charliebadenhop

Thanks for the info in the last couple of posts, as well as other posts.

And just thinking now...

A medical certificate?

What does it need to include, and how much might it cost to get one?

Thanks for this.

I did not know all of this is necessary.

I have non-immigrant O visa. Residence certificate, medical certificate, a couple photos, passport, and old license required. Take all this stuff (with a couple copies of both certs. and copies of the face and visa stamp pages of the passport) to the LTO office and get a numbe

As always, thanks Joe.

And thanks for the correction of terms as well.

So I only need to show up with my passport?

Someone told me that the opaque bottles leach some of the chemicals the bottles are made of.

Do you think this might be correct?

Excuse me for being braindead, but....

I am going for my second extension based on retirement.

Do I need to show bank info each time I go, or only once a year?

I am not up to speed on all the correct terms-

Both my friends have what I am calling "full coverage" which includes everything including meds if needed.

Their medicare premium is around $120 a month (maybe $10 difference between the two of them) and the supplemental coverage costs them each about $150 a month (Again, with slight difference for each of them).

Supposedly, if you only pay for Medicare, you leave yourself open to a lot of different problems, and thus expenses.

Both people told me almost the same exact story, with both of them saying that a high quality supplemental policy is crucial.

Both of them have worked for more than 40 year, while paying income tax, etc.

So I ask again- At my age bracket, I can get an Inpatient only policy that costs around $370 a month.

How can it possibly make sense to pay for Medicare instead, and have to fly back to the States for treatment?

Maybe it is just me, but I get confused while reading this thread....

I contacted another friend, who is old enough for Medicare and he confirms that indeed to get full coverage and individual is going to pay around $300 a month, give or take.

So if one is not a retired military person, why would anyone pay $300 a month for full coverage in the States, when you can pay $400 a month here in Thailand?

And yes- If you think you might return to the US to live, that would put a different spin on things.

???

For me, after talking to a friend in the US who is the same age as me, Medicare treatment in the US makes no sense at all.

Here is why-

My friend pays $120 a month to Medicare as it is not free unless you are indigent.

She pays $150 a month for a full supplemental program.

So she is fully covered for a cost of $270 a month.

I can get insurance here for around $400 a month for INPATIENT only, which suits me.

If I take a $1,600 deductible the cost goes down to about $350 a month.

AND my premiums will increase as I get older, but I was also given a schedule showing how much.

So give what I now believe to be the case, it is hard to imagine how an expat living in Thailand can make sense out of relying on Medicare in the US.

Anything I might be missing?

As an aside-

I play blues harp, and on many occasions if someone in the band or a friend of the band has heard me play before, I am asked up to play, and the Thais are collaborative and open to such stuff.

Yes, a number of good clubs in CR that are filled with 99.5% Thai patrons, and the staff are very happy to serve farong. Also the locals are friendly and inviting. For instance, recently I asked the waiter what the folks at the next table were eating because it looked good, and the folks at the other table immediately offered me a taste.

AND, there are a number of places I have passed by that look dark and foreboding from the outside, and I would not consider going in.

I have never had a menacing stare etc. from Thai men, no matter where I go.

Sometimes they might kind of ignore you, but never have a felt even mild aggression.

Maybe I am going to the wrong places?

BUPA Thailand finally contacted me today.

Here is what the lady said-

Can not apply if you are over 65.

If you apply between 60-65 you will only be covered until you are 70!

Not sure exactly what she said, but I believe she said- If you apply before you are 60 you can have lifetime coverage.

The part I am not sure about is whether she said "if you are under 60 when applying" or if she said "if you apply prior to being 50".

Not claiming this is the gospel, but this is what the lady said.

Jess,

Can you give me a contact person at BUPA?

I have tried contacting them through their website but got no reply of any kind.

TIA,

Charlie

As Pomchop said-

Tuk Falang/ Retro and Say Play bar....there are many many others.

I just happened to go to both of these places for the first time last night.

Really good music in both, and Retro has quite an extensive and good tasting menu.

All of the various posts on Medicare are a LOT to take in, but I do very much appreciate reading it all.

My next task is to look at the BUPA site as suggested.

Thanks to all of you!

I will reply in "chunks" here so as to cover all points.

1. I am retired so not showing any income. Thus income tax in any particular state would not impact me.

2. In regard to being "so old" that anything that goes wrong could be considered a pre-condition-

I am not needing to be in the same shape as a 40 year old person (as an example).

