edwardflory

"""coming to Thailand trying to live on their paltry social security""" It depends on WHERE you live - LOCATION, LIFESTYLE and how you BLOW YOUR money. WE, the wife and I, live comfortably on my social security in Korat. I pay all the bills, rent ( 2BR house, LR, DR, 2 bath, indoor kitchen, AC, fenced yard with 3 trees, electric, WiFi, garbage, 2 mobiles and etc in a gated community) also the mortgage on her condo in BKK. We have a electric tricycle for local travel - 4 major stores within 10 minutes. Two 1 to 2 week vacations at a beach town yearly. I bank $300+ USD monthly, the wife gets $150+ USD monthly personal / savings money. Me thinks my paltry SS gives us a good life.

Jail him for 30 days - after due process, then deport him and bless him with a lifetime ban.

"""the other response I made to Edward Flory re: military hospitals. I had no intention of using one, I was querying his assertions that anyone can use them etc.""" The process is to REGISTER 1st at the hospital to get a hospital ID Card ( free ) then you can use. I am on a retirement extension of stay. I have been using MILITARY HOSPITALS ( Navy & Army ) 11 years. Many of the MILITARY doctors speak English. I paid cash ( I'm 80 - no insurance ) for my 6 days stay at the Korat ARMY hospital. I can not say if they accept insurance or children

EVERY OFFICE has their OWN policy on WHAT they want. Get the information from your LOCAL amphor office

I use a Thai MILITARY Hospital. ( Both ARMY and NAVY ) Most xpats do not know that they can register at and use a THAI MILITARY hospital. Your advantage is many doctors are US or UK trained and speak English. Cost is same as Thai civilians using the hospital. Slightly more expensive than Thai civilian hospitals, WAY WAY LESS than a private hospital. If necessary, they will refer you to a specialist. I spent 6 days in a 6 person ARMY hospital ward, ALL services were excellent!!! There IS a NAVY hospital in BKK on the way to the OLD Immigration Office on the river

"""wondering what triggers the need to do a 90 day report""" 90 days physically in THAILAND. Day 1 starts AS SOON AS you pass the Immigration Officer. Many offices will let you do 5 days early. Check a calendar, like we all do, if no slip in passport. NOTE 1: ever heard TM-30 that has to be done within 24 hours 1) of finding a place to stay in Thailand? 2) when you move to a different location NOTE 2: a legit hotel and SOME landlords do automatically . TM-30 Reference..Sections 4 & 38 of the Immigration Act and revisions.

"""and potentially purchase property?""" If you are talking about "LAND - tera firma", you can NOT purchase land. Your overall bet is to RENT fot several years. The wife owns a "Thai condo" in the BKK area ) while you look for a condo or a house - with a 30 year land lease. LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION I am happy renting for the past 12 years, very large room in Pattaya - 2 years, 3 room condo in BKK - 2 years, 4 room condo in Korat 4 years- ( never paid more than 7000bt month rent + utilities ) LICATION LOCATION LOCATION NOW, the past 4 years, a 2BR house, indoor kitchen, fencd yard, 3 trees, garden and etc in a gated community ( 4,500bt a month + utilities ) in Korat. 4 major storesmom & pop stores, NEW strip mall Fishing lake and the IO within 15 minutes of the house on our electric tricycle.

I like KRUNGSRI Bank. ( I do have a account with another bank ) Longest wait at ANY branch has been 10 minutes. - usual time 3 to 5 minutes - I always get a English speaking teller - my number and teller is called in English over the speaker. I can do my deposit ( foreign or domestic ) at the teller at ANY branch NO service charges - do NOT use service desk. I use the ATM for withdrawal ( see below ) Also use my KRUNGSRI Bank card at OTHER banks ATM's with NO service charges - ( in Korat, BKK, Pattaya.) no need to have large cash in pocket.

