Bill Miller

10 hours ago, MadMuhammad said:

snicker

That's the "goodie" featuring caramel, peanuts, and a coating of chocolate?

A different kind of procedure, but my life was saved by a surgical team that grafted a piece of a vein from my leg into my heart to route blood  around a couple of arteries blocked by clots and rerouted my mammary artery to bypass a third, all while my heart was turned off for a couple of hours! Amazing these docs today.

Happy for that youngster. 

On 9/7/2019 at 1:33 PM, wisperone said:

Just out of curiosity, how much is a Medicare copay?

A four day admission to the Royal Navy hospital for treatment of a systemic staph infection was 13,000 baht all in, or about $400 US.

A four day stay in my home state of  AZ would have cost a bit over $8,000, or 256,000 baht. Copay is generally 20%, so out of pocket would have been about $1,700 just.for the room. Start adding charges for drugs, "hospitaller", etc., and it can be more than 5X of Thailand. Also this is based on 2013 prices for the US, most recent table I could find. 

Maryland was about 50% less, so only 2X for the room alone. ????

5 minutes ago, ThaiBunny said:

I'm guessing something shorter - two syllables - or shorter still, maybe see you next Tuesday

Next Tuesday I was still a big crazy farang with a metal stick, and the motobite taxi guys on the corner like me. ????

Had a jerk nudge me with their bumper awhile back, making a turn on red over a zebra crossing.

I'm 65, disabled, and have died a couple of times already in ambulance and on operating table. I sorta don't give a flying you know what anymore.

I creased their hood pretty well with my metal cane. They stopped until I was all the way across. Not even a beep after.

I'm guessing the thought "Big crazy farang with metal stick! Better be careful. ????"

My place in AZ is off grid and in an unincorporated area.

Great when I was a bit younger and could hammer up a properly built frame house in a few weeks.

Now they are moving in with building codes, etc., and I wear a medical response panic button and can just about walk somedays.

I want back to Thailand with my darling wife, sweet step daughter and nieces, cool in laws, water at the tap and AC when the temps are really to much. 

I  really like that my frequent trips to the provincial hospital, where I have been paying "farang" pricing for four years despite the scare on another thread, are about 1/5 my copay amount under US Medicare.

I might like to consider nearby alternatives, but I think that's a no go for my very cute and beloved Thai wife. Family is important to me too.6

Hey, at 65 I am not embarrassed to admit it has been awhile since I heard "too big!"

As long as the receptcle is high enough for no splash, and hopefully somewhere for a wobbly old man to lean. I do like disabled facilities but not found everywhere.

I have noticed many Thai men go into the stalls instead of risking exposure at the urinals. Don't know why that is. A couple of guys I could ask but haven't thought to.

As to the nurse.... distilled urine = water. Why not just drink some without the extra steps and energy expense?

Sheesh!

Just a few notes on hospital experiences.I am officially a "senior" and have a few chronic conditions, and have also had some "accidents" such as an ischemic stroke.

I went one time to a Bangkok Hospital Clinic for celulitis. I told the doc I could not afford to continue treatment and he kindly referred me to a small provincial hospital at a nearby temple. Longer waits, but about 1/5 the cost..

Later referred to Queen Sirikit Naval hospital for more advanced treatment, including when I had my stroke. Ambulance folks didn't even ask because time is critical and they were closest.

Been admitted a few times to provincials and quite satisfied with the treatment.

How about opening the governmental insurance schemes to expats?

I would imagine the Tb4,500/month I still pay in Medicare premiums for coverage I cannot use in Thailand would pay for good insurance vs the 30 baht scheme.

My understanding is that some such is already there for any who get in the social security system. Don't have to re-invent the wheel.

Hell, even charge a 20 % co-pay like under Medicare.

On 8/12/2019 at 3:02 PM, ezzra said:

Means testing is a tool used by many government and conglomerate to calculate one abilities to repay and service a loan and calculating pensions, so using the same tools to be used with people applying for a permanent stay in a country makes sense thus avoiding the situation whereby said newcomers will become a burden and overloads on the social and health system of that county...

