Presnock

with US health insurers, whether you have claims or not they are increasing the costs super high (double digit now a year) and that is why the number cause of people losing everything is health costs are too high now a days! Even the govt associated health insurers have got Congress looking at cutting the benefits (health insurance costs) for US civil servants. That was the claim of the guy that shot the CEO of a health insurer - on trial in NYC.

what health insurance company in the US. I too have a US health insurer and they even send a letter to the hospitals to guarantee coverage of everything. They list about 25 hospitals in Bangkok as preferred but will accept any in an emergency

Yeah during the period of the pandemic. But anyway, I was an avid runner in many capital cities over the years and regular medical checkups advised me to wear a high quality N96 surgical mask when I jogged in the streets or to do my jogging inside as the cities were almost always polluted. I have no problems wearing a mask anytime I go out where there will be tourists or crowds and fail to understand why anyone else should be concerned anyway so why the negative comments. I am not advising you or anyone else to wear a mask, that is my choice just like the underwear that I choose to wear - it is none of your business whatsoever. I still fail to understand why non-maskers are so concerned with what other people do and why they have such negative comments - I could understand if I or someone else made such comments to them about not wearing a mask but I haven't.

Yes , many healthy foods are high in lutein and zeaxanthin i.e. apricots, fatty fish, goji berries , leafy green veggies, eggs

I agree, macular degeneration is reportedly the biggest problem for eye failure in elderly and begins earlier inlife. I used to wear reading glasses at age 47 and then noted an article about macular degeneration and luitin-zeaxanthin supplements. Got them began taking daily - after 6 weeks I no longer needed the reading glasses and only began using them again 20 years later (past couple of years) but only problem at all is reading without proper lighting, and on the golf course I can follow any ball flight equal or better than any of the caddies and don't need for driving at 78.

my dad taught me to be honest to a fault, don't waste money on anything you can't afford, save money for a rainy day, work hard and earn your paycheck, said he never met any really religious person that respected that religion's rules, never drank alcohol, never smoked cigarettes but did try a pipe for a while and said to never accept anything from the government that wasn't earned. A man I respect even after his death, possibly even more than ever before. His dad died when he was 11 years old, he quit school to earn money to support his 6 siblings and his mother and he wasn't the eldest. later he began working at age 18 in a manufacturing plant, started pushing a broom as the janitor but 40 years later he retired as the plant manager. During his tenure, he was a shift supervisor for many years, and while they had 4 shifts, his shift always had a higher efficiency rating even when his bosses moved him to each of the other shifts. He was a racist but at his viewing after he died, half the people that visited my family, were black and each told me that he was the best boss ever and treated the blacks exactly the same as the whites. My greatest skill as a federal employee was knowing how to get the most out of each employee and I learned that skill from my dad who was sent to several different colleges during his career for management courses and a he finished one, he would sit me down and discuss the entire processes that was taught. Though very little schooling, he certainly exceled at people management as I did too so that I ended up as a manager with a much better pension than all of my peers, each of whom had much more formal schooling (i.e. masters and phd's) than me - a couple of college courses only.

I have been to war, seen violent rioting in many countries but this is the first time I have seen a grown man kick a kindergartener in the head! no excuse, even if the kid was/is a bully. there are many more better ways to solve that problem IMHO anyway

Funny but not really as the non-maskers make such a mockery of those folks wearing them in hopes of prevention. None of us mask wearers that I know of make any negative comments about you folks who dislike wearing masks. I don't see fright on any of the faces,. I too am glad you don't live here anymore.

sorta sounds like the LTR already in place, no 90-day reports, in and out of country no stamps, no money in the bank , 4 different categories, with one even being able to get a work permit.

Yeah I read the bit on the 10-year tourist visa - I have the 10-year pensioner visa myself and wondered why they would have another 10-year visa when they already have the one with 4 different categories.

US banking, FACTA in reporting includes IRS form 7 where one would put the tax number of whatever foreign country he is a tax citizen of other than US and if no tax number there is a bracketed area to explain why - i.e. having no assessable income in Thailand for me. My US bank has not asked for any Thai tax number and local bank accepted my info which I recently checked and they said all was in order.

well the man reportedly the richest in the world recently before losing some of his wealth, has been seeing how many different women he can impregnate without marriage, just gives them a big bank account for them to live on forever!

Well strange to me is the fact that they already have a 10-year visa that offers several different categories, for one to work, or invest or just have an adequate bank account or pension. But then again have to wait to see what it costs versus benefits.

amen to that!

Yeah I recall some years ago about the streaking of idiots at sports games in the US.

