FACTOR

I'm hoping to go back to the States this summer (as long as Covid doesn't get out of control again) with my son for about 4 weeks.

I need insurance in case of sickness or accidents. I'm 66 years old. My son is 9 years old.

Can anyone recommend a good temporary insurance provider?

Do you know if I can rely on Medicare for any sickness or accidents for myself?

Thank you.

Regarding VPNs (which I know little about), if I use a VPN, the bank's or FI's online system will not detect that I am logging in from outside the USA, right?

I've just joined ACA, to eventually open an account with SDFCU, thanks to Jingthing's and Ujongjoe's input.

Now I'm thinking a VPN might give me an extra layer of ... what's the word, autonomy, anonymity, discretion...? Although I'm not trying to hide anything, just trying to adapt ..., survive?

So any insights, suggestions regarding using a VPN for online banking/brokerage for an overseas American is appreciated.

Thank you.

Jingthing and ujongjoe -- You get first place/s for providing the most useful responses to my original post. Thanks.

ACA is $55 a year for me to join, being over 65 years old.  As you say, they are a good organization to support.

On the other hand, I might look into joining via a consumer organization -- where do you find out about those? Boy, I have been off the beaten path for a while! 

Thanks, Jingthing, for bringing SDFCU to my attention; never heard of them until now. I've just done a bit of reading about them and American Citizens Abroad, who can serve as the organization sponsor to join SDFCU, and will now go into depth researching and make some decisions.  Thanks for the tip.

Thanks. I'll check out US Bank.

So you reside outside of the USA "permanently" and US Bank don't mind that your physical, residential address is in a foreign country? 

Recently I was informed by my US bank -- Wells Fargo -- that I can no longer have accounts with them because I do not reside permanently in the USA, in spite of having a permanent address in the USA. Now I need to find another bank, in the USA, which is "expat friendly". Anybody have similar experience and/or know a US bank that will do business with expat Americans?

Paulaew, Thanks for your reply and the link to the Standard Chartered contact. I will try to contact them. Wish me luck.

Thanks again.

I know this is the Thailand forum, but because of the larger number of US expats in Thailand than in Laos, where I live, I thought I'd see if anyone on this forum had some insights into my situation.  Thanks.

I'm receiving my US SSA monthly benefit at the Lao Development Bank. It seems I'm getting a few dollars less than what SSA shows they are sending out to me. I've confirmed with FBU in Manila the amount I am entitled to and confirmed that this is indeed the amount being sent out.  I checked with Lao Development Bank; they say they only take out a $2 service fee. So $15 is going missing somewhere along the line.  The intermediary bank is Standard Chartered in New York. I have no way of contacting them, however, to find out if they take out a service fee.

I know it's not much, but ... 

Any other US expats in Laos (or Thailand) receiving SSA benefits experiencing something similar?

Thanks.

Not really sure this is the ideal forum for this question, but here goes:

I'm receiving my US SSA monthly benefit at the Lao Development Bank. It seems I'm getting a few dollars less than what SSA shows they are sending out to me. I've confirmed with FBU in Manila the amount I am entitled to and confirmed that this is indeed the amount being sent out.  I checked with Lao Development Bank; they say they only take out a $2 service fee. So $15 is going missing somewhere along the line.  The intermediary bank is Standard Chartered in New York. I have no way of contacting them, however, to find out if take out a service fee.

I know it's not much, but ... 

Any other US expats in Laos receiving SSA benefits experiencing something similar?

Thanks.

BS; they aren't that well organized.

Nope, not rubbish.

"The Lao Government prohibits sexual relationships between foreign and Lao nationals, except when the two parties have been married in accordance with Lao family law."

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/laos/local-laws-and-customs

http://www.laos.embassy.gov.au/vtan/AEV001002.html

If it is a law, they are as lax as Thailand about enforcing their laws.

I did not partake, but on my last trip to Vientiane at least four Lao women in bars made offers.

