Teee

2 hours ago, wazzadg44 said:

I agree-not enough scope in the survey. I am 74 and do not have health insurance(have been denied since age 70 and now have existing condition ) but I do have enough money to cover my public hospital treatment (last time 200,000 baht +/- ) so I think some consideration should be applied in these sorts of circumstances. If push came to shove I would go back home for treatment but only as a last resort. Nothing left for me there.

Its for your type of situation that they are bringing in Health Insurance.

In any other country away from your home...they would EXPECT you to pay for your health problems.

Just because you live in Thailand why should you expect to be treated free??

2 minutes ago, isaanistical said:

Nonsense. See https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/474278/Implementing_overseas_charging_regulations_2015.pdf

 

Non EEA people may not be charged AT POINT OF TREATMENT in A&E for "services provided at an NHS hospital (whether provided at an A&E department or elsewhere in the NHS hospital, e.g. urgent healthcare centre) but not including services provided after the overseas visitor is accepted as an inpatient or at a follow-up outpatient appointment." Your Thai would be billed for the post-emergency treatment.

And "from April 2015, an immigration health charge (“health surcharge”) will be payable by non-EEA nationals who apply for a visa to enter or remain in the UK for more than six months." It's 400 quid a year. No mention of whether the alien might already have some form of insurance.............

I have already said this in other forums.

I was going thru all the process to get Long Term Visa for my fillipino gf and its £400 per year paid up in advance for term of Visa and is payable with the Visa Application.

2 and half year Visa 1700 approx then the Health Insurance fee 1000.

2 hours ago, Crossy said:

Only a fool would remain in Thailand without some form of health planning. It can (and too often does) happen to you!

 

IMHO The government should :-

• Allow suitable health insurance from a globally recognised company.
• Provide access to sensibly priced local insurance (in-patient only).
• Permit those who have paid into the social scheme to continue paying (this is already in place but it's unclear whether this would meet the requirements).
• Allow self-insurance, limits will need to be set, allow the use of the 400/800k needed for extensions (without draw-down).

AND

 

This should apply to ALL foreigners including tourists (travel insurance mandatory for tourists).

 

 

Problem will be if you have heart attack and have long stay in hospital. You use funds from your 400/800k extension money.

What then happens when you want to extend?

Opps sorry sir you have no money in your bank.

This would never work.

Its simple really. Cant or wont pay for health insurance then go somewhere else to live.

I suspect all you people on here expect to live in Thailand on your terms.

Fact is you are just a 'tourist' living long term therefore abide by the rules

Be thankful they let you stay.

On 10/11/2019 at 6:07 PM, Max69xl said:

If you came to Thailand to stay in BKK and eat Sunday roast every week, and don't eat Thai food,then I understand you think it's expensive. 

Ha ha very funny....i eat thai food most of the time even when im not in Thailand.....best place Palates opp Saphan Taskin.

But i was saying it is more expensive than UK...in General....i dont eat street food if i can not see that they can wash their hands....ekkkk ????????????

And i did not say i had Sunday Roast every week. Just a treat every now and again. As im sure you enjoy a home comfort food sometimes ????????????

7 minutes ago, garyk said:

Hard to believe all the changes for expats and others. Just in the last year. It has gone from one of the cheapest places to retire, to the most expensive.

 

It is dirt cheap to live there. But the government has let the big companies ruin it IMHO.  Thankfully many other countries want expats to spend their money in there country.  

 

Just a crying shame.

Having lived in Bkk for overall 1 and half years on and off...apart from renting a small room in a condo 35sqm @10000bht my gfs place (she is not thai) and transport its more expensive than the UK to live....not unless you live on street food...and then the chances of using your Health Insurance is quite high ????

I used to like the Sunday Roast in Molly Malones (Now deceased) but more expensive than a Toby Carvery in UK...same as Robin Hood and Royal Oak.

Please please no more comments that Thailand is a cheap place to live.

I love Thailand and will be back just before Xmas. I love Cambodia and if i was to live in Asia for long term thats the place to live.

13 hours ago, ukrules said:

I have well over a million pounds per year of 'cover everything' insurance and I pay a reasonable price for this.

 

Thailand nor any other country for that matter will ever pay a single Baht for any treatment I receive, because I plan for all outcomes well in advance...

 

I want to see Thais being made to do the same when they're in MY country....clear?

Totally agree with you. But not resticted to just Thais.

As prev posted anyone outside the EU that applies for a long stay Visa...has to pay up front a Medical Insurance fee...around £300 to 400 per year in advance...so for a 2 and half year Visa about £750 to 1000 this is added to the Visa fee 1300 to 1700 approx.

