HawaiianBlues

https://www.transferbkk.com/ We've used TransferBKK about 20x over the last five years. Besides the mobile and website access, they also have WhatsApp and LINEID access. Owner is Swedish-Thai, service conscious, and speaks Swedish, Thai and English fluently. For our reservations, we've only experienced 100% reliability throughout and also safe drivers. On Tripadvisor, they have 1200+ reviews (over 90% are five stars). Can refer to the attached Tripadvisor link for additional background/insight. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g293916-d8445400-Reviews-TransferBKK-Bangkok.html I should add that for our reserved TransferBKK airport arrival pickup (and as we use them frequently), when we are about to clear baggage claim, we contact TransferBKK, given the vehicle plate number, and are then met curbside outside Door 7. The airport baggage claim has complimentary luggage carts so there isn't any hassle to just continue to roll them out to the curb. The driver will help load your bags into/out of the car too.

Thanks for your feedback. What you wrote in the last paragraph ("travels alot") applies to me (except I don't have medical issues). With the travels, being able to pick your doctors anywhere in the US vs. having to be in-network was a big plus. My one-off claims experiences have shown that my 20% deductible share in aggregate can still be high and I expect in time will readily exceed the Medigap premiums (which monthly for me are around $145, at least for now). My Plan D is less than $9/mo. I ran the total numbers and in my personal case anticipate being ahead in monthly costs (and risk/exposure) - particularly as I no longer qualify for Medicare Advantage coverage. On qualifying for Medigap, in my case, I learned that being disenrolled from one's Medicare Advantage program due to change in their regional coverage (i.e., living overseas) does permit one only at time of disenrollment to enroll in a Medigap program without physician's review or being approved for pre-existing conditions. So, felt best to do it now than having any surprises or potential roadblocks when pursuing a Medigap plan later. In the end, it came down to planning ahead and just trying to minimize coverage issues in the US - particularly if/when I return fulltime (and for those later short visits outside the US).

As another data point, I am a BKK resident 50%+ of the time each year and am momentarily moving away from a Medicare Advantage plan (which in the base case requires Parts A and B) and additionally subscribing to Plan G (Medigap Supplement Plan), Part D (prescription) and Dental. My longer term plans recognize eventual greater presence in the US (vs Thailand). I separately have local medical insurance coverage for Thailand which also provides emergency medivac and emergency coverage for most countries while travelling overseas including the US (the international coverage is a benefit as I do enjoy international travels). In my process of researching US and Thailand insurance coverage, I've learned: (a) the overlooked value of having a Plan G Medicap Supplement Plan (vs going with a Medicare Advantage plan) but which also depends on each retiree's circumstance and time in the US, (b) the need to recognize the eligibility timing window to enroll in a Medigap Supplement Plan and bypass the recognition of pre-existing conditions should that be a consideration and (c) the importance to plan/purse early one's Thailand insurance coverage (i.e., the earlier the better before turning 65) acknowledging the greater cost exposure and lesser insurance coverage eligiblity once you have turned 65. Also as shared by others, the Medigap Supplement Plan G does provide some overseas (non-US) travel coverage with limiting provisions (ref Medicare website: https://www.medicare.gov/supplements-other-insurance/medigap-travel). Am sure there are likely many lower cost approaches than my eventual choices but for myself, I wanted to ensure the flexibility in coverage and hopefully less stress too.

JTXR, the following is my own experience. I too had a similar situation returning from the US at end June. Due to limiting personal logistics, I scheduled my PCR test four days before my US departure and received my PCR test results 24 hours later but within the 72 hours of my actual US departure date/time. For me, I also pursued and received getting a signed "medical certificate" too from the testing clinic. The PCR test requirements per Thailand's COE application website (https://coethailand.mfa.go.th/) states that after the COE is approved, the traveler should have a medical certificate attesting the traveler is covid free issued no more than 72 hours before travelling. For myself, I made sure I had pre-typed and pre-printed a medical certificate (a letter) for the testing clinic's doctor to sign and stamp to which I attached the clinic's negative test results. (I didn't anticipate that clinics typically would provide this so I typed one up myself.) I then made sure I highlighted in yellow the date on the medical certificate and the date/time on the attached test result so that the < 72 hour timing was clear for airport/airline reviewers when I departed the US, for when I arrived in transit (Narita Airport), and for when I arrived to BKK. I encountered no questions or issues. 4. Once Certificate of Entry (COE) is approved Applicant requests to print Certificate of Entry (COE) from website via Check Application menu (in the menu on the next page) Applicant shows (1) Certificate of Entry (COE), (2) Medical certificate attesting that the traveler is free from COVID-19, using RT-PCR method, issued no more than 72 hours before travelling, and (3) relevant documents prescribed in Guidelines based on Regulations issued under Section 9 of the emergency Decree on Public Administration in Emergency Situation B.E.2548 (2005) (No.7) to Airline Officials and officials at point of Entry, otherwise might be rejected to enter the Kingdom COE applicant for Sandbox programme shall prepare additional documents which are (1) an original copy of Certificate of Vaccination and (2) receipt or proof of payment for SHA Plus accommodation, specifying both accommodation fees and RT-PCR COVID-19 test fees. The SHA Plus booking confirmation shall be issued at least 14 nights, unless travellers have proof of return tickets leaving Thailand within 14 days after arrival.