pchansmorn

On 7/4/2025 at 3:57 PM, Hummin said:

You can have a good life on a right budget in rural districts and do not need anything else than a roof above your head, and a motorbike. Eat Thai food 5k a month at most, and 1000 baht electric.

 

Two persons 10k give or take, should give them 30k to save pr month, which will be 300k a year if you include some spending for clothes once and awhile alike flipp flopps, a few 100 baht shorts and t-shirts. 20k for agent and a trip to Pattaya. 

 

Living  in the paradise S Cal

I wouldn’t want to live that cheaply.  Many single people live her on 3,500 baht a month and are very happy.  Am lucky enough to have more. And am very happy to have extra money for donations.

On 6/28/2025 at 1:17 PM, Cat Boy said:

The short answer is "no", health insurance is not worth it for a long term stay in Thailand. 

 

The long answer has already been covered in previous identical posts. 

 

Namly,:

1) Denial of claims based on either pre-existing conditions (note, chronic conditions acquired whilst under coverage will subsequently be considered as pre-existing resulting in termination and non-renewal. 

2) Insurance puts a non-medical third party into the decision process for proper care between patients and doctors. That third party is solely motivated by profit, read: denial, or delay of treatment or minimizing to substandard inadequate treatment 

3) Aging out, at a certain age the cost of health is becomes expensive for the insured while the insurer will seek any possible way to get out from coverage and or cancel coverage. 

 

The only sure method to insure coverage is to take charge oneself, save and invest the money otherwise thrown away on insurance and provide your own safety network. 

If you are healthy, insurance is a waste of money. Save the money in case you get sick and make some interest on it.

On 6/27/2025 at 3:52 PM, Sales Team said:

 

Thailand has long been a top destination for expats and digital nomads seeking a high quality of life, with its affordable living costs. While the country offers both public and private healthcare options, many expats opt for private health insurance for peace of mind, better care, and flexibility, especially for those planning to stay long-term.

Understanding the healthcare system in Thailand

Thailand boasts a strong healthcare system, combining public and private options. While the public healthcare system offers affordable care, expats often face a few notable challenges, which include:

• Limited choice of hospitals: Access is often restricted to specific public hospitals assigned by employers.

• Long wait times: Public hospitals can be overcrowded, which results in extended wait times for appointments, treatments, and surgeries.

• Language barriers: In smaller cities or rural areas, finding English-speaking staff can be difficult, leading to communication challenges.

• Out-of-pocket costs for non-working expats: Retirees and non-working expats are often required to pay for public healthcare services themselves.

While public healthcare is inexpensive, it does not provide the flexibility, convenience, or personal care that private healthcare offers. That’s where private health insurance steps in.

The long-term cost of private health insurance

For expats in Thailand, understanding the cost of private health insurance is essential. Health insurance premiums can vary significantly depending on factors such as age, health, and the level of coverage. On average:

• Basic individual plans (covering inpatient or emergency care only) cost between 20,000 and 50,000 Baht annually (approximately US$540 to 1,350).

• Comprehensive individual plans (covering inpatient, outpatient, specialist visits, dental, and wellness care) range from 100,000 to 200,000 baht annually (approximately US$2,700 to 5,400).

• Family plans tend to be more expensive, with premiums averaging around US$11,683 annually, depending on the number of family members.

The cost increases with age, especially for those around retirement age, and may also depend on pre-existing conditions, coverage levels, and whether the plan is local or international. 

However, despite the costs, private health insurance in Thailand provides significant long-term benefits, particularly for those with chronic conditions or who anticipate needing specialist care.

The risks of going without private health insurance

 

Living in Thailand without private health insurance exposes you to substantial risks. While healthcare is generally affordable, the cost of private healthcare can quickly add up, especially for emergencies or major procedures. Here’s a look at the potential costs:

• A general doctor’s visit: 1,000 to 3,000 baht.

• Specialist consultations: 1,500 to 4,000 baht.

• Minor surgeries (e.g., mole removal, wound stitching): 5,000 to 15,000 baht.