This enables a person needing treatment to go and use NHS.

Certain medical conditions are not applicable thou.

Like most holiday destinations outside the EU they have a problem with tourists...and i include Thailand Retirees as they are classed as Long Term Tourists...certain people dont have Health Insurance.

The Thais are just putting in place what UK and Europe does and I believe Australia US NZ Canada...to ensure if you want to live in those countries you have enough Health Cover if you fall ill.

Seems sensible to me.

I do feel sorry for the over 55s living in Thailand...i met a few...who liked to enjoy all the offers a Thai or Fillipino gives for a price but they all told me they had not got Health Insurance because then they would not be able to afford the delights that is on offer.

Not suggesting all forum members are like this but....

7 hours ago, glennb6 said:

So now, a few days back I read that health insurance was to be manditory for new O-A visa applicants over 50 yrs of age. Not a very clear explanation for an official announcement, but I'm now extending my O-A visa, not applying for a new one, so I passed on the details.

 

Today I read that the plans are "updated" to include ALL over 50 O-A visas, new and extensions, and again with less than clear guidelines. I will only speak for myself because that's the only person I am an expert in knowing.

 

Seems I am considered first, a long stay TOURIST. I thought I was a long term Non-immigrant? Something about being deemed a temporary tourist bothers me both from the perspective of being considered temporary by the authorities, and from the point of security of lifestyle. The later in that I am retired here, intend to live here until I die, and if that makes me a "non-immigrant" fine, but a temporary tourist?? Maybe tourists will be limited to X number of months one of these days at the whims of, well...

 

I am very INSULTED to be called "high risk" because I am over 50 yrs old. Hey, we all die some day but some people are healthier than others regardless of age. Some people live a healthier life style than others, regardless of age. I do know age discrimination when it's typed in print in my face by the host government!

 

Me, knock on my wooden head, I am healthy, never needed a hospital or a doctor in countless years. I'm not fat/overweight. I eat healthy, I exercise regularly and am in better shape than most 30-40 yr olds. I don't smoke, I rarely drink alcohol, I am in a monogamous relationship with my GF, and my stress levels are near zero. Sound pretty good and low risk to me.

 

I rarely ride public transportation, which seem to overturn, have brake failures, and driver brain failures resulting in crashes thus ranking Thailand rather high on road fatalities and injuries. I drive an older Toyota pickup and a whimpy Honda Wave motorcycle. I have Thai driver licenses and extra insurance on the pickup truck. I drive safely, sober, and on the lookout. Anyone who has ever been here and especially who live here knows how bad the driving is.

 

Tourists who rent larger motorcycles and blast around drunk. Locals who believe Buddha will protect them and don't bother looking who they drive in front of or on which side of the road they drive. Half the population who rides motorcycles sans helmets, and frequently three plus people on two seat motorcycles...yea. Many locals don't have driver licenses, carry insufficient insurance if any, and apparently frequently run from the scene of accidents (according to the daily news reports)...yea, who is it that is 'high risk'???

 

Police? Apparently they are there at the occasional roadblock to check helmets, license, and other minor stuff. Many people remember the recent news report with pictures of three young boys stopped at a roadblock, one wearing a metal pot on his head, and the police standing around chuckling how funny that was. Too young for licenses, no helmets, insurance? Driving skills?  Say no more.

 

I stress the road safety issues because driving is high risk here, but hey, because I'm an over 50 non-Thai, I am considered high risk. Essh.

 

So, I checked the premium rates for the stated minimum required insurance of 400k in patient and 40k outpatient coverage and surprise surprise surprise... 81,746 baht per year for 61-67yr olds. Seems a bit high for very minimal coverage, especially when the government has recently and officially condoned public hospitals to charge "whatever they feel like" for foreigners.

 

My current coverage with same company is 780k inpatient, zero outpatient. If I am injured and require outpatient care I will pay out of pocket. As my visa requirement is that I must have 800k in Thai banks, I think I can cover the 40k baht minimum.

 

My current coverage including discounts for no outpatient coverage, a deductible, and not having used the insurance (now in 2.5yrs since I started) is 19,238 baht per year.

 

So for lesser coverage the government is expecting me to pay an additional 62,508 baht every year!?? Expecting me to be OK with insurance that provides me with lesser coverage but costs 425% more than what I voluntarily buy now!??!!