The process already includes means testing as indicated in the article: 125% of the federal poverty level, or $12,490.

Granted it does not state it as as a "means test", but that is the very first hurdle you encounter when applying to sponsor a non-US citizen relative, e.g. your legal spouse, for a visa to come stay with you.

If you cannot demonstrate you have that you are allowed, under law, to seek a co-sponsor who will guarantee the short fall.

This "executive rule" is designed purely to keep non-white LEGAL applicants out of the USA. Emphasis because I have already seen a number of posts moaning about the number of illegal immigrants who are sucking up American tax payer money.

They are not the subject. Legal immigrants are, such as my wife.

3 hours ago, BurgerGung said:

I'm not getting why the stuff was worth 8,000 Baht

They did not give the full list. Just a few items mentioned in particular,  and "...other...".

Doesn't take long to rack up $300 when school "shopping".

On 7/31/2019 at 9:36 AM, fullcave said:

Are you drunk? 

No, but those appear to be beer fumes swirling around your illogical, ad hominem attacks.

Could you at least stay on topic, rather than reverting to school boy "debate" tactics?

You still haven't explained where you get "violence" from in my previous remark, though you are beginning to tempt me away from my better Buddhist principles.

Slowly, and carefully typed in smaller words, where did you find "violence" in my original post?

9 hours ago, Myran said:

More than you, I dare wager. I've spent a lot of time among the poor in Klong Toei as well as rural parts of Thailand, mostly in my wife's province. We're talking people living in literal dumps or in lean-to sheds in the forest. They're not as backwater and disconnected from the modern world as you seem to think, and neither are they too stupid or uneducated to understand how babies are made.

 

It seems your the one with the attitude if you're trying to portray these people as buffoons or animals who don't know what they're doing. You don't have to act the white knight and come to the rescue of the stupid poor people; I can assure you that they are fully aware of what they're doing and that they possess the knowledge and the mental capabilities to take responsibility for their actions.

 

If you can barely take care of yourself, don't get a bunch of children who have to grow up in squalor.

Apparently you missed the part where the father lost his job, and they presumably made it ok when he was employed.

Are you a fan of the "prosperity gospels"? Your disdain for " stupid poor people" suggests as much.

Pretty much makes hash of your entire compassionate diatribe.

On 7/29/2019 at 5:47 PM, fullcave said:

That of course is incorrect as their teachings do not involve use of force. 

Where in blue blazes did you come up with any scintilla of a hint about "use of force" in my remark?

Really, time for remedial reading class? ????

Ipso facto both Jesus and Buddha would likely be considered "socialists" by the genersl run of "conservatives" today, IMO.

I see folks  complaining  here about "nanny states" and the like all the time. Hey, a little help vis a vis "unemployment benefit" might be a helpful, humane alternative.

Maybe all the temple donations could be used in part to help a mom with hungry kids. I think "merit" could be a two way street. A little less gold leaf and a little more of Buddha's compassion.

But hey, I know. These are "socialist" ideas, no matter what Buddha and Jesus said.

5 hours ago, Bill Miller said:

Most of my comment, for those who can read with comprehension, was about my experiences with the TM 30 at two other IOs.

Sorry I did not fit it into the narrow box that apparently comprises your universe.

Other people MIGHT appreciate knowing that it is not always a PITA.

Not intended to be in reply to the post by Brewster, but rather to a snarky remark that the OP was about TM 30 at CW, and I guess is supposed  to be about that only, and don't dare mention experiences at other immigration offices.
Not the first thee that the post I quoted has been changed after the fact. I rather carefully check after hitting the "submit reply" button.

3 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Every Immigration office seems to apply this principle differently. There isn't much evidence that it is being applied by Chaengwattana. In fact, admittedly a month ago, we were told that a TM30 receipt just needed to be on record, and didn't have to be done again unless you move to a new address.

 

Sent from my SM-G930F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

 

 

 

Most of my comment, for those who can read with comprehension, was about my experiences with the TM 30 at two other IOs.

Sorry I did not fit it into the narrow box that apparently comprises your universe.