• Major hospital stays or surgeries: 30,000 to 500,000 baht or more.

• Emergency evacuations: Air ambulance services can cost anywhere between 150,000 and 800,000 baht.

These costs can quickly become overwhelming if unexpected medical emergencies arise. Without health insurance, you may find yourself paying these bills out of pocket, putting significant strain on your finances.

Benefits of private health insurance for long-term stay in Thailand

Private health insurance offers numerous long-term benefits for expats in Thailand. Here are some of the most compelling reasons to invest in coverage:

1. Access to top-quality private hospitals and clinics: Private health insurance provides access to Thailand’s best private hospitals. These hospitals are equipped with advanced medical technology and staffed by qualified medical professionals who speak English.

2. Faster access to healthcare services: One of the key advantages of private healthcare is shorter wait times. Private hospitals offer quicker consultations, treatments, and surgeries, so you don’t have to wait for urgent care.

3. Comprehensive coverage: Private health insurance plans offer extensive coverage that includes inpatient and outpatient care, specialist consultations, surgeries, dental and optical care, maternity care, emergency services, and even medical evacuation.

4. Peace of mind: Private health insurance helps protect you from unexpected medical expenses. With the rising cost of healthcare, having private insurance gives you peace of mind.

5. Tailored plans for expats: Providers like Cigna offer flexible health insurance plans designed for expats. These plans allow you to customise coverage based on your needs.

6. Long-term security: For expats planning to live in Thailand for the long term, having health insurance ensures continuous access to care and protection.

How Cigna’s health insurance plans work in Thailand

Cigna offers a range of health insurance plans for expats in Thailand. Their plans cater to both short-term and long-term needs, providing flexibility and access to top-tier healthcare services. Some of Cigna’s plans include:

 

• Cigna Close Care: This plan is ideal for expats living mainly in Thailand. It offers access to top private hospitals in the country and provides 180 days of coverage in your home country or Asia (excluding China, Hong Kong, and Singapore).

• Cigna Global Health: Perfect for frequent travellers, this plan offers three coverage options: Thailand/Asia, worldwide excluding the USA, or worldwide. All plans include emergency care and up to 21 days of coverage for short trips.

 

Cigna’s health insurance plans are known for their reliability and customer service. With direct billing at top hospitals in Thailand, the claim process is made simple, reducing out-of-pocket costs. Cigna offers 24/7 assistance for emergencies and medical evacuation services if needed.

 

 

 

Private health insurance in Thailand is a long-term investment in your health and well-being. Because the cost of private healthcare can add up quickly, private health insurance ensures that you have access to high-quality care, faster service, and financial protection against unexpected medical expenses.

For expats, having comprehensive private health insurance is worth the price, especially for those planning to live in Thailand long-term. Providers like Cigna offer flexible plans tailored to the needs of expats, giving you the peace of mind that comes with knowing you have reliable healthcare coverage. 

 

 

 

Sponsored - Original article by The Thaiger

 

If you are healthy it’s not worth the money.  You can just bank that money you would had paid the insurance company and make interest on it.  Use it when you need it.

On 6/24/2025 at 7:38 PM, FriscoKid said:

I'll give you one thing, bob, you lie with not only impunity, but petulant delusion. 

Did you ever think it’s you.  You are bringing them down.

On 6/24/2025 at 7:04 PM, Cornish Pasty said:

I’ve been moving around a lot recently, been rural, city’s, beaches, mountains etc and the story remains the same..

 

Thai people seem so sullen & miserable.

 

No matter where I go it’s the same story. I usually keep myself to myself, but when I do have to interact with a local it’s like pulling teeth.

The only real positive experience i have had recently was with a bunch of Chinese women. They were gorgeous and genuinely friendly.

 

Thailand - up your game, lose the face masks or be prepared to lose your famous moniker..

 

Mark.

Perhaps if you lived in there shoes you might not be smiling all the time either.  Get a Life.

