess) on her US insurance as well. Most people do. But the medevac flight and surgeries in Bkk would be the big ticket items.

She will have had insurance for the US. May of may not cover emergencies abroad; often does not. She may or may not have taken out special travel insurance. And if so, it may or may not have covered moto accident.

There are no special allowances or tax rules for expats. All tax residents get a 60k personal deduction. All who are over age 65 get an additionsl 190k deduction. Everyone with income (including pensions) is allowed to deduct up to another 100k (non-receipted) as expenses. And the first 150k of the balance is 0 tax.

Because the income was all assessable, and 1.1 m is considerably more than 500k. The tax computation they made is correct. Visa status is irrelevant.

Not in any way specific to expats. Anyone, regardless of nationality, is a Thai tax resident if in Thailand 180 days or more in a calendar year. But only assessable income can be taxed, and tax will be owed then only if the total minus all allowed exemptions deductions and allowances exceeds 150k. A single person aged 65 and over gets 350k in exemptions/deductions. So would have to remit over 500k to owe anything (more if married or have dependents or eligible for certain other deductions). . What income is assessable varies depending on terms of the applicable Dual Taxation Agreement. For UK, government pensions are non-assessable in Thailand but state pensions are assessable. In practice will usually not owe tax if the only remitted income is the UK state OAP. Technically it is required to file if you remitted over 60k in assessable income. In practice many RD offices are telling people not to bother filing if no tax owed.

Anyone can register at and use a military hospital in Thailand, ditto other governmrnt hospitals. In Bangkok, no advantage to military vs the large university affiliated government hospitals. In Bangkok waits are really long, often in cramped and uncomfortable conditions....sometimes standing room only. Need to arrive at crack of dawn and be prepared to spend all day. And your interactions will be with junior doctors in training, unless you use the quasi private "after hours" clinic. These cost more and waits are still significant. Best to have a Thai speaker with you to navigate the (formidable) bureacracy. Frankly for what you need at this point, unless you are seriously strapped financially, it doesn't make much sense to go through all this hassle.

Sorry yes it is Revlar Ellipta. If you can't find it locally try this pharmacy which will ship nationwide https://medisafepharma.com/ Use the Messenger function. They have most things and easy to order online.