 

At the very best and kindest, this is full on incompetence and disregard, and at worst it smells like government corruption, collusion with the insurance business, graft, and theft from a small segment of the non-resident population that is expected to say nothing as they are not Thai and just pay, just pay.

 

I don't like (but knew and agreed to before retiring here) having to keep 800k baht in Thai banks on a permanent bases. Didn't really care for the 2 months prior and 3 months after extension requirements because it sounds like the government assumes I'm trying to cheat the system with an agent (I am not). I don't travel in country much at all so the TM30 tracking doesn't affect me, but it seems childish and ineffectual if really intended to track criminals. I grin and report myself in to immigration every 90 days even though it makes me feel like a parolee, but at least the process is quick.

 

Now, the government says I will be required to pay an additional $2050 USD for their approved insurance scheme. I am not a big spender like the 2 week millionaire tourists or rich Thais, but my spending is a 100% positive income for the country, not to mention the 800k baht stuck in the bank. It costs Thailand ZERO, NOTHING to have me here, and I expected to live this way for another 20 to 30 years.

 

This mandatory insurance scam is insulting, way over the top costly, and provides significant mistrust in what the government may come up with next for me trying to live here.  Of all the policies and rules, this is one that may well push me to look elsewhere to live in retirement.

 

This rant is mostly "preaching to the choir" but maybe it will be read by some Thais, may some Thail government officials.

Maybe you should leave Thailand and settle somewhere more suited to your lifestyle without paying extra bucks.

Still can not understand you long stay tourists who say your retired...stop moaning pay up as you all say you are rich enough to live in Thailand or ship out.

Simple really!!!

3 minutes ago, Max69xl said:

This thread is only 22 hours old. It must have been a fast trip. 

Yes very fast there and back on business...you maybe aware from my prev forum posts i lived in Bkk but now back in UK till Xmas

6 hours ago, zydeco said:

Unfortunately, the US Embassy is probably laughing at us. This means less work for them. the repatriation of retirement funds into US banks, and then they can get back to colluding with regional dictators, depots, and tyrants without a squeak from the expat community here.

If you can not afford Health Insurance and your in Thailand....or anywhere else in the World away from your home country...then reality says....you should not be there.

Its simple really.

49 minutes ago, CLS said:

 

Yes, but then pre-conditions are covered and you are in the same insurance scheme as all residents.
Here you only pay and get nothing in return.
Overseas policies are a lot superior to Thai insurances, but don’t qualify.


Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

 

If you have paid for a Policy from your home country and have pre-conditions covered...then your policy must have cost a fortune. If cheap then check out how much you would get.

With the Baht now so high against all currencies and prob will be kept high for a long time...Medical expenses will be so much higher...hence if your covered for say £500000 or a Mill £€$ then i bet your medical expenses will be alot higher than that if say you had heart attack or anything you have to stay in Hospital for.

2 minutes ago, Vacuum said:

He said that he can't get an insurance because of his age. So no insurance, no visa.  Can't understand why he doesn't have retirement extension instead of a non O-A visa though.

Then why should Thai Govt/people pay for his ills??

Think if he has no money then why not go back to home country?

10 minutes ago, Max69xl said:

Many countries in Europe requires  a travel insurance for invited thai people. No insurance, no visa. ~38% of tourists from the UK have no insurance what so ever. 

Not just Thais.

This is required for all non EU people that apply for Long Term Visa.

The £2000 Medical Insurance covers for NHS treatment of NEW illness or accident.

Any illness that is ongoing before Visa Application has to be declared and a Private Health Insurance is required showing that that person is covered for whatever the illness is.

As i said earlier...Thai Govt now getting inline with the rest of the world and making sure everyone is covered by their own means should they fall ill.

Makes good sense to me.

4 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

I actually think it is a fair assessment by siam.

Unfortunately, many over 60's to 70's are in fact penny pinchers with very limited "nest eggs".

Always thinking about money and complaining how expensive everthing is.

Yes and most....yes most expats are like everyone else 'counting' money...as my fillipino gf likes to say to me 'stop counting'.

All asians think farang has trees that grow money.

Fact...Thailand with the high bht and everyones currency suffering big downturns...the Thai Govt has worked out if you fall ill the medical expenses you incur would not be covered by your money in your pocket anymore.

Therefore introducing a Medical Insurance is only right.

If you cant afford to live a nice comfortable life that is same or better than in your home country in Thailand maybe time to go home and live out the remaining years of your life at home with your families.

7 hours ago, ukrules said:

I would be quite happy to see changes in the rules to ensure that Thais pay for any treatment they receive in the UK and don't get free treatment like pretty much everyone else in the world.

