BobTH

Thanks for sharing this, I really enjoyed it. I have moved back to the USA but I used to shop there all the time and knew many of the vendors. One woman would save me the beef tenderloin, which is not easy to buy or find there. I leaned to make a nice tender Thai beef steak from them at a fourth of the price of beef at Villa.

15 hours ago, taxout said:

"If you enroll in a Part D drug plan within two months of returning to the United States, your coverage will start on the first day of the month after you enroll and you will not be liable for late penalties."

 

https://www.aarp.org/health/medicare-qa-tool/medicare-if-living-outside-united-states/

This is true and I was aware of it prior to applying here for part D. However they also expect you to have had a creditable insurance coverage prior to your return or they will penalize you. I am sure ericthai who has commented on this tread can explain it better. I am just trying to give a heads up. I have been aware of all the information others have shared on this thread, as I said I do my homework.

8 hours ago, ericthai said:

Also part D if you dont sign up when eligible or have creditable coverage you will pay a penelty which is 1% per for every month you did not sign up.  Any questions you can PM me I worked in the medicare insurance market for several years. 

I agree with you ericthai, this is the point I have been trying to make. It is also what I did not know prior to applying in the USA, however as I have said, I did have creditable coverage while in Thailand so I occurred no penalties. 

53 minutes ago, ericthai said:

Have you checked into Medicare advantage plans?  Typically an advantage plan will include RX coverage.  Premiums are anywhere from $0 per month upto $110, the cost of the plans are dependent on location. There are limitations, you have to stay in network in most cases, but the costs are typically much lower over a 12 month period. A visit to your primary is anywhere from $0 - $25, plans usually include dental, vision, hearing and transportation.  Best is they have a Max out of Pocket, so once you hit the max out of pocket you stop paying the plan pays 100%. Max out of pocket ranges anywhere from $1500-$10,000  the $1500 would be an HMO ( need to stay in network) the $10,000 would be a PPO (allows you to go out of network). 

 

If you have any health issues i.e. Diabetes, Hypertension, etc typically there are special Medicare Advantage plans that provide more benefits and in some places lower your Medicare part B payment ($144.60). 

 

The supplement plans are good, they allow freedom that you can go to any doctor that accepts Medicare. However you have the monthly premium which will depend on age and location, Ive seen as low as $125 a month and has high as $550 a month, then you still need your part D coverage this ranges from $15-65 per month.  There are allot of options and it can get complicated. If you have any questions you can PM me. 

 

 

I looked at all the plans and met with someone who was independent to explain all the different plans and companies. I knew what I wanted and it was covered by the plan G that I opted for. Yes I pay a monthly premium but I can go to any doctor anywhere in the country that takes Medicare. And the coverage if you become seriously ill long-term is much better. I recently had surgery that was billed at $86,000 US, I paid $179 out of pocket. The plans can get confusing, but I did my homework and got the plan that fit me.

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

Then something was wrong, as there is no penalty for not having a Medicate Supplemental Plan, only for late enrollment into Part B.

 

Unless this is some rule of the private insurer. Not a Medicare rule. But I doubt it. Sounds like they were confused and thought you had not had Part B. For that, there is a lifelong penalty unless you were abroad and can prove your were insured there.

When still in Thailand I enrolled in Part B through the US Embassy in the Philippines. So I was paying for it knowing I could not use it overseas thinking I might move home and not wanting the lifetime penalty. I made it perfectly clear to them when I moved back and although you are correct, the situation was something they were not used to dealing with. Both policies (AARP United Healthcare Insurance Supplement Plan G. The RX is a Humana Medicare RX Prescription Drug Coverage) wanted proof of coverage in Thailand. I had to explain on a recorded deposition, explaining I was covered under the Thai Health Insurance company LTD. I was not expecting this questioning either, and perhaps it was the private companies policy rules but it happened. I only wanted to share my experience so other forum members could prepare for this questioning. I was not penalized on either policy but they were suggesting lifelong penalties.