Depending on the company you insure with, you either have to get a full physical or sign saying that you do not have condition X,Y, and Z.

AND they charge a lot more for people my age, and they know what their liabilities are overall.

Ah hah, so first learning for me is that I need to be able to show that I am "residing" in the US to use Medicare.

(I already have my Medicare card).

I guess I need to find out the legal definition of "residing in". Guessing the Medicare site will show that.

And yes, costs for operations etc. are a good deal cheaper here than in the US.

Short of a stroke or a heart attack, or a major injury from a car accident, I can't think of why I would be incapacitated but still needing medical treatment.

???

Just trying to understand what will make the most sense for me.

Is there anyone here that has had a medical issue here in Thailand and has returned to the US to get treatment there under Medicare?

I would love to know more!

I am 67 years old.

What I have learned after contacting several insurance companies here is the following-

Policies for full protection here start out at about B115,000 a year and then go up from there. Rates climb to B160,000 a year and above as time goes on.

This is a lot more than I was expecting, and thus I am wondering if it makes sense to depend on Medicare and a trip back to the US.

Of course something like a heart attack would need immediate treatment here, and that would need to come out of pocket.

But there could be lots of different serious ailments that would allow one to fly back to the States.

I saw on a website that heart bypass surgery in Thailand would likely be about B1,200,000 or so.

Angioplasty goes for around B500,000.

I don't have heart problems but just trying to understand some potential costs.

I am currently in good health.

Anyone with some info?

TIA,

Charlie

Bangkok Bank has been good for me.

If any international bank has special services that other banks don't have, I would LOVE to know about it!

I am 67 years old and just getting insurance.

As you likely already know, prices vary greatly depending on your age.

KrungThai just offered me a policy for B118,000 a year, including an eventual payout of B50,000 (not a lot!) in life insurance.

This includes outpatient visits, but not yet sure exactly what is covered in outpatient.

I am only really interested in scenarios where I have a major problem.

B3 mil max a year in payout is possible.

My thinking-

I looked around and found that heart bypass surgery seems to be around B1,200,000.

Angioplasty is around B500,00

Cancer treatment really depends on exactly what you need.

So if I ever needed bypass surgery the cost would equal about 10 years of insurance payments.

No exam needed.

For further insight-

Pacific Cross offered me their Maxima Plan for B112,000 a year.

But there were a lot of restrictions/reductions.

Health insurance is a crap shoot.

Very expensive if you don't wind up using it, but can be a definite savings if needed, plus peace of mind.

I am a US citizen and have Medicare, but if I needed something major in a few years time, I am not sure how much sense it would make to have to fly back to the US for treatment. I would also need to stay with a friend, and not sure if that would all work out.

So...

I have not decided yet, and would love further feedback from others.

I have a Thai friend who builds high quality two story houses, mostly bought by Thais, but sometimes by farong. The finish inside and out is excellent to my eyes. I would want a more Westernized kitchen.

She pays B10,000 per sq. m.

Almost always with the same builder, so a one off house would me more.

Yes, seems to me that Borderless was adding praise to the CR office, and agreeing with what I said about their overall service.

There are two offices in Chiang Rai. One is Mae Sai, and the other office is fairly close to the airport.

Everyone has always suggested to me to stay away from Mae Sai, and that is what I have done.

So...

1. GREAT experience! Staff is friendly and responsive. Some of them are even a bit playful.

I was in and out in about 45 minutes.

2. You have to use the extension form they provide at their offices.

They won't accept any form DL'd from the internet.

The guy said "We only accept original one."

3. Mae Sai processes extensions every day.

Now, the office I went to only does extensions on Mon. and Wed.

I initially went on a Thursday and had to go back a second time.

4. They did not ask any questions whatsoever.

5. I presented them with a copy of every page of my bank book, but they were only interested in looking at and keeping, the pages for the last two months.

6. They take your picture on the spot.

7. My only complaint- They would not let me file for a re-entry permit.

They said I should come back and do this before I plan on leaving the country.

Not sure if we had a misunderstanding on this or not, but I did ask twice and their English is pretty good.

What is the URL of the Facebook page related to sending money?

And yes, I would also like to know if Took showed up, and a report on the overall evening.

Ok, thanks Mac.

Actually just found someone coming over!

cb