sghanchey

Thais, being the superstitious souls that they are think that the side units are shaped like coffins and would never buy one. 

Somewhere here the issue of generating a year's worth of bank statements on the Bangkok Bank website was discussed, with someone- perhaps Ubon Joe- showing how a 12-month statement could be requested there. When I tried the "Request Statement" option, the only accounts available were my credit cards- not my savings account- the one I have to show with the 65,000 baht/month record. Anything I am missing?

On 6/24/2022 at 6:12 AM, DrJack54 said:

You don't need an agent.

All you need to do is exit and reenter prior to expiry of your non O-A visa. 

You will be stamped in for another 12 months.

Be aware that if you wish to exit and return in that 12 months you will need to buy a reentry permit either multiple or single.

Now do some research on what insurance you need to obtain for that period. 

I am on a Non-OA visa and have left the country twice since I renewed it last September at Chonburi Immigration in Jomtien, Pattaya. Each time I have been stamped in only until the current expiration date. I did not get an additional 12 months as reported here. Curious.

11 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

The online banking site only allows you to print a 6 month statement.

Only the mobile banking app has the one year statement available.

Thanks Ubon Joe. Now if I knew how to print from my phone (I know there is a way).

The Bangkok Bank website still says "Select a Transaction Date Range (from within the last 6 months)" I tried a 12 month date range but it only produced six months. 

53 minutes ago, jgm005 said:

Why not get your ATK test at Swampy . It's around 500 bt. Results within 30 minutes. 

Where is the ATK testing place at Swampy?

https://AQ.in.th

9 hours ago, Etaoin Shrdlu said:

Medicare Part A (hospitalization cover) does not require of a premium. I don't see any to signing up for Part A when you turn 65.

 

Part B (outpatient) does require of a premium. If you don't sign up during your enrollment period at age 65, it will cost an additional 10 for every 12 that you did not participate and pay the premium. Premiums are based upon your . You will have to decide if it is worth the monthly premium to have cover for visits to the US and for that you will repatriate some in the future and wish paying .

 

If you do not take Part B during your initial enrollment period, you would have to wait for an open enrollment period if you do decide to join. I think there is one open enrollment period each for a limited time, so you would have to time a late enrollment properly a gap if you did return to the US and wanted cover.

 

Some rely upon travel insurance for visits to the US, but travel policies can become difficult to obtain in later years.

Medicare Part B issued by United Healthcare through AARP (the biggest insurer in the U.S.) covers 80% of emergency treatment during the first 60 days of an overseas trip. I used it for emergency surgery and was reimbursed later (I had to pay the upfront cost using a credit card). Hospitals in Thailand cannot bill Medicare directly. If someone just visits here a couple of times a year, they should definitely enroll in Medicare in the U.S., because hospital costs in the U.S. are exorbitant, but Medicare pays 80% upfront in the U.S. Part B pays the difference. 

On 2/3/2022 at 7:03 PM, possum1931 said:

Glad to see that no one mentioned Key Visa. 

Any reason why you say that?

Well, it's all changed now. When the Test & Go scheme resumes (applications open on Feb. 1, they say), travelers will have to have an official first and second test in an approved SHA-Plus hotel, with booking of room on both Day 1 (arrival day) and on Day 5, and wait for the 2nd test result before checking out or mingling in public areas. I was required to remain in my albeit very comfortable room before getting the arrival test result at about 6:30 AM. 

23 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

Bangkok Pattaya is about 3500  tbh for required RT-PCR, same day results.

As far as I know Bangkok Pattaya is only administering RT-PCR for its own patients, not the public, thus the handout at registration advising "Fit to Fly" customers to contact Samitivej or Bangkok Memorial. 

50 minutes ago, FalangTingTong said:

Did this require the police background report or whatever it’s called?  If so, how did you get that in the US?  I know it’s possible but when I looked into it, it seemed like a huge hassle.

