Presnock

We regularly go to Bangkok Hospital Chiang Ma for whatever ails us. I too have a great insurance company but seldom use them as the cost locally is so insignificant. Due to the pollution, my daughter began getting an eye infection. Last time she had one just about every burning season that she was in school even though the school had air purifiers in every room. However, she had to walk outside between classes, and cafeteria but then they went to online due to the COVID situation so for several years she had no problem. Now she has graduated and at home but went to the mall for a movie on Friday...duh! Anyway, doctor check up and prescriptions was nothing but pocket change. A couple of years ago, I had a belly button infection - most horrible odor I have ever experienced. The local pharmacists gave me an antibiotic plus hydrogen peroxide to wash my belly button every morning and night but that if it still had that odor after a couple of days then I should visit the doctor. Went to the same hospital. Checked in visited with a doctor and after thoroughly checking my belly button, said the odor wasn't so bad and I explained that I had been using x antibiotic and cleaning twice a day with hydrogen peroxide. He said well there doesn't seem to be any problem now. He said "no charge" but if it returns, then we can explore further. Compared to what they charge in the US for just the doctor to say hi, we can be sure it is cheaper here. It might depend on the hospital too. But I am a satisfied customer. I have a lot of experience with US hospitals, my first wife died of breast cancer or I should say was killed by one of the poisons they were giving her. I know how much that 12 years of treatment cost so don't complain about cost of treatment here. Best of health to all so that you don't even have to think about it.

if you have been here for 15 years, when you renewed your passport, didn't your embassy need that old passport to process for the new one ? just asking as before I just went to the embassy to renew it but now I understand that they want it done by email for form and then registered mail for the old passport and form. Just asking

FYI, I note that many people use a friend's or relative's address in the states when they are opening or keeping a bank accout open.. This could in fact be lying to the feds in an attempt to circumvent the law. I am not trying to intimidate anyone but all should be aware of this fact. The State Department Federal Credit Union will open an account for you. There are other banks too that I have seen mentioned here that will open an account for you even with your foreign address. And, don't forget the FBAR if you are an AMCIT with a foreign bank account.

racyrick, I too am an Americitizen and had the same problem years ago (when the Justice dept in conjunction with many other foreign countries had a law changed so that amcits or other countries too, forced foreign banks to report the country of that foreigner's local account - you might have to change your local bank acct too) anyway, the way around it is for you to join the USstate dept federal credit union. You do have to be an employee of the govt or any thing like that, just an American citizen, but they will require you to join one of a list of US groups ( I joined the American Citizens Overseas) where you will need to pay a yearly or lifetime fee but some of those organizations are fairly cheap. I have had an account with this bank (sdfcu.org) for 3 plus years and have had no problems. You can get various credit cards, service etc with no problems other than they don't work weekends and are on a US time sched for daily work. When I transfer funds monthly, it costs 30 USD no matter how much I transfer and I get it in my local account the next day. sdfcu transfers funds daily that are transfer messages are received by 8 AM est I think. Anyway, they will provide you with a list of services etc if you email them at sdfcu.org.

Went in BKK Hospital (C/M) for my yearly flu shot and dr recommended that I also get the shingles vaccine - not overly expensive and age 75+ so I opted to get it at the same time. No problems about 2 months ago.