5 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

I mostly don't mind the content but the volume hurts my ears sometimes, some must be partially deaf, no need to talk so loudly

Noise in Thailand is unbearable. I wear earbuds these days. I believe most people are already deaf.

On 5/30/2025 at 12:38 PM, spidermike007 said:

Where do I even start to address such an open-ended premise? 

I love the light-heartedness of the average Thai person.

I love their sense of humor and how easy it is to make them laugh.

I love the food, and the tropical weather.

 

I love the relatively low cost of living.

I love the friendliness of the women, and the ability to flirt with young and beautiful strangers.

I love the relative lack of stress.

 

I could literally go on for days about the number of things I love about this place. I just came back from over a month in America and I can attest the sour, humorless, bitterness, and disenfranchisement of the average American. The people have become in stressed out to the max, very unfulfilled, and living for nothing but money. It's a very, very low quality of life back there. Yikes. 

I’m glad you got back safe. I haven’t been back to the US since 2019 the beginning of Covid. I would be afraid to return now with my Thai wife even though she is a US citizen.  In 2019 I noticed a big change in people’s attitude in California, people were mean and nasty. Our friends and family are used to that kind of behavior so it’s the Norm for them.

16 hours ago, still kicking said:

I tip all the time 

Be generous the Thai people make very little money.  If you can afford to travel then you can afford to tip in Thailand.  It’s just a nice thing to do. If you only knew how much they got paid I believe you would feel better about leaving a tip. If they are lucky and treated fairly by there employers they will make 8-10 dollars a day after taxes and many working women have to support the whole family with those wages.  The men in the family don’t often work or they leave to find another women.  Thai people don’t have a safety net like other countries, they have to work there whole life till they die. So be generous and leave them a tip.

4 hours ago, JoePai said:

Agree - bring them in line with Grab, Bolt etc

4 hours ago, JoePai said:

Agree - bring them in line with Grab, Bolt etc

The taxis are uncomfortable, smelly, many smell just like a Chinese restaurant. There don’t deserve the same pay as the Grab drivers.

23 hours ago, cdemundo said:

I have one that bugs me.

I take a taxi to work 5 days a week.

The inability of a significant percentage of taxi drivers to find my condo is a mystery to me.

 

It is located 1 km off Ramkhamheang Rd., take one main soi and make 1 left turn and you are there.

The security guard calls me a taxi and sometimes 2 taxis cancel because they can't find the place.

Sometimes I can see the taxi stopping in the middle of the soi and apparently giving up and turning around unable to continue another 200 meters.

 

Grab charges a 20 baht flat fee on a 60 baht fare and often no Grab taxis are available in my area when needed so I rarely use Grab.

 

The taxi drivers always show up with a little scrap of paper with directions on it from the dispatcher.

The drivers are unable to find the condo on a regular basis, I would say on the order of one out of ten.

What I can't figure out is why the dispatcher considers this acceptable and doesn't try to improve the directions given.

 

Only needs go "east on Ramkhamheang, left on soi xx0, after 600 meters left on soi 1x.

Continue 400 meters Condo on the left."

Alternatively, my condo is on Google maps, only need to enter the name of the condo to get directions.

 

I don't get it.

No Education.

 

 

23 hours ago, cdemundo said:

I have one that bugs me.

I take a taxi to work 5 days a week.

The inability of a significant percentage of taxi drivers to find my condo is a mystery to me.

 

It is located 1 km off Ramkhamheang Rd., take one main soi and make 1 left turn and you are there.

The security guard calls me a taxi and sometimes 2 taxis cancel because they can't find the place.

Sometimes I can see the taxi stopping in the middle of the soi and apparently giving up and turning around unable to continue another 200 meters.

 

Grab charges a 20 baht flat fee on a 60 baht fare and often no Grab taxis are available in my area when needed so I rarely use Grab.

 

The taxi drivers always show up with a little scrap of paper with directions on it from the dispatcher.

The drivers are unable to find the condo on a regular basis, I would say on the order of one out of ten.

What I can't figure out is why the dispatcher considers this acceptable and doesn't try to improve the directions given.