"""do you still have very little water?""" 6 large containers a month, ( 4 drinking 2 cooking ) we pay 90bt monthly delivered. House water ( shower and etc) averages under 150bt monthly

"""Housing: $300 to $800 (about 10,182 to 27,153bt )""" LOCATION, LOCATION LOCATION I live in KORAT, paying 4,500 bt ( $128 - $132USD ) rent + utilities for a unfurnished 2BR, 2 Bath, indoor kitchen, LR, DR, fenced yard with garden, 2 portchs, carport in a gated community. Under 70,000bt including a electric tricycle for local travel ( 4 major stores plus others ), to furnish. LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION

"""...Have you seen what Thai hospitals are charging now? Not to mention some charging Farangs double...""" Here is a hint: REGISTER at a THAI MILITARY HOSPITAL. You will pay the same as Thai civilians, at least in the KORAT ARMY HOSPITAL. Registration is no cost to get a hospital ID Card. Many doctors are US or UK trained and speak English. ( 6 days, ER service, 4 days x-rays, 6 days meds, 6 days labs, 2 Doctor visits daily in 6 person ward, 3 months meds on discharge was under $1000USD. )

"""tourist areas offer quicker access to medical care""" LOCATION, LOCATION and LOCATION. KORAT ( fair size non tourist city ), where I live, hospitals are 5 to 16 minutes away. "local" hospitals within 5 minutes, 2 MAJOR hospitals 9 & 12 minutes, Army hospital 16 minutes. Bonus....a doctor lives across the soi from me and a ambulance is parked here in the complex.

Another prospective ""Many retirees lose money by using unfavourable exchange rates and paying high ATM withdrawal fees"". -- I use my US DEBIT CARD ( NOT A CREDIT CARD ) at the banks TELLER, NOT THE SERVICE DESK or ATM. I found the direct transfer INTO my THAI BANK account to be my best / fastest way to get my monies at a decent exchange rate. Then withdraw funds from my Thai account via ATM upon leaving the bank. 1 stop service usually in under 10 minutes. ***** ***** ""Private hospitals charge significantly more, and major medical procedures can reach"" -- I am registered at a Thai MILITARY Hospital. Many doctors are US or UK trained so English is not a problem. I pay the same cost as Thai civilians using the hospital. It's slightly more expensive than govt civilian hospitals, BUT WAY WAY LESS than a private hospital. I spent 6 days in the hospital and was surprised at the under $1000USD cost for all the services ( 6 labs, 4 x-rays, daily meds, 2 doctor daily visits ) and including 3 months of meds on discharge. 1 ward nurse spoke English. ALL people and services were excellent!! ***** ***** ""living in tourist hotspots .... significantly increases costs"" Lived in Pattaya 2 years in a Thai residence hotel - 1 large corner room and toilet, paying 5000bt + utilities monthly. Moved to BKK area and found a "Thai" condo ( 3 rooms ) at 1850bt + utilities a month. BUT, was 45 travel minutes to BTS. Moved to KORAT in a fully furnished 4 room condo at 7000bt + utilities a month. My 1st year in Korat rented a motorcycle to explore KORAT area. I found a 2BR unfurnished house, fenced yard, indoor kitchen and etc in a gated community 4500bt + utilities a month ( 3 years here same rent ) Met a married couple at the IO, living 2km from me paying 35,000bt + utilities a month for furnished 1BR house in city. I paid to furnish my house UNDER 75,000bt INCLUDING a electric tricycle for local travel to 4 major stores. 260bt round trip to bank in downtown. The area has 2x's monthly weekend concerts at a socker field and the local temple holds non religious weekend events 2x's monthly ***** ***** ""face high medical costs if their policy does not cover certain treatments or chronic conditions."' -- I'm 80, policy is not available at a reasonable cost, re-read about Thai MILITARY Hospital. As I always say, LOCATION, LOCATION and lifestyle.

I know of a bolt driver that does KORAT to BKK on a regular basis.( Roughly 4 hours )

""" Out of curiosity, does an international trip restart the 90 day clock? Or is it 90 days from your last 90 day report?""" You must physically be "IN COUNTRY" 90 straight days. ( Most offices and online you can do 5 to 14+ days early)