Presnock

amen to that

Hey, at least the police used available CCTV and investigated to fairly quickly determine what happened to this Korean any idea on a why they did it?  Poor guy, couldn't even relax here in Thailand.  Wonder if they will ever catch the murderers.

On 5/3/2024 at 8:53 PM, AreYouGerman said:

First line of defense against health issues should be 1 hour cardio daily and no gluttony and no alcohol.

 

Also, an accident insurance could help a lot and will cover the most likely situations, as this could have serious consequences if you are f.ex. unconscious. They will leave you to die if you don't have a credit card with substantial limits.

 

Outpatient stuff is like 50k per year, heart attacks will cost probably 1-2 million THB, for stuff like cancer you need a plan B as it can get expensive quickly, something like declare bankruptcy in your passport country and get free health insurance.

 

Yes I agree, I have a US health insurance which I would use if any serious illness for me or my family.  I also have accident insurance for us as it is rather cheap, just like during COVID we unlike being in the US could get treated easily for free - here the COVID insurance was less than 20USD - wife had to spend 5 days in the hospital and it was almost totally covered.  Just saying, like mentioned above a healthy lifestyle helps but then again the pollution in this country nowadays is scary for one's future health.  Good luck as a serious illness here could really hurt financially as many tourists and expats have learned.

19 hours ago, No Forwarding Address said:

Does anyone think the ‘new’ rules will affect existing accounts with savings already established for say over twenty years??   I am sure there are a lot of expats that only spend 3-6 months a year in Thailand that have existing accounts?  Just a thought.

well if they only spend 3-6 months in Thailand they can escape even being a resident, thus not having to pay taxes in Thailand on their earnings.

54 minutes ago, charleskerins said:

Yeah Biden is the corrupt one ,not the one that an IRS audit found cheated the government out of 100 million dollars not the one that is on trial for fraud ,not the one who incited an insurrection. Interesting I worked for a long time near Hockessin and Biden was extremely popular with the folks. So popular he won a local election as a write in to start his political career .The nation doesn't want it's problems fixed Jimmy Carter addressed this many years ago -voters want their problems fixed.   As for your personal insight in 1969   Biden was a public defender and then was recruited by the Republican party but he did not like the racial policies of the R governor at that time ,he registered as an Independent but then eventually switched over to the Democratic Party.  Quite the bad guy in 1969 !  "I realized how bad Biden was long before he ever got to the higher positions"    How did you come to this realization?     

As I mentioned, at 21, just out of VN and working in a Biden state, I heard all kinds of stories about him.  Then working for the govt, meeting, briefing and watching elected officials visiting our overseas missions, I quickly realized just what these individuals were.  They all fit the same mold in my opinion.  I have yet to meet any politician that I could ever admire.  Voting through the years has always been the least of the worst candidates running for any office.  At first some seem to be maybe from some other mold but it doesn't take much time for them to realize just what they can get away with.  Not only our politcians but those around the world seem to be in that same mold.  Now, I am too old ... I sure couldn't vote for either of these candidates right now.  Big business has recognized the game for a long time and that is where the candidates come from.

2 hours ago, nglodnig said:

Yeah but I can't walk about all the time with a stiff willie. 😀

 

Exercise yes I do minimum half hour bicycling every day but keeping the brain active is a major if not THE major key.

A multi nation study done several years ago (included US, Japan, and many EU countries) found that exercise could stop the progress of dementia  - Japan opted for walking, Eng for ping pong and such indoors acty, Scandanavian  countries opted for skiing and winter acty, all because they found that exercise was a key, but the US decided to go the pharma route which seems to be the answer in today's world because they make so much money it is better to have people ill all the time and needing pharmas to survive.  However, seeing the current trend of natural food remedies (that really have been around for thousands of years) and studies finding that the food based treatments are more potent than the pharma produced medicines, yet the food based do not have any side effects on the body.  All determnined by mother nature so to speak and which enable the body to heal.  These studies have shown that the major causes of death/chronic illnesses are due to lifestyle and processed foods (sugar too)!

for information on these studies, they are documented in several books by Dr. William Li a Harvard trained cardiologist and researcher.  