 

Only needs go "east on Ramkhamheang, left on soi xx0, after 600 meters left on soi 1x.

Continue 400 meters Condo on the left."

Alternatively, my condo is on Google maps, only need to enter the name of the condo to get directions.

 

I don't get it.

 

 

 

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

lesson

Condos aren't reliable homes!

There's a lot to be said for a house on a plot of land with a fence around it.

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

lesson

Condos aren't reliable homes!

There's a lot to be said for a house on a plot of land with a fence around it.

Wait for the flood to come to your well made home.

6 hours ago, Equatorial said:

 

I agree with that, to a degree. We have our values, and I will stand up for my values, when practicable. (Of course, I am not going to risk my life over a restaurant review...)

 

 

That is wise. However, there are way to express values without getting into a conflict situation. 

 

Last week I was having dinner at one of the better restaurants in town. A vendor entered from the outside, and starting walking from table to table, trying to sell guava to the restaurant guests. Pretty annoying, but I didn't say anything. Ten minutes later, another vendor came in and did the same. 

 

When I go to a restaurant, one of the things I expect is that I won't be bothered while eating my dinner. Thais may not expect it. And even if they do, they will just smile and say nothing. That's the Thai way. 

 

I got up and went to talk to the owner who was sitting behind the cash register. I told him that I like the restaurant and I am enjoying the food, however, there are these people coming in from the outside and bothering me while I'm eating dinner. I didn't frame it as a complaint (because I know well that Thais would perceive that as conflict). I framed it as a question, "Is this normal?" He smiled, and said, "Yes. Sometimes." I said, with an incredulous expression on my face, "Are you serious?" 

 

May not seem like much. But I made my point. We all owe to ourselves to stand up for ourselves. 

If you find that annoying how about the single mom or family who bring there kids to a restaurant to play like they are at the playground screaming and bumping into your table and this is at a decent restaurant you are supposed to be ok with this sort of behavior. I get up and leave with money on the table. 

8 hours ago, simon43 said:

Asking those who live in Thailand....

 

The last time that I spoke with a 'farang' was about 4 weeks ago when I said 'thank-you' to a young Russian guy who held the lift for me in my Jomtien condo building.  I don't go out of my way to socialise with foreigners in Thailand because most seem to be pot-heads, 'hidden' nutters (who seem quite sociable at first, but then reveal themselves as totally mad), or those many grumpy old men who seem to be suffering from dementia.

 

Otherwise, I seem only to interact with Thais 🙂on a daily basis.  None seem to be pot-heads, the nutters are quite vocal and easily avoided, and I always get a smile from the old folk when I give them a cheery 'sawadee kap'.

 

How about you.  Do you live in a farang bubble?  Or a Thai bubble for that matter?

Thai neighborhood. I find the Expats not very friendly.  Thai people are much easier to talk too.

On 4/27/2025 at 10:01 PM, Chris Daley said:

So you walk into a shop and there are younger staff or interns that speak perfect English but some old guy does the entire process.  Does this bother you?

 

I had to go through an entire eye check up at the opticians with some old crow.  She had zero English and at one point she just said "nevermind" in Thai.  Afterwards the assistant spoke to me in perfect English.

 

How about you?  Do you think we should fire the fossils and pay the young people with 2 degrees, 5 languages and masters more?

I think that if you don’t have the skill to speak English to the Foreigners then you shouldn’t be waiting on them.  Hospitals and dentists included. I always ask for a English speaking person to deal with and if they don’t have any I go elsewhere, there are plenty of people who speak English in Thailand.

22 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

I really feel sorry for Chris certainly one of the lowest, if not the lowest pension of advanced countries.  Probably below the poverty level in some.

For 2025 the highest U.S. Social Security is a whooping $5,000 usd a month and that includes COLA every year!

Another reason I guess the UK folks seem to have negative attitude toward their supposed allie the USA.  Jealous and hateful about the money?