Correct, I do believe this is for ALL Thai tax residents, whether they be Thai or what ever. But I also fail to understand why the Revenue Department doesn't put out an announcement to all the news media so that hopefully the full story will known though recognize that they seldom put out the whole story anyway.

"Eat to Beat Disease "- The body's five defense systems & the foods that could save your life copyright 2019 "Eat to Beat your Diet" - Burn faft, heal your metabolish, live longer copyright 2023 The best thing about the information in these books as he says - these are not typical diets per se, but have so many different foods that one can plan their own diet with foods that they really enjoy. He does occasionally add a favorite recipe. In Bangkok, I purchased the books at the KINOKUNIYA Bookstore - there are several stores, google the name of the store - Siam world is where I got mine.

Hard to determine exact details. But from what I read so IMHO, after 2026 all remittances will be taxed or worldwide income on Thai tax residents will be taxed. Thus within the next several months we might see that bit on when the worldwide income might start so that it can be published well before that first year due. Again, though, I am only guessing but the wording just seems strange.

For anyone interested, Dr. William Li, a noted Harvard trained heart specialist and food researcher, wrote two best sellers on the value of different foods readily available in Thailand too. His books tell on what foods are good for different reasons, some to prevent disease, some to control the disease and some to even cure the disease. His research have provided proof that one's diet is in most causes disease and poor health and therefore how changes can provide one with good health. The two books are available in Bangkok as I purchased both and have read them and use them regularly as I alter my eating habits. As he touts the value of different foods, he also provides how the testing was done and where it occurred. Olives and Extra Virgin Olive Oil are mentioned many times in the books. We are lucky to be in Thailand as so many healthy fruits and other foods are readily available at rather cheap prices compared to many countries. Best of health to all.

I agree totally and haven't yet nor do I plan to read anything about Thai taxes of my US civil government pension and my LTR exemption from Thai taxation of foreign income unless I am told that "assessable income" since by definition, I read that I am totally exempt since I don't have any assessable income. If Thailand plans to break their treaties with 61 nations concerning DTA's, I will think about it but until they also change the benefit advertised in the LTR visa, then I will be able to read all "the handwriting on the wall" so to speak and then believe that due to the large numbers of retirees fleeing this land, plus the fact fewer tourists are coming now, that they will rethink their increases in the income tax base within the country. Anyway, I do wish all good luck with this issue as it appears to have a lot of concerned expats. Happy rainy season!

IMHO, Trump should be the last one to criticize anyone about participation in any war - after all he is well known as MR. Heel Spurs so he could avoid the US draft and then played the major sports in College. And over the years numerous comments of disdain for US military especially POW's and wounded.

but imho as I have stated many times, too many of the elected officials are basically corrupt in nature - they see an easy way to obtain riches even though they only get a meager salary i.e. for over 4 years the Congress has not even been able to floor a bill outlawing insider trading for the congressfolks. But we saw some of Ms. Green's doing some insider trading during the Trump tariff back and forth. And, now we learn that the new attorney general sold over a million dollars and then later bought 1 to 5 million dollars on the stock market during one of the latest back and forth Trump tariff schemes. If still unsure, figure how Trump's family in the first 3 months of this year had their finances increase by 3 billion dollars - now after the 3 visits in the middle east I wonder how much they gained. And everyone who has followed politics the last few years should remember the clamor about Hunter Biden and gains by the Biden family that never totally proven true. That is why IMHO they are all corrupt and beholding to the rich in hopes that they can ten become richer. Meanwhile, the congress is busy looking for changes to the pensions and benefits of the govt workers to cut their benefits, and looking to cut benefits from medicaid and other benefit programs for the poor, young and sick. Also IMHO if Trump had lost the election things may also have tanked as they might sooner!

I have my pension check auto deposited in my USA bank account at sdfcu.org (don't need a US address or phone number) and whenever I send a wire transfer to Thailand, as long as the bank receives the transfer request by 0800 Eastern Standard Time USA, it goes out that same day is therefore the day following is received so 1 day only from request. I have done this for 5 years without any problem or change. I am charged a standard bank fee for transfer but they do advertise that their bank customers can ship funds via WISE as possibly cheaper. I figured out the cost for what I normally send and while it may be a few dollars cheaper, I still prefer to use what I have found to be trustworthy in my mind. Best of luck to all.

The problem here as far as road accidents go is that 70-80 percent involve motorcycles and the reason IMHO for that is that Thailand makes excuses for motorcycle drivers (of all ages although there are restrictions) and then IMHO local motorcycle drivers "graduate" to automobiles and their motorcycle driving techniques and habits interfere with car driving , i.e. cutting of corners even though it means changing lanes to the incoming traffic, etc, no helmets 4 or more on a motorcycle, etc and the local police ignore these violations of safe driving.