Based on the numerous articles and comments I have read about health insurance in Thailand, if one is healthy and has no previous history of any disease/health problems and doesn't plan to have to continue that insurance at a reasonable rate once the individual gets old (like retirees) then I would feel more comfortable with an international (US) insurance company so that I know that they would be totally responsible for what is in the benefits package and no ifs ands or buts, they pay.  I have of course a policy through the govt since prior to my retirement. Yes it is expensive but they just can't refuse to pay when I file any claim.  I am 77 and if I even tried to get a local insurance it would be extremely expensive and with lots of caveats written into the policy in the favor of the company, not me.  I am just saying, but I am talking about my and my family's health and my situation is totally personalble for me.  Any possible legal ramifications between a local (person/place or thing) the law sides most likely with the local and not the ex-pat is what we see/hear all the time on this forum and in the papers.  Just something to think about.  What you need to do is check out the costs of local insurance versus international/US companies.  I read that most EU countries health insurance is different so I can't speak for them.  You can always ask on the forum about getting health insurance locally vs intl - there will most likely be a lot of comments from folks and their own experiences. Or you can search too on this forum about health insurance and there should be many conversations about that issue just as there have been about the tax of money remitted into Thailand, and the visa/immigration experiences.  Good luck and if you have any questions about anything here, ask and if I have any experience I will be honest with in any case.  I could have retired in the US easily or anywhere else as I have lived and worked in many countries but the most beneficial in just about every way is Thailand.  It is not perfect but I love it still after 20 years of retirement here.  The LTR to me is the cheapest (long run) and most beneficial for me and also rids one of a couple of headaches maybe.  Good luck

9 hours ago, Desut said:

 

Thanks Presnock, yes, my aim is certainly the LTR visa if I am able to meet the 80k/year income threshold. We won't know our final numbers until early next year, but it will be very close. 

 

 

Thank you CanadaSam. That's interesting. So, if I now understand it correctly, local companies are governed by an ombudsman, whereas international companies fall under legal regulations of their home country? Which arrangement would be more beneficial for an expatriate living in Thailand is a question that pops into my mind.

FROM

3 minutes ago, oldcpu said:

 

I wish you good luck on your approach - and I hope you succeed.

 

I have an LTR visa (due to my pensions and investments in Thailand) and not due to my stock investments.

 

Still , i am curious if you will succeed.

 

I confess, based on my experience with BoI with obtaining self health insurance, I am not confident you will succeed.

 

The 'issue' , as I see it, is BoI may look not only for wealth meeting certain criteria, but they also want high confidence (or perhaps 'strong verification' is a better word) that such wealth is sustainable and repeatable. 

 

Hence they asked for tax returns from many of us, not for just 1 year, but they wanted tax returns for 2 years (in my case I ended up giving them 3 years due to unlucky timing on my part).  Further, they rejected stock/trading accounts (which had the necessary $100k US$ equivalent) for self health insurance, even thou the $100k US$ cash equivalent in the stock trading accounts was exceeded significantly (I dare say exceeded by multiple amounts).

 

So when it comes to proving the $80K US$ annual income for an LTR Wealth Pensioner Visa (and also proving the financial amount as a Wealth Global citizen), I think BoI may struggle to accept a stock portfolio.  

 

I wonder thou, if one submits a tax return (to the country where their stock portfolio exists), does that tax return show, over multiple years, an income that meets the LTR requirement?  If so, I ask myself if that would providing that tax return ONLY be adequate 'proof'/'verification' of income consistency and sustainability for BoI?

 

I am curious as to what others may post on this - but I am skeptical based on my limited experience here.  i.e I believe its not just having the wealth and income to obtain the LTR visa, but its able to prove to BoI that the wealth and income is verifiable and sustainable (all in my humble opinion) over time.  I could be wrong of course.

 

Best of luck in your efforts.

 

Actually the BOI from my experience really prefers the tax returns for the past couple of years as it shows sustained income over the 80K  the stickler may be in the 50K USD hospitalization part of the health insurance requirement.  The only way to know for sure is to fill out the TM.95 and ask the BOI folks.  They are very patient and helpful and speak English.  

3 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Just in case what?  The mainstream retail banks won't go down that route, but, so what if they did, they're private businesses, it would be their prerogative to do so

that might end retirees coming here...but who knows what might come about here.  Now today we learn that Prayut & co. have  been cut out of the good positions in the new govt...but I thought he was in charge of putting together the new charter for the govt...guess he will change all to military again but who knows, not this old man.

On 5/6/2024 at 10:15 PM, Desut said:

Thanks to all the great advice in this forum I connected with a broker from AOC.

 

I am looking to retire to Thailand next year and I connected with this broker to get an idea of my options and prices for a health insurance plan. 

The broker provided quotes from Now Health International, April International and Cigna Global Health. He highly recommended the plans from Now Health International & Best Doctors Insurance.

He mentioned that Now Heath International & Best Doctors Insurance is a global insurer around the world with operation everywhere (United Kingdom, Dubai, South America, Belgium, Scotland, China, Indonesia , Singapore, Hong-Kong, Malta etc.) and reinsure by RGA in United States. He also recommended to avoid the local and regional players because they may be cheaper, but they offer no rights to the consumer and no long-term commitment.