Other people MIGHT appreciate knowing that it is not always a PITA.

I got bapped at Chonburi Immigration (Jom Tien) last year because my landlady had never filed. Cost me a fine, about 2,000, plus 500 baht to the lady at the condo who sort of phonied a lease up for me and hand carried it through as my landlady lives somewhere in Europe, and IF she agreed to deal with it, it would have been pretty cumbersome.
Having (sort of) learned my lesson I went to Jom Tien IO again a few months ago after exiting and re-entering the Kingdom. The young lady at the "check your papers" desk assisted in filling out the form, had required copies made, and hand carried it through for cane propped "papa".
I think it took less time than to write about it. I know I was done by the time my wife had parked the car.

Big thumbs up. Oh, and I only had to pay 20 baht for copying.
Fast forward, we had moved to Mai La Noi, staying with relatives pending our civil marriage. Nearest Immigration is Mae Sariang What a gem!
We arrived after normal closing in the afternoon, but the officer in charge waved us on in to the AC environs of his office.. A pleasant hour of back and forth,  enabled by my (now) niece in law, who is a lovely young woman as is her sis, who is also a nurse. They both take very good care of "loong Bil". ????
On the way to the province we had stopped for several days to visit relatives in Chiang Mai, and had goofed off for a couple of days during Songkran. From my understanding this might have earned me a fine in some jurisdictions, but not only did the IO get me properly TM 30ed with no fines, he also us gave some fairly lengthy advice on our (then) upcoming marriage.

I am going stateside, with my  brand new marriage certificate and MFA stamp because the US Embassy Bangkok declined to authenticate it for us, the day befofe my permissuon to stay expires.

What do I do to return to my wife? Fly to Laos, e.g., and request a Non O based on marriage at Savannakhet?

On 5/24/2019 at 12:07 PM, Bert got kinky said:

 

When the news broke about the 'possible' insurance requirement for ex-pats, this idea was suggested by a poster on Thai Visa. 

 

Is someone from the Ministry of Tourism & Sports reading Thai Visa in order to pick up a few tips. ????

 

 

I am one of the folks who suggested something of the sort.
Since we long term, retirement types, etc., are still considered "tourists" for most practical purposes, can we get by on this as well?
Most of the available commercial policies I have seen thus far are on the steep side.
Make the program available to us as well, but more than 100 baht per head would be needed for the idea to work.
I would have no problem kicking in say five thousand baht each 90 day reporting period.  The US charges me about thirteen thousand baht each three months, total, for a policy I cannot use, even though it would be far cheaper to payout for Thai medical care, and Medicare is becoming increasingly useless, largely due to the opaque and byzantine billing requirements.
I have been getting by with cash, as the usual cost at Thai government hospitals is about equal to my Medicare co-pays.
I know, because I have been averaging two admits per year during my five years here.
Really meant to edit an additional comment/question... it would seem to make double sense, as the max period Tourist visa is ninety days anywho.

On 5/24/2019 at 12:07 PM, Bert got kinky said:

 

When the news broke about the 'possible' insurance requirement for ex-pats, this idea was suggested by a poster on Thai Visa. 

 

Is someone from the Ministry of Tourism & Sports reading Thai Visa in order to pick up a few tips. ????

 

 

I am one of the folks who suggested something of the sort.
Since we long term, retirement types, etc., are still considered "tourists" for most practical purposes, can we get by on this as well?
Most of the available commercial policies I have seen thus far are on the steep side.
Make the program available to us as well, but more than 100 baht per head would be needed for the idea to work.
I would have no problem kicking in say five thousand baht each 90 day reporting period.  The US charges me about thirteen thousand baht each three months, total, for a policy I cannot use, even though it would be far cheaper to payout for Thai medical care, and Medicare is becoming increasingly useless, largely due to the opaque and byzantine billing requirements.
I have been getting by with cash, as the usual cost at Thai government hospitals is about equal to my Medicare co-pays.
I know, because I have been averaging two admits per year during my five years here.

Wonder how many similar cases have resulted jn the plethora of "foreigner" failure to pay reports?