4MyEgo

I think if you were in my position, e.g. your insurer upped your premiums to just over double in 4 years, you might think twice, regardless if you have the (nest egg) as I do to back yourself up. It is no different to me than buying a product, ok, it goes up annually due to CPI, inflation etc, but you have to draw a line when you feel the product is getting expensive, suffice to say, with Covid I as everyone else saw products go up, especially imported products, now I could afford to buy them at whatever increase they went up to, but I do draw a line, regardless if it's health insurance of a pack of chips, eventually the food costs came back down, some even went to below what they were selling for pre-Covid, but not health insurance. So not a tough call for me, I am happy with my decision, no grudges against the insurer, their out there to make profits, some of us can afford to not contribute to their profiteering when we feel it's getting too expensive and decide self insuring is the way to go forward, having funds to back us up in case an event happens to come by in the interim while the funds put aside build up.

What can I say, if they don't change the way they do things here, e.g. lock up fleeing drivers for a minimum 10 years, ban these parades on public roads unless supervised by police, front and rear, and make getting a license for truck drivers harder than just sitting down and watching a video, plus stricter truck checks, nothing will ever change. RIP

Agree, however but when I saw my premium double in 4 years after no claims and my families premiums going up, I said to myself, you know what, I am fortunate enough to have money saved up to back me (nest egg) and yes, if a major problem it is gone. The above said, one has to make a decision, i.e. from where I saw things, be extorted, e.g. 70,000 baht to 150,000 baht in 4 years, no claims, age 61, no issues with pre-existing condition since it happened in 2008 with annual check ups and blood tests at my expense for my peace of mind. Young enough to put that 150,000 baht a side annually, plus the families 100,000 baht a year, suffice to say in 2 years 500,000 baht put aside, no issues vs the insurer getting it and upping it annually, and if no issues in 6 more years that's 3 million put aside and will continue to build on it. Better in my pocket than theirs, that said, I found the increases to be unfair, but that is the game apparently, different to the motor vehicle industry where they encourage you to continue with no claim bonus discounts annually for good drivers, currently 60% no claim bonuses on my annual policy. At the end of the day, it is what it is and no point in crying over spilt milk, also have other options, government army and or university hospitals if it is going to cost too much and not wanting to depart with funds to go to a private hospital, i.e. unless it's real bad of course, and then you have the option of returning home to use either NHS or Medicare if you still qualify and are able to travel, and of course if I depart when that insurance nest egg has built up to whatever amount it has built up to at that time of my departure, the family get it as opposed to the insurer. Tough call, no rights, no wrongs, just depends if you want to part with the increases every year.

That could possibly be the case, even if you disclosed (which you would) about your diabetes. Be forewarned, policies increase annually and then every 5 year age bracket, and especially as I found out when the insurer changed the underwriter. In all fairness, I had a pre-existing condition from 2008, well under control and it was an option for me to have and pay extra as I did. In the 4 years that I paid the insurer, my premium started at 70,000 odd baht for a 58 year old, then shot up to 150,000 baht by the last year, the excuse was they changed underwriters, could well be the case. I now self insure as I couldn't find any insurer wanting to cover my pre-existing condition from 2008 with no issues since, annual check up, blood tests done on my own accord, etc etc. I had zero claims and was covered for inpatient emergency costs only. As mentioned, I self insure now as I have always had the funds to do so but wanted to protect those funds, that said, I have built a little nest egg of 500,000 baht in a side account in those 2 years since and continue to add 250,000 baht per annum to it which includes the families policy which I cancelled as well. In the event of a major issue, will deal with it then, if no event then all and good for money back in my pocket. Best of luck, been where you are coming from and it just got to expensive for me and of course the insurer didn't have any excess/waiver for me to reduce my premium.

Why redo the constitution again, i.e. if they EVER get ousted by the people,

As I said before, you can't help ignorance.

Yes of course, allow the military elected clowns continue to govern the country with their amended constitution which provides the military 350 senate seats out of the 500 senate seats. Keep the people fed on rice, blame Thaksin and his sister for everything, while military elected deputy prime ministers wears 25 high end dead friends watches which he borrowed, and jail all of those under Article 38 for speaking up and protesting in this democracy. You just can't help ignorance.

I believe you should rephrase your heading to Thai's driving Ford Rangers as there are some of us Ford Ranger lovers who drive within the speed limit and aware of our surroundings, no tunnel vision syndrome here.