 

No one is talking about the current mess with Social Security in the US. Has everyone set up their online ID as Musk ask us to do?  We are in our 80’s don’t use the computer and we have no clue how to set up this online ID. We are told that if you don’t have it set up soon you will lose your monthly income. We do have back up income but we rely mostly on our SS from the US. Every month I worry about are we going to get our automatic deposit. Patrick 

On 4/22/2025 at 11:43 AM, StandardIssue said:

I've lived in Bangkok and Pattaya on and off for the last 12 years. 

 

Most all the long term expats I've met don't know much Thai at all even before the use of Google Translate which many now rely on.

 

I never really asked why. I decided to learn early on and tooks some classes at the local library.

 

Question: As an expat in LOS why did you decide to not learn Thai and why?

 

ready set go. From a curious expat

It is not a complete language and many of the words can be used many times but not meaning the same which makes speaking very difficult, many words sound the same but have different meanings, some which are impolite. To much frustrations, and difficulty. Not worth it. So only use basic language skills, like ordering food, hello, goodbye, thank You, where’s the bathroom, and so forth. Been here 12 years and get around very easy.

On 4/24/2025 at 11:35 AM, Harrisfan said:

Define "real man"

 

Go

There aren’t any in Thailand.

23 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

I want to go back to Cha-am last visit was 2012

What’s stopping you.  We have a beach condo there that we rent.  Love that area, it’s still rural, farm land community but now has a few hidden restaurants scattered around a very big wet market & Makro.  You still have to drive to Hua Hin for hospitals and upscale restaurants. No tourists so far in Cha Am and thats how I like it.   Patrick 

8 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Dear Folks,

 

Have many people paid much attention to the rapid demographic shift in California during the past five decades?

 

Incredible?

 

 

Does anybody even remember how great California once was....in the mid-60s???

 

It was a totally different state, compared to what it has now become.

 

Do you like it better now?

Or, did you like it better then?

 

What a waste of a perfectly wonderful state, did you say?

 

This song was sung WAY BEFORE California became unrecognizable to some of us here.

 

 

So sad.

Let's have a few Sad Emojis......why not.....

 

This rapid transformation is...what....

 

ASTOUNDING?

 

Enjoy....

Your memories of a great state....

 

Regards,

Gamma

 

Note: So very good to be in East Asia, or SE Asia, and to have avoided witnessing the demise of.....CALIFORNIA.....

 

Mexico....

Here we come!!!

 

Flowers for the Dead.....Flores para los muertos.

 

Under the Volcano....etc, etc, etc....

 

 

 

 

The 60’s were a Great time. Am a native born California boy but after retirement we couldn’t afford to live there any longer so we moved to Thailand been living here since 2012.  Am sure glad am not living there now. Or even in the US to watch my country being destroyed.

19 hours ago, Paul Henry said:

What do you expect .Your in Thailand!

These people must of all be looking at their phones. I spend my whole life in Thailand looking down to prevent myself from getting hurt or worst. Holes are everywhere and hazards are what Thailand is all about. Sad but could had been prevented if only you look before you step.

On 1/20/2025 at 7:55 AM, KhunBENQ said:

Anybody voting for Hua Hin?

I only know what you find on the net.

And that looks like a good mixture.

Don't know about the prices though.

 

The thread is in the Bangkok forum and might miss some attention?

Hua Hin is getting crowded these days and they have to many tourists arriving everyday.  But Cha Am is about 10-15 minutes away and it’s more country style living no tourist yet, half of dozen decent restaurants, wet market, chicken & pork market, nice beaches with few people, but for big shopping you have to take a trip to Hua Hin, there is a Makro in Cha Am though. We like living there because it’s quiet and relaxing.  Patrick 

On 1/31/2025 at 6:11 PM, DaveInSukhumvit said:

In fairness with a reasonably sealed room and decent air purifier, one could substantially decrease PM2.5.  I've done testing in BKK Urban Dance studio with two different purifiers measuring results via an AQI meter demonstrating a significant benefit.

What kind of air purifiers are you using?  I can’t find an answer to what air purifier is best. People in Thailand just want to sell you the most expensive ones.