The Medicare Supplement plan I was referring to is called AARP United Healthcare Insurance Supplement Plan G. The RX is a Humana Medicare RX Prescription Drug Coverage. These two companies required me to prove I had insurance in Thailand. And yes I did apply for part B when I still lived in Thailand and enrolled in the allotted time frame without penalty.  

  Dr. Parichat Chalithapong, she works at a few different locations though the week but I would see her at the St. Louis Hospital on Sathorn Road, Dr. Parichart has a brisk no-nonsense manner which some people quite like but which puts off others. I really liked her, she is well known in the field and the St. Louis Hospital is reasonable and Expat friendly. And yes I have been a patient of hers and also Dr. Wichai Hongcharu in the same department.

When I left Thailand, I had to go to the Bangkok Bank Main Office on Silom Road and transfer my money home. And like others have said I had to prove where the money came from. I had kept records of my large transfers to Thailand from the USA. There might be others ways but this was the way I did it and the charges were not high doing it this way. I could not do it from my Bangkok Bank branch office, I had to go to the Silom Head office. I think any other ways you can find to do it will be too expensive or you might be able to use the power of attorney somehow, if there is someone you can trust with that kind of money.

This is a nice place not far from that area. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g293916-d3704071-Reviews-Baan_Somtum-Bangkok.html

The Jewelry Trade Center has a website with information on the shops there. Each shop show a few examples but you might be able to find the individual shops website there also. The Center is about the best items in the city from what I am told for stones and jewels. For gold it is Chinatown shops and I do not know about their websites. Here is the link to the Jewelry Trade Center.

http://www.jewelrytradecenter.com/jewelry-trade-center/

I am not sure this will help in your particular case but I thought I would share it. http://www.richardbarrow.com/2019/02/how-to-top-up-your-bts-rabbit-card-without-queuing-up-ever-again/?fbclid=IwAR0ixMZCUpMOGg-29JXBXCCSFsA9aTJPtJyjeo6V7jyTEp1_QJ75KzjQSJ4

There was a tread a while back maybe 6 months or so that someone bumped to keep active. It was discussing electric bikes and the various wattages they supported. I have used the search function but can't find it anywhere. I found one in the Issan forum on electric three wheelers but that is not it. The one I am looking for was for E- bicycles. If anyone happened to save the link please share it with me. I thought it was in this Bangkok forum but maybe it was in another one of the Thai Visa forums. Thanks in advance.  

39 minutes ago, neeray said:

No duties would apply on export. A clear manifest will be required.

If only clothes, still be certain that your package is robust, both carton quality and tape. I shipped some delicate items to Canada from Thailand by air parcel post, all well insulated and protected. As best I can tell, I think it fell off the conveyor belt on the way to cargo hold, then they threw a couple tons of other cargo on top.

Probably got rough handled again at destination. The postal delivery man was a bit embarrassed when he handed the squashed carton to me.

Hope you have better luck.

Thanks a lot neeray. Very helpful information. May I ask where did you get the manifest document or did you make your own?

I am leaving Thailand and moving back to the USA. I would like to send one larger size box of my personal belonging and was thinking of using the Thai post office Logispost World service. I was wondering if anyone has used it and if it fairly user friendly to do. I would just be sending clothes and other small personal items with no more than 50 pounds or 23 kilos of weight. My calculations for 23 kilos is around 6000 baht (reasonable) and they accept a box up to 150 x 150 x 200 cm to the USA using the service. Also, if it is just previously used personal items will I also be paying other duties either here or in the USA on the shipment? If anyone has any other reasonable alternatives I would welcome those also. I would not be in any hurry for the shipment to arrive in the USA. Thanks in advance for any helpful comments.

This man has very good references and speaks English, give him a call.

Christian Arthur Richards

Facebook link:   https://www.facebook.com/christianarthur.richards

On 1/8/2019 at 11:42 AM, TerraplaneGuy said:

I moved to Sathorn area in BKK and now looks like I have to get my 5 year licences renewed at the Region 1 Office in Bang Khun Thian, not the Sukhumvit office.  I started a separate thread about that.  Does anybody on this thread have any experience with the Region 1 Office?  For example do you need a medical certificate there to renew and do they require 2 original residence certificates if you're renewing for both car and motorbike?

