mudcat

Never far from our minds as we count the years (going on eight) that a neighbor is still bedbound after a major stroke. His stroke was misdiagnosed by the local hospital as a headache and sent home with (you guessed it) paracetamol. By the time he was transferred to the next level hospital it was too late - they could keep alive but there was no hope for improvement in his condition. His mother (in her 70s) is full time care nurse and regrets not giving any instruction to let him die when under care. He is aware and tries to communicate through vocalizations and nods, but what goes on in his mind is unknown other than he is unhappy. We bought a hospital bed with pump to avoid bed sores, a wheelchair, and diapers for when the 30-baht allowance runs out and whatever else she/he could use to make the long road less arduous but we cannot ease the emotional burden other than being a friend. I have discussed with my wife the U.S. Social Security definition of when she will need to ask to be appointed representative payee (in charge of spending my Social Security benefit for my benefit): WHO NEEDS A REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE (From SSA-787 Medical Opinion of Capability.pdf) “Some individuals … who have mental or physical impairments are not capable of managing their SSA benefits or directing others to manage them to meet their basic needs, so we select a representative payee to receive their benefits on their behalf. …. However, a person’s need for some assistance with financial tasks such as bill paying, etc. does not mean he or she cannot make decisions concerning basic needs and is incapable of managing his or her own benefits. If the individual is able to direct the management of his or her own benefits, then we will consider the individual capable.”

Ran into this at work fifteen years ago when the lunch bunch included Bob L. from Hong Kong, Sam A. from Beirut, Hassan from Daka, Garth H. from South Africa, and me from New York. I would make a allusion to cultural touchstones from the 50s and 60s and got blank looks. Coincidentally those were the end of a common culture in the U.S. Comes from working with a group that grew up as the smartest kid in the room (all engineers, some of them even civil) leavened with me, the smart ass.

You don't remember the requirement for full year health insurance policy to coincide with the visa? Pacific Cross would not extend but offered to cancel and apply again.

The one thing I am expecting BOI to check is continuous compliance with health insurance/bank balance. When I received my LTR-WP visa they were requiring 12-months of health insurance or some other foolishness. I presented my U.S. Roth IRA with more than $100K in a Pimco bond fund as well as a Pacific Cross health insurance policy expiring a few months. When my five years is up I will be prepared with both cash equivalent and Thai insurance

We have been married for fourteen years - spent about half the time for the first ten years in the U.S. so she could get naturalized. Paying for medical care out of pocket or market rate health insurance for my wife at my income level is a deal breaker. As to diet I see the bottles of oil arrive on a regular basis and clean the stove hood trap so I know her diet. She grew up poor in the Isaan and although she does eat the fruit and yoghurt I prepare for breakfast and vegetables and 'spicey' most evenings her upbringing causes her to eat with the seasons - if there are mangos or papaya in season one is never enough and a mid-day mealtime without white or sticky rice diet is unimaginable - all of this puts people at risk of type 2 diabetes - including her older siblings. It is important to compare the older generation of Thai people (at least here in the Northeast) who by and large are trim, fit, and incredibly tough with what I see in the young people around me who frequent 7-11 whenever there is money in the pocket and who have a tolerance for overweight peers as that translates to having money.

Certainly if my wife dies - she is younger, but not in great health some of which I attribute to the terrible diet most Thai people eat. I keep track of my viability to live in the states (west coast) again - as I qualified for my LTR wealthy pensioner visa income would not be an issue and with Medicare as my re-insurer I could have my choice of medical plans for less then I pay Pacific Cross annually. Even though here I am a 'wealthy' pensioner, in the Bay Area I qualify for a low income 55+ rental - too late to think about purchasing. My income would support us relocating back to the states together but that would require that she be 65-years old to participate in Medicare which would put me at 86-years old which is nothing to plan on. Taxes are not a real issue - my true gross income is approaching $100K but as a married filing jointly effective tax rate is around 6% and even as a single around 13%. All my income (Social Security and local government pension) is exempt from Thai taxes based on the U.S.-Thai DTA.

The travel nurse in the U.S. HMO we were members of recommended and administered vaccines against rabies when we discussed our time spent upcountry in Thailand along with all CDC recommended vaccines. Last year our son/stepson got bitten by a unidentified dog on the ankle while on his motorcycle and needed a full course of injections. Had it happened to us it would have been one and done.

Ceviche from a stand at Guatemala bus station in 1979. Fortunately inbound so got to the hotel before the storm broke

In a secondary city 60 km from the provincial capital we have lost four dealers in the last three years: MG, Ford, Honda, and Nissan. All these brands still have dealers in the capital. Remaining dealers here are three with a strong model line that Includes diesel pickups and SUVs and longtime farmer loyalty: Toyota, Isuzu, and Mitsubishi.

Could not find the text of the bill.