There is a website that provides the FBI check required. You have to go to a Mailbox office that is affiliated (they are everywhere- half a dozen in my area in the U.S.) and get fingerprinted- that's all. The FBI no criminal record report comes back in 24 hours by email. 

3 hours ago, fulhamster said:

I think you will need to get this at a private hospital.

It won't be free

BPH Hospital has a paper at their registration desk recommending Samitivej Sriracha Hospital and Pattaya Memorial Hospital, where i got mine done for 3500 bahts (not free anywhere that I know). BPH main hospital and Jomtien Hospital do not do the tests anymore.

On 1/8/2022 at 6:16 PM, sezze said:

While it is never smart to forget "official paperwork" , if you still get 1 , it does show "good intend" . I mean if it is within certain time frame , not after 3 weeks , when should be 5-7 days . I always believe that even officials do show compassion if a person does try to do the right thing , even after they done "wrong" in the 1st place . You can always have a bad officer , but i believe the chances of having a easier system after does rely on 2 sides , especially if you do have something not right .

So , go to test center as soon as possible and get yourself tested , you are too late , but if it is only a few days , you can get away with it .

I would be curious to know which hospital the poster contacted about getting the 2nd Covid test. I was unable to schedule mine and decided not to go to the big government Banglamung Hospital as it was crowded with thousands (yes, 1000s) of waiting patients milling around in close proximity, so I went to a private hospital (Pattaya Memorial) and paid 3500 for an official test. The problem is I can't upload the test result to the Communicable Disease Center's website because I don't have a "laboratory number", and so I can't submit. I haven't figured out how to get around this issue, so technically I am in non-compliance. Anyone have any ideas? 

Does anyone know what would happen if someone never gets the second PCR test under Test and Go? I can't find anywhere in Pattaya that has testing available. The best private hospitals (ex Bangkok Hospital Pattaya) have cancelled testing and the others are all booked up indefinitely. I would be willing to pay instead of opting for the government's free second test offer, but none have availability and were unhelpful in suggesting alternatives. I am going to check out Banglamung Hospital this morning, but am extremely anxious about waiting around in a large public hospital with potentially hundreds of sick people. 

12 hours ago, GroveHillWanderer said:

Yes, it does have a basis in science. Not only has the principle of using a heterologous prime-boost regimen already been shown effective in numerous other vaccines, specific studies with CoViD-19 vaccines also support its use.

 

From Nature Magazine:

 

Mix-and-match COVID vaccines trigger potent immune response

 

From The Lancet:

 

Heterologous prime-boost COVID-19 vaccination

Thanks very much for the Lancet article. I'm heading to the U.S. next week with one jab of Astra-Zeneca received last week, and want to follow it up with a Pfizer jab in 2 weeks after I get back, but no health professionals in the U.S. have much information about A-Z because it's not approved or used there. 

On 7/12/2021 at 6:43 PM, brewsterbudgen said:

The 7 motorway between Bangkok and Pattaya is only closed during the Bangkok curfew times (9pm-3am) and, presumably, only the entrances and exits within Bangkok.  However, it is open during the day.  No-one knows for sure yet (it's only Day 1 of the new restrictions) what the requirements are for leaving Bangkok during the day, other than for "necessary" travel.  There's a lot of business travel between Chonburi province and Bangkok, so I would think legitimate business reasons will be allowed, and travelling for a vaccination sounds "necessary" to me.  We should know more in the next few days, as more people report back.

I thought the freeway closure was 4 AM, not 3 AM.

14 hours ago, dsmiththailand said:

The law firm just stated that they will visit immigration tomorrow and confirm what the latest requirements is around the 65,000.  I will keep you updated.

Please do. I was under the impression that a Non-O required the 800,000 bank method only. 

3 minutes ago, nchuckle said:

Is there any point going (are you excluded) if say 69 like myself. I could drive there with my wife 47 but obviously a risk travelling to a red zone if likely to be turned away 

They checked my passport at the entrance and again at every station inside. Several of them didn't think I was 76 (I am), and looked carefully at the year of my birth (1945).