tuvia

3 hours ago, Presnock said:

The UK is part of the same justice Dept group that the US belongs to.  They started a new

program to "control money laundering", bank fraud, etc and originally I read that they had 54

countries in the group.  The US cancelled all bank accounts of Americans with no permanent

US address.  I had the same bank account for 50 years and it was cancelled as I sold all my

US properties when I retired to Thailand.  Fortunately there are two US banks that allow one

to have a foreign address so that was finally resolved successfully.  I have noted from folks

here that don't have such an address, that they too use a relative's address but like the US,

now the other countries' banks seem to want a cell-phone nr or a phone in their country so

they can speak directly to the account holder.  I have heard of several ways to get around this but 

as that is basically illegal I would never recommend it to anyone.  Good luck as there always seems

to be some bank willing to bet on us.

Which two U.S. banks will work with a foreign address? Banking is such a headache abroad - I’m expecting my only bank account will switch to telephone verification only and put me in a mess as well.

3 hours ago, Presnock said:

 

Thanks Sheryl. I also saw on Bumrungrad’s website the cost there is 7500.

I will need the Nucleic Acid test before traveling back to China. I see Bangkok Pattaya hospital has it for 6500 baht. Is that the going rate in other places eg Bangkok as well ? Or does anyone have knowledge of cheaper alternatives ?

Anyone checked pricing for this recently? I need one, and am wondering the pricing for it, and if it would likely be cheaper in Pattaya or Bangkok?

Thanks dddave. I will look into those suggestions.

 I would like to consult an orthopedic doctor about knee issues. I know there are several recommended in Bkk but as I am staying in Jomtien, I’d like to find a good one in Pattaya. Anyone have any experiences or recommendations for Pattaya?

I was told years ago that I’d probably be needing a knee replacement at some point. My knee is often very swollen and stiff after even moderate activities, and is weaker than my other knee, but so far isn’t excruciatingly painful. Hoping to get some advice as Tom it’s current condition and alternative treatments. Thanks.

I have an expensive (for me, anyway) international insurance policy from Aetna, via an insurance broker in Beijing. I was told by a Pattaya expat that Aetna has bought out BUPA Thailand, and that Aetna's Thailand-based insurance is much more affordable than what I am paying now (which is approx. 240k baht as a 57 year old).

Dunno if the above info is accurate re. Aetna and costs, but my question is does anyone know whether or not pre-existing conditions would be covered if I switched from one Aetna International policy to the Aetna-Thailand offerings? Also, does anyone know of a brokerage in Pattaya that handles Aetna so that I could pop in get some info in person?

Thanks much.

I was told by a doctor at Bumrungrad that the MRI quality at the same day private imaging places in BKK are not good enough (and he knew I would not be getting it done at B'grad due to time constraints). So back to my home base of Beijing I went, where a doctor who works at a local hospital and also at the overpriced expat hospital sent me to a third hospital, because apparently their MRI equipment was far superior (this even though he would later be doing my knee surgery at the expat hospital).

All this to say that at least based on my experiences, probably you should find the place with the better quality MRI available so as not to waste your time and money.

“did you get a second opinion ?”

sorry , can’t quite figure out how to use the quote function here.

The checkup at Bumrungrad involved a sonogram (I think) which showed there was a tumor, then I returned to my current home in Beijing and had an mri at a hospital here, then sent the pics to several docs.

So, had opinions from two docs from Bumrungrad, one in Beijing, and two in Singapore. In the end, I had a partial nephrectomy in Singapore and lost part of one kidney. The biopsy showed the removed tumor was indeed cancerous, but the least aggressive/slowest moving stage. Or something like that. 

Benroon- I don’t recall specifically, but the package options along with their prices are listed clearly on the Bumrungrad website (there are several choices). I did it on a whim a few years ago and there was a tumor discovered on my kidney which I had no idea was there, and that I had removed. It did turn out to be cancerous, so I was lucky I did the check then. 

Does anyone know of a place offering a good comprehensive medical checkup package? I have used Bumrungrad before and it is certainly Excellent, but the package I used before costs around 20k baht these days. I’m wondering if anyone knows of a cheaper option that is still well-organized and of good quality?

I’ve seen Dr Kittinut as well, and was very happy with his professionalism.

Good info, thanks!

I have insurance which covers inpatient treatments and testing, but not always the intitial doctor consults. I need to see a urologist for prostate-related issues; does anyone happen to know what the doctors at Bangkok Pattaya Hospital charge for the first appointment (as well as some other reputable hospitals in Pattaya)?

Well done on the sale and good luck to you Mobi. I always thought that had your place been around Soi Bukhao or some such spot rather than the darkside you'd have been a great success with your daily updates drawing a larger group of regulars. Best wishes.

From the description, I am guessing the OP means this place: http://www.oocities.org/helpscstudents/

There are some help links here for former students (but who knows how old), but if your job/visa depends on a bachelors degree, one problem you are going to have - if this is indeed the place - is that this "college" was only a junior college, and only granted associates degrees, not bachelors degrees.

I don't

agree with how you are handling the drunken ting tong. At the very least, I think you should tell the guy you are not comfortable serving him if he is going to be driving himself home. And certainly none of your staff should help him onto his bike - by doing so you've become complicit in whatever happens next. There is always the long shot that had you not helped him onto his bike, he may have been unable to do it himself and instead fallen over and done a face plant in the parking lot and slept there til dawn . A better result than him colliding with a mother and two young kids riding triple in the opposite direction for example.

Anyway , I am wondering is there any moto taxi options out there? I am staying soi lengkee and wouldn't mind paying a visit myself sometime but unsure of the cost and availability of transportation.

I am just a lurker here, but i do enjoy keeping up with this thread. I appreciate the candor and it is interesting to me to read the ups and downs of trying to succeed as a bar owner in that part of town. It is also amusing to read the couple of surly detractors who for some reason either are doing their best to scuttle a little bar via obvious distortions of what is written, or perhaps they really do have an issue with reading comprehension. Either/or, it is entertaining.

I will be in Patts this August, and would like to visit Mobi's, but I am not sure what the cost would be for mototaxi and how long it would take (from Soi Chaitapoon).

If I do go, I will certainly 'keep my wits about me'