Per Politico the rate has been lowered but the exemption for U.S. citizens has been removed: https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/06/30/congress/gop-remittance-tax-plan-said-to-raise-a-lot-more-money-despite-lower-rate-00433068 GOP remittance tax in megabill projected to raise a lot more money, despite lower rate Lawmakers dropped a plan to compensate U.S. citizens hit by the tax and forecasters determined a lower rate would actually raise more money. https://www.politico.com/dims4/default/resize/100/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstatic.politico.com%2F35%2F6a%2Fde8815314118b430f99cb5f0633f%2Ffaler-brian-20132.jpg Brian Faler 06/30/2025, 1:13pm ET A revised plan by Senate Republicans to impose a new one percent tax on remittances is now projected to bring in a lot more money to the Treasury even though lawmakers have slashed the rate. One reason: lawmakers are dropping plans to shield U.S. citizens from the tax on money sent overseas, which had been aimed squarely at undocumented immigrants. The provision, included in the domestic policy megabill before the Senate, is now expected to produce nearly $10 billion — nearly ten times as much money as a previous draft that would have charged 3.5 percent, according to the nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation. That’s partly because Republicans jettisoned provisions that would have compensated American citizens who also pay the levy. Lawmakers had proposed creating a special credit citizens could claim against the charge, though that’s been deleted from the latest version of the tax, defense, immigration and energy package. It’s also because budget forecasters determined a 3.5 percent rate would be high enough to prompt many people to avoid paying it — by finding other, nontaxable ways of sending money, for example — and that a lower tax rate would actually generate more revenue for the government. The lowered rate appears to have dampened complaints about the tax, a priority for President Donald Trump who pushed it as a way to add a burden to undocumented immigrants sending money to relatives abroad. Some had warned it could hit all sorts of other cross-border payments and lawmakers had faced lobbying from banks and others ratchet it back. Lead Art: President Donald Trump has advocated the tax to deter undocumented immigrants from sending money abroad to family members and others. | Ismael Francisco/AP

Nothing from SSA as of yet - last year my SSA-7162 was dated on June 6, 2024 on the form I received. I completed and mailed it on June 22nd, 2024 - I assume it was received a few days prior to the 22nd. For those who wish to be prepared should their 'personalized' form not show up from either the June or November (last chance) mailing you may wish to download, complete, and mail it. I suggest that you include an earlier form with your bar code and QR Code to make sure that it gets processed in this decade. The SSA site I use for foreigner forms is: https://www.ssa.gov/foreign/ has the current (2023) forms (SSA-7162 for recipients and SSA-7161 for representative payees) and instructions including mailing addresses. I have explained to my wife the importance of completing this form for me and later for herself once I have died or survive to her turning 62-years old. I also explained that she can sign for me (I think it would be best to use a fingerprint rather than a 'X' if I can at least nod my head or blink my eyes in agreement as getting appointed as my representative payee (she is my designated representative payee) should be reserved for really dire situations as SSA-787 (Medical source of opinion of patients capability to manage benefits) makes clear: WHO NEEDS A REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE (From SSA-787 Medical Opinion of Capability.pdf) Some individuals … who have mental or physical impairments are not capable of managing their SSA benefits or directing others to manage them to meet their basic needs, so we select a representative payee to receive their benefits on their behalf. …. However, a person’s need for some assistance with financial tasks such as bill paying, etc. does not mean he or she cannot make decisions concerning basic needs and is incapable of managing his or her own benefits. If the individual is able to direct the management of his or her own benefits, then we will consider the individual capable.

If you still have a Skype balance you can use: https://calling.web.skype.com/ I find it useful when calling toll-free numbers in the U.S., e.g. banks and offices that have a 800 number as the call appears to be treated as a free U.S. call so my balance is not drawn down.

Bought one with my wife as beneficiary when we were newly married to fund a goodbye gift if that was necessary. I did get asked to provide my passport and U.S. Social Security number a few months ago, so yes life insurance companies are concerned with the U.S. tax man. Of note is that the payout is exempt from the Thai inheritance tax act and income taxes: https://www.rd.go.th/english/37749.html#section42 Section 42 The assessable income of the following categories shall be exempt for the purpose of income tax calculation: 13) Compensation against wrongful acts, amount derived from insurance or from funeral assistance scheme.

Tipping does not make much of a difference to me as we don't go to places that are not family owned and staffed. Probably would need to rethink our monetary standards if we lived in a city and had regular haunts. Personal standard is to tip taxi drivers on long trips who don't terrify me - usually ThB 100. Always tip the guy who brings up our bags and turns on the AC - usually ThB 50. (was a caddy in my youth) Always tip the housekeeper - ThB 100 per night (my grandmother and aunt were maids). At restaurants without a service charge leave ThB 50 or 100 on the tray (supposedly gets split among staff unlike tip in the hand). Make special note and tip a bit extra if the grandchild is with us when the waitperson greets and makes her feel welcome, e.g. at our regular restaurant they see us coming and brings the high chair for her and wait for her order (may be a while as she scans the photos).