My wife told me that if you have money here, you can buy the other sides lawyer easily. Now, let's take for example where we are, lawyer approaches insurance company and tells them his client is going to sue, insurance company says, Mr Lawyer, here is a brown envelope, now I'm sure there is more money in that envelope than your client will ever pay you. Lawyer, yes Mr insurance company you are right, I will tell my client that it will take years and lots of money to get you to court and the probability of winning is low. It sounds far fetched, yes I know, but when my wife told me of a situation, it all made sense, but we all can believe what we want to believe, I just remember where we are and I know, money here comes before everything else.

Welcome to the LOS

Sometimes in life someone kicks a ball to you, and that ball can change your whole life for many many years and also create a financial burden and of course if kids involved, rip your heart out. What I was trying to say was, when that ball lands at your feet, best to keep walking, justice, well everything comes at a price, up to him, he can keep kicking the ball, whether he scores a goal or not will depend on many things, however if he does score a goal, I don't think things will be any better personally. Sometimes it's easier to just walk and start over as I have seen many guys do that, I used to play and score goals, talking from experience, but now looking back, it would have been easier to walk, but my stubbornness and wanting justice kept me playing the game. Justice isn't what we think it is.

Tell him it's time to cut his losses and move on, as for the kid, that shouldn't be a problem once he has moved on.

Thankfully, just before Songkran......LOL

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/21788944/horror-moment-tourists-bungee-cord-snaps-in-midair/

What is wrong with friends knowing what you enjoy ? You really should go back home and seek help, or did they suggest you leave and come here, hmmm, probably the later. Sexpats, what on earth gives you that impression, nothing wrong with sex and being an expat, you should really try and enjoy the beautiful ladies Thailand has to offer, after all, what would life be without sex and these beautiful ladies here in the LOS, that is, if you can strike up a conversation with one. @sidjameson I know of at least 50 expats, play pool at least 3 times a week as I like to get out, I enjoy a couple of drinks and the conversations. I am married with kids and attend BBQ's at different expats homes and sometimes we put on a spill at ours. You got to get out more, join clubs etc and you will meet many people, that said, if your like BananaStrong you will live a grumpy sad old life being alone with no friends. Do I feel sorry for him....

Yes, agree, fact of the matter is my pre-existing condition occurred 15 years ago without an incident since, however there is nothing in the one size doesn't fit all category that allows for these companies to think outside the square, e.g. annual check ups, then they can decide whether to continue insuring you or not, suffice to say, they will stick that annual increase in and say, "up to you" we will insure you, but at this price, no annual check ups required, yeh right, no thanks and yes, they are right, it was "up to me" ???? Of course, but if you don't smoke, eat healthy, watch your weight, exercise, sleep right, don't stress and drink in moderation, take your supplements, I think unless something out of the ordinary hits you, you can live a good life to as long as your ticker allows it, problem there is too many expats don't do the above and therein lay the problem IMO.

I will cross that path when I get there, if ever. The above said, in the event of an event, I will go to a private hospital as I do not have the faith of others in public hospitals over my way in Isaan, that said, I did go to a University Hospital that Sheryl told me about to do a procedure by a plastic surgeon, i.e. remove a Basil Carcinoma from my face. Well spoken Associate Professor did the day procedure under local anaesthetic with learning Doctors watching on, cost 6,000 baht, 2 and a half hour drive each way, worth it in my opinion. I had a bad experience with the local public hospitals misdiagnosing me and having to wait hours on end to see a Doctor, suffice to say, the private hospitals aren't that expensive, 2,000 to 4,000 baht and you can buy your meds outside of the hospital as that is where they sting you. My wife tells the Doctor that her uncle has a pharmacy and she will buy the meds there as he will sell them to her at cost, the Doctor gets a nurse to witness what was said so he is in the clear if questioned by his superiors. From what I have seen and heard of other farangs being treated for stents, hospitalisation for many things, accidents, events etc, I can withstand a hit and not having an event in the time I have been here, self insuring will eventually build up to an amount that I would be comfortable with, e.g. 3 million, that said, if I have an event in the interim, I will have to take the hit. If you eat well, exercise, don't stress, get the right sleep and drink in moderation, your mechanics should see you through. In the event of an accident in a car, 1st class insurance will take care of that, travelling, travel insurance will take care of that, walking on the street, (nope) because don't want that bus hitting me.