 

I know they pay nothing right now.

 

I wonder how much free treatment Thais get over in Europe per year and how that figure compares to this paltry sum?

To enable a person from outside EU to have a long term Visa for UK...they have to first have a TB test...then if cleared a £2000 medical payment is required on Visa Application. This is to cover any medical expenses if required during stay in UK.

The thais are just putting in place what happens anywhere else in the world if you have long term Visa.

Why moan about this.

If you dont or cant afford the Insurance then why should the Thai Govt pay for your ills.

Simple really.

12 hours ago, bert bloggs said:

But you can "own" it through your children ,when i die my son just keeps paying the mortgage .

But unless your children are born in Thailand and are Thai...they can not 'own' therefore money paid by you would never be anything other than Thai money.

20 hours ago, justin case said:

capital outflows, for THAI exports only that buys land and businesses and own that at 100 percent while farang cannot even own the land he pays to build a house on

 

Why anyone would want to buy land and build a house on it but never 'Own' it....is beyond me.

7 hours ago, friend of siam said:

well why not if that fixed income is 5k a month or more ... before cheap beer...nice ladys...friendly guesthouses all for an apple and an egg ( for farangs but for locals it always was expensive ) well new world leaders...new thai government new legislation ( good = rich best asian in...bad equals white smelly guys out )...

now LOS go upmarket a hotel 3000 bhat plus etc etc etc

to enforce the new strategy many possibilitys...example: charge the one year pensioners a 1000 usd a month for the visa and demand 5 mill in a bank..choose your retirement location Tokio...Dubai...Singapore or Bangkok but only for big spenders

5k in what currency? 

If i had £5k a month fixed income i def would not be living in Thailand.

Many many places in the world better than Thailand to spend your money.

£5k a month is alot...and too be honest if thats the fixed income amount why go cheap beers and cheap whores?

21 hours ago, Angry Dragon said:

wine cellar (the one at emquartier).  

villa (rama 3 branch).

foodland (patpong branch), for "cheap" imports.  

 

I regularly buy wyndham merlot, as an example of an aussie wine, for around 600 THB a week ago.  A year ago this was closer to 700 THB just after the tax increase.  Castle Creek Dry White (not an aussie wine but another regular), is down around 1,600 THB, down from closer to 1,800 THB a year ago just after the tax increase. 

 

You'll note that these prices are lower than from the past year after the tax increase.  As for cheap wine (those under say 500 THB a bottle), I've not made any claims.  I'm talking about price changes, not overall cheapness.  

????????????????

OMG....Wyndham Merlot i buy in UK £5.99

Maybe 180bht....why on earth you want to pay 600bht. As in my prev comments on various forums. Thailand esp Bangkok soooo expensive.

How can expats afford to live there and have a nice comfortable life if they are retired?

My ex even now in her fillipino strops....says she did not like me counting all the time. 

I still have money whilst she since she become my ex...has no money struggles with paying her rent.

Moto of the post...Money dont grow on trees

Given all that is happening with the High Baht.

How many expats are suffering with the currencies of each country?

Have you stopped eating out often as you did before?

How many expats really thinking of leaving or have left in the last year?

What do you expect to read about what happens in Thailand.

Single farang only go to holiday to have good time with Thai or Fillipino whores.

Retired expats only stay for same reason.

Cheap sex...

As for any entertainment in Thailand farangs hang out expecting only one thing.

Sad sad sad.

My fillipino ex...whom i lived with in Bangkok now only wants free meal and sex a couple of times a week.

And only wants 65+ mainly 70+ farang....money talks.

Sad old men

On 9/12/2019 at 8:56 PM, roamer said:

Not what the OP said in his post. And considering you know nothing about the man or his wife the rest of your sentence was also garbage.

Shame you think you know it all.

If you had read my original post then yiu will know that i was referring to me giving up living in Thailand as its got too expensive and that i was living in Bkk with me ex gf a fillipino who works in Bkk.

So to have the nice OP reply to me re his house he rebuilt (the house is in his wifes name) i said well done. But if anything happened....as we all know....well i suppose your the expert...if he and wife split up....he has no claim on the house therefore no money.

Before you are rude to anyone else on here...read all the posts relating.

Next please

8 hours ago, Toscano said:

The exchange rate is horrendous , about 37bt to the pound sterling . When I first came it was 70bt to the pound .

There must be many other beautiful places that are cheaper , better value . The Thai Baht is long overdue for devaluing .   

Loads of great places cheaper....even UK ????????????????????????????????????????????