I don't think it matters which office you go to. According to the website I am supposed to go to the Main Office Chatuchak and have always went to Area 3 on Sukhumivt like you. They have never said a word.

5 hours ago, OliverKlozerof said:

Late to this thread but...anyone see a large, flat-ish cast iron pan/skillet IN BANGKOK recently? 12" would be ideal. I do see a couple on Lazada, but would really like to see some in person. It does look like Villa Market has Lodge brand, so may go check them out (but looks like 10" is their largest).

True Value has them them in bigger sizes I believe. They did have a store in the same little mall is the Villa Market just off Rama 4 back behind the Big C and near the big Lotus store. I think that store is called something else now but I believe they still have about the same stock as the True Value had. The other True Value store is out by Nonthaburi they have a nice selection but they are kind of pricey. You can see them on the photo page of their facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/True-Value-Thailand-Company-263128640473637/?tn-str=k*F

1 hour ago, GinBoy2 said:

This is probably going to be State specific, but i would suspect that your expired US license is going to be of more use to you than your Thai lic.

 

When we moved back to the US, my wife had a full 5 year Thai DL, didn't mean anything to DMV. She still had to go through the written and behind the wheel tests before she could get a license.

 

As for the IDL, I seem to recall most States say with 30 days of residency you you must be licensed in that State...but don't quote me on that fact

I assume that your wife at one time had a US license that expired and also that your US license was still valid. Is that correct? Thanks.

This may be a long shot but my USA driving license is long expired, maybe 5 years or so and I have been in Bangkok now for 7 years. I have a valid Thai permanent driving license and also a valid Thai International driving permit. My question is: Are either of these of any benefit when trying to acquire a new USA driving license when I move back there the first of March, 2019. My expired USA license is Tennessee, I am buying a home and moving to Alabama and will need to get a new one there. I just thought maybe I would get lucky and someone in the group had done this previously. Thanks in advance to any helpful remarks.

11 hours ago, marcusarelus said:

Do you mean the limit you set?  I set a 50,000 limit in my Bangkok Bank account or are you referring to a different limit?

 I called their customer support number and was asking questions when out of the blue the man asked me what bank I was with in Thailand this was concerning a discussion on using their phone application. I told him Bangkok Bank and he said their limit is 20,000 baht per transaction. He knew nothing about my limits nor did I tell him anything when he said it. Maybe he or I one was confused but at that point I thought: at that limit per transaction it would be expensive using their mobile app. so I decided to do the transactions from their office witch had higher limits 800,000 baht per day or 450,000 baht per transaction. When I went to do it that way is when I was told they could not send to my bank in the USA, because it wasn't on their list. I do use a smaller bank in the USA, my hometown bank which has a main office and I believe 7 branches. I just looked at the Windows log-in screen that Pib mentioned and had never seen it before where they send you an OTP, I tried it and after I entered the OTP it asked for password but wouldn't let me type in anything for some reason. But since I can not use my bank to send to, it really doesn't matter but thanks everyone for your help especially Pib. 

I tried to use DeeMoney, opened an account and got my wallet card. I prefer not using smart phone, just my personal taste, so I don't and you can't use a Windows based desk top to do a DeeMoney transfer. Even if you do and have the app, if you bank at Bangkok Bank, which I do, there is a 20,000 baht limit per transaction, so if you are trying to move a couple of million baht that can get expensive fast. I went to their office prepared to send funds that way and found that they could not send money to my bank in the USA. I use a small but good bank there and it is not on their list of financial institution they can do business with. At that point I decided to find another way to transfer funds from Thailand to overseas. I only shared this information to inform those using smaller banks abroad may run into problem using DeeMoney.   

I wasn't sure where to post this, I found it on another site, thought it was informative so feel free to share. You never know when it might come in handy.

The previous thread posted twice for some unknown reason, moderators please delete this one if possible, thanks.