 

I was wondering if anyone here has any experience with Now Health International? I did a search of these forums but have come up empty. 

 

https://www.aoc-insurancebroker.com/themes/wiredelta/aocinsurancebroker/files/2020-01/Now_Health-Best_Doctors_Insurance_Corporate_Brochure_2020.pdf

 

Thanks!

Consider the various visas available as some require health insurance especially international companies and coverage.  As a retiree, you might want to check out the Long term visa from the Thai board of investment- depends on pension, financial and health insurance for people like me.  I had a retirement O until this LTR came about and saw that it fit my situation perfectly.  One can obtain it from an embassy or consulate also.  One of the benefits is any foreign funds remitted to Thailand are not taxable, one can still work with a work permit while other retirement visas do not and taxed at a different rate.  Can find info on this visa at "boi.com" or Long Term Visa Thailand.  Goodluck

11 minutes ago, PoorSucker said:

If you play golf, there's a new golf simulator with aicon on Sai3, next to PKCP condominium just north of Klang 

I never played any golf until I came to Bkk in 1976, always thought it was a stupid game - after playing  first round at the OLD Khao Yai course (armed guards for tigers and caddies wouldn't go in the woods for any balls hit there.  5 of us lost 80 balls on the 1st nine holes.  Loved it too much.  3 of us it was our first round of golf - we all three ordered clubs the following week.  I think anywhere else starting golf other than Thailand might have kept me from falling in love with the game.  I live in CM now and have had a few problems with wrists so stopped playing a couple of years ago but now am anxious to get back out there.  

7 minutes ago, PoorSucker said:

Clears the air.

My TGF complain about me sitting on the balcony admiring the it.

Guess working on a rice field during thunderstorm is no good idea.

I'm from the Nordic countries and love it.

Guess you shouldn't play golf right now 😂 

well Lee Trevino if you know who he is, during an interview he as asked what he would do if he was playing in a thunderstorm and his reply was "I would play my 1-iron because not even GOD can hit a 1-iron!!"

25 minutes ago, Mike Lister said:

"if we have unassessable income remitted, do we ignore get a tax id number?"

The TRD Code clearly says  you do not need a TIN.

 

"do we ignore filling out forms that have no place for unassessable income?"

If the form doesn't ask for it, what choice is there.

 

"do we have to provide proof of our govt pensions taxed already?"

You only need to provide proof, if you are subsequently audited or it is requested.

 

 

 

Thanks Mike, exactly my feeling too!  just wish that those pushing the taxing would come out with the COMPLETE program in a clear and concise manner so that everyone could just relax.  Thanks for all your work to date...must seem like having a new career since you have to spend so much time repeating because people just can't accept what might or might not be required.  take care be safe enjoy paradise

well lately, we see "suspiscious" fires at warehouses storing e-waste.  from news articles, there is so much e-waste because in 2017 Thailand signed with China who outlawed the e-waste storage so that it would come down to Thailand.  Now that there was the fire in Ayuttaya, the govt hinted at greater investigation of said facilities to ensure proper handling of the waste  Then we had the Cadmium fiasco, which then has been followed by many more fires.  I believe many will just say oh that is because of the really hot weather, but in my opinion, it has to do with the waste materials burning and the fact that the government appears ready to investigate the waste storage conditions and its effect on the public.  Once an investigation occurs, then depending on who pays for solving the problems, it will either go away quietly or nothing will happen at all until the next govt tries to fix things.  That is my opinion.  It is not an easy solve that is for sure but I hope the govt can begin solving it as it seems to be getting much worse.

On 9/18/2023 at 10:00 AM, Mike Teavee said:

Could be they claim it & force you to reclaim it via a Tax Return in Thailand or your home country or both. 

yeah they need to come out with the policy completely thought out - i.e. if we have unassessable income remitted, do we ignore get a tax id number? do we ignore filling out forms that have no place for unassessable income, do we have to provide proof of our govt pensions taxed already? I would think that by now after coming out with this taxation last year, that some definite decisions on what exactly we ex-pats can expect from the Thai Revenue Department.  Seems that each is a tax entity on its own so we the ex-pats need the govt to explicitly advise us what they need from us or this might deter people from retiring here or living here less than 180 days, thus causing a loss of funds that they could have.  Just saying as we have been hearing all sorts of rumors from forum members, tax agents, etc and we still are in the dark with the 180th day rapidly approaching.  I am not overly concerned as I feel I will not be affected by these tax interpretations but, TIT so who really knows?  Good luck to all