In fact, speaking of law enforcement, I did not see a single law enforcement officer during my three day stay.

To the Op..

I felt very comfortable there, safer than I do in Bangkok.

Some tuktuk drivers can be a little pushy, but no big deal.

A fool is a fool anywhere and will have problems.

But, if you are street wise enough to get by in Bangkok, you should have no problems in Vientiane.

Exactamento! However, make no mistake about it, the plain-clothed cops are everywhere in Vientiane

"...plain-clothed cops everywhere..."

BS

Meatboy: "dont forget they are part of the family so where you eat,sleep and even crap they to are welcome.as for cleaning after them thats part of the wifes housework."

Who? The dogs or the in-laws?

I told you once on this topic....... you are screwed, wrong breed and clueless "owner."

You do not understand that the dog receiving a beating from you just thinks you are asserting your dominance as he would expect from any other top dog around. Also, shouting at dog is just like barking and meaningless to him other than signal for him to get to barking also.

You do not deserve to "have" a dog. Get a pro trainer. Dont you read answers on this venue or just enjoy asking repetitive questions???

KhnomKhonm wrote: You do not deserve to "have" a dog. Get a pro trainer. Dont you read answers on this venue or just enjoy asking repetitive questions???

Thanks for reminding me that the more people I know the more I love my dog.

To people like KhnomKhonm ( Dont you read answers on this venue or just enjoy asking repetitive questions???) and TomYumpoochai (This is groundhog day right? I thought i read n replied to this yesterday? ) who can't grasp the differences between my two posts --- the first one about dealing with a specific problem of dogs chewing, seeking a range of remedies, not just training, and my second post which was more general about training dogs, LEARN TO READ, or are you just naturally grumpy? If just grumpy, go back to the General Topics forum and get off the PETS forum; I came to this forum to get away from people like you.

Thanks to all the others for some great general ideas about training dogs.

I have two young, and very active, Bangkeaw dogs. I want to train them to stay out of the open-air ground floor area of our house which is traditional style -- on stilts, open on all sides, and our eating area is there. At first, we let them stay there, but now they are chewing stuff -- table legs, electrical coverings etc... (ref my previous post), and just sort of making the place dirty. My wife wants to put up a small bamboo fence around the whole area, but I'd like to take the approach of training the dogs to stay out.

Any advice on how I can train them to do that? Take them by the collar, point to the area and firmly say "NO" over and over until they get it?

Thanks.

Teach them not to, just like you would a child and get them some chew toys.

I give my dog a near death experience during training when he does not get the NOOOOO part. It works .....

".... I give my dog a near death experience..."

Could you elaborate on that?

NOW they have started chewing the white plastic strip coverings on the electric cables!! I'm trying the pepper mixture on the wooden stuff, but too early to tell if any results.

I disagree what some posters have said about Bangkeaw being a bad choice for a dog; I find these dogs to be smart, loyal, protective but not aggressive (although when they were just a couple of months old, they ripped a small chicken to shreds that wandered into our garden), and they are good with children, contrary to what one poster said; Lord knows my three year old son has given them plenty of reason to snap at him --- pulling their tails, picking them up by the neck, generally messing with them --, but so far they have been patient and fun loving with him.

I think I'll get some more pieces of old wood to distract them, as shown in that video up the thread, and try a bit of training on my own.

I DO keep them outside. But our house is traditional Thai style -- wooden, with open living space on the ground floor.

My two dogs -- Bangkeaws (Thai temple dogs, pups, four months old) are cute, active and loyal.... BUT they are chewing up everything they can sink their teeth into made of wood --- table legs, wooden stairs. How can I stop this?

When I was there, I just enjoyed a leisurely drive into the countryside and mountains outside of the city. Very relaxing.

So stay in Cambodia.

ok, got it.

Sheryl, Thanks for your input; sorry, what does AFAIK mean?

Thanks.

Does anyone have any experience with Cigna and in particular with regard to claims denials?

Thanks.