I took health insurance with a health insurer through a broker after trying again after 2 years because in the beginning I couldn't find one that would insure me with my pre-existing condition. What I found was that it started off reasonable, then went up every year and then when entering the 5 year bracket, e.g. 59-64 it went up big time, and then the following year they changed underwriters and it and it went into the ridiculous side, i.e. 150,000 baht per year from 110,000 baht per year. This was back in May of last year, so what I did was put 250,000 baht aside and then when the families policy came up in January his year, got rid of them as well and I put another 150,000 aside as that policy was on the up as well, plus I have added another 100,000 baht since then, suffice to say I have 500,000 baht aside in the first year, and yes ok, some people can't do that, I get it. I will put aside the same amounts every anniversary so as to build it up to say at least 3 million baht which I believe would be comfortable. I found in the 4 years that I was insured that it gave me and my family protection, but when I started out, it was in the 70,000 baht range then jumping to 150,000 baht which was ridiculous, no regrets, but there comes a point where one has to say, enough is enough. Look up AA Insurance Brokers, they can assist if you want to go down that path, but at your age and with pre-existing condition/s, you will be better off self insuring in my opinion, i.e. unless you want to see your policy rising annually, even without any claims as was the case with me. They find us to high a risk as we age, even though I am healthy, eat well, exercise, don't smoke and drink moderately, but at the end of the day, it's the age, the see us as the older we get, the higher the risk. Best of luck anyways, been there, done that, self insuring is more suitable for me and my family, suffice to say, you can have your cake and eat it too.

This is all over Thailand. You can't clean these corrupt cops unless your prepared to sack the lot of them IMO.

I know what you mean when your in warp speed on Battle Star Galactica. I had to pull the pin at 220km because the front started wobbling, and that is when I looked at the speedo, unbeknown to me what my speed was prior to that as I was tucked in and going for broke, and when the front started wobbling, is the only time I decided to look at the speedo and said to myself *&%$#@!

Time be buying some shares, I'm in.......

Umm, he did mention he was on a highway, and 132km is nothing, I got clocked at 220km once, but talked my way out of it, the officer asked me the reason I was speeding, and my reply was that I had no idea that I was speeding because my speedometer was broken For those who ride motorbikes, only understand what flight mode is.........and of course, never in a built up area.

Break ups are not good at the best of times and not great for ones mental health and of course emotions, that said, if one is not strong enough to handle the break up, as read, a few will take their own lives, some might even take the lives of their ex partner, however labelling "those" Thai women as heartless and callous in my opinion is a bit unfair. You see, from where I am sitting, LOVE, comes in all forms, and to be honest, as soon as the weak allow their emotions to take over, they're toast, seen it time and time again, they either hit the bottle hard till they croak, and or blame the ex partner for their rejection or "betrayal" instead of looking at what caused it all to fall apart, and after analysing what went wrong, then learn to accept it, forgive, heal and move forward. Holding onto those wounds will only lead to bitterness, anger, judgement and resentment towards others. Only if you allow yourself to be. Yes, a lot of men are hoodwinked, but that is because of their own doing, suffice to say, if one wants to go all in, in a relationship because of LOVE, then they have set themselves up for a potential downfall when and if things go south. I have seen this time and time again, to me LOVE is an emotion, a good one at that and we all need it, and whilst it is a single word, there are many bits and pieces that make it work with ups and downs, and in this game of LOVE, if you put everything in financially, I guarantee you it will be at your loss. Knights in shining armours are everywhere to be found, and because they are Knights, they will eventually take the fall, i.e. unless they are smarter than the average Knight, but will have to watch out for that stray arrow. To blame someone for a failure is easier then looking at the whole picture, as I said above, one should learn to analyse what went wrong, accept it, forgive, heal and move forward. Takes two to Tango and we can't control LOVE, but we certainly CAN control our finances which should always be the case, because that is our saviour, plan B, it won't help us emotionally, but will help us get back up and move freely, that said, if one heavily invested in a female of whatever nationality without some kind of legal protection (law), then that would be a huge mistake. Only invest as much as your prepared to lose, have always said, 10%-20% is more than enough depending on how long one has been in a relationship, e.g. 15 years, she can have the house, the furnishings, the car, the bike and the kids, I will book a one way ticket to wherever I like and enjoy the remaining 80%-90% and will not allow the kids to be used as pawns. I will support them financially using under my terms and conditions. No reason to end it all, life is precious.

He probably thought it was 50k USD, bet you he won't be happy when he gets home and finds out it was baht.

Handcuffs !