madmen

11 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

Not for 60 day or normal extension (even if not allowed).  Do not believe they will accept flu type symptoms letter as reason to extend but you can try if doctor will provide letter you are not fit to travel - you must have made reservations already so would be inclined to try to make the trip and obtain new visa myself - believe HCMC is still quite low key and easy process if you have the paperwork (and USD for fee).

Flying with a cold especially he should say his ears are blocked. That can easy lead to burst eardrums due to pressure changes ,any doctor will write a no fly letter.

38 minutes ago, Nemises said:

 

The OP states that he lives Chiang Mai. Is aircon required up there “24/7”?

 

same as oz it varies

You know what this is ? its your future . When the oz dollar hits historical support at 15 baht ( and it will charts don't lie) it will be mamma noodles and Lao khao for ozzies and if that support doesn't hold then it will be in freefall and impossible to return back to oz with empty pockets or god forbid end up needing urgent medical assistance

1 hour ago, Nemises said:

 

 

DELETE

 

Just now, Nemises said:

Current electricity price comparisons:

Aus: varies from State to State, but expect to pay up to/or more than 43.67c/kWh

Thailand: 18:00c/kWh
 

Thailand varies state to state...many 24/7 100% humidity = aircon round the clock ! = Big electric bills

next ????

30 minutes ago, Nemises said:

Thinking of living rurally in Australia because it’s cheaper? Think again.


“People are choosing between turning on the heater, stove, washing machine … they won’t even use a toaster because they can’t afford power,” he said. “People are wearing shoes to bed to keep warm … how is that an acceptable standard of living?”



Today’s paper..







RESIDENTS in regional NSW are choosing between paying for food or electricity bills, as charities cry out for blankets to get people through the freezing winter.

A lack of competition and high pole and wire charges across regional areas means households outside Sydney pay hundreds of dollars, up to $1000, more on electricity, St Vincent de Paul found.

And as the demand for blankets and warm clothes skyrockets, St Vincent’s Wagga Wagga president Robyn Thurston said they have “nothing left to give”.

“People aren’t donating like they used to,” she said, adding people now sold old items online rather than donating them.

Ms Thurston has also been forced to turn away people needing electricity bill relief, after already using up the charity’s allocation of state government energy accounts payment assistance scheme vouchers. “Our EAPA budget ran out in May so we’ve had to tell people to make arrangements with their energy provider to try to get on a hardship plan,” she said. A government spokewoman said about 53,000 energy account holders had benefited from the EAPA scheme this financial year.

St Vincent’s Wagga Wagga op shop supervisor Leonie Ray (pictured) said the store was down to just six blankets. “In the past two days I’ve helped 15 families with blankets, pillows, sheets and clothes so, absolutely, we need more blankets as soon as possible,” she said.

“It’s going to get worse as we get more into winter, a lot of families are struggling.”

Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce has warned voters will “punish” the state and federal governments if they could not offer affordable electricity.

“People are choosing between turning on the heater, stove, washing machine … they won’t even use a toaster because they can’t afford power,” he said. “People are wearing shoes to bed to keep warm … how is that an acceptable standard of living?

Meaningless to compare All of OZ to some of the coldest regions out there, some of those examples are not far from the snowy mountains !!. Lived on the gold coast for 12 years and never used AC or Heater. I suggest you to retire in this region or the same latitude Western Australia....Tons of options, way to many to list

@Nemises

"The Wagga Wagga retiree, 61, goes to extreme lengths to stretch her disability pension to cover living costs for both herself and her teenage grandson, who lives with her."

And there is your answer. Teenagers are EXPENSIVE.  And this "Ms Riddle cooks meals or sends money to other family members in need of extra support."

Poor thing not her job to support the whole family..No wonder she cant afford heating

You didn't pick a very good example Im afraid 

Read CC travel insurance fine print very carefully

https://creditcards.usnews.com/articles/how-good-is-credit-card-travel-insurance

On 1/14/2017 at 8:02 PM, NickJ said:

I feel kinda sorry for all the idiots that still think it's some kind of paradise. Glad I didn't miss the boat in regards to its hey day.

You don't get it. Any newbie that lands in nana, soi cowboy, soi6 and walking st will think its paradise ! 

Just like you did a 100 years ago

Do a google search for air con calculators, Important to get the right size for your room 

On 6/22/2019 at 4:39 PM, marcusarelus said:

She is an engineer at Samsung and at work right now.

Smart too and brings you good wine . Sounds like a keeper !

12 years never been in a broken one however crowds have gotten worse but manageable outside of peak hour. No different to most peak hour traffic in the world.

The sportsman 2 storey english pub about 200 m inside soi 13 and right next door to the old German beerhouse are showing it 

Its a 1 kilometer walk to get to the runway and that would explain the lack of crowds and the pristine beach

Im a 100% starter next trip away from bangkok

This looks like good fun. But look how beautiful that water is !

Going to be a very expensive hangover

If they want to really do it right how about the footpath on south pattaya rd from Tutcom to 2nd rd.

the vendors are 2  deep in places with the footpath nearly gone .

19 minutes ago, CygnusX1 said:

If you have them done in Australia I hope that the cost for you will be minimal or nothing, and I wish you all the best in your treatment. It’s just that apart from workers’ compo, I’ve never had free health care in Australia, and in recent years Medicare’s paid 50 per cent at best, and sometimes nothing at all, in different places and for different procedures. 

Most of us here are either DSP or Pension so the concession card makes all the difference especially on the PBS meds scheme however your not either and that's where the confusion lay

6 hours ago, rainwater said:

If you love Thailand so much just return for short visits and buy travel insurance, or stay and die broke in Thailand.

Yep quite simple an effective and just go on tourist visa or visa exempt and forget the retirement visa drama and TM 30 etc

Married guys not so easy the poorer ones will be deep in the poo unless they can get everyone back to first world but not a cheap process

17 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

It is one option I have considered if mandatory Thai health insurance comes into play for retirees in Thailand.

Having said that, I can travel around Thailand with my GF, staying in quite good hotels, for less than $90 a day. Food, accommodation, petrol - the lot. I doubt that's possible in Australia.

While it may still be possible to get a powered site for $25 a night out in the sticks, caravan park costs escalate dramatically anywhere near a city. Assuming one can find one, as many are being taken over by developers.

 

True but the whole idea of a van is to travel.  I posted a link a few pages back in small town victoria apartments for $125 a week. 9000 baht/month and plenty more in the price range in country oz and even gladstone by the sea there are $120 apartments

lots of options. 

There is going to come a point where the AUD crosses the threshold of easy living in Thailand and personally at 20 baht to AUD I think we are there. 

9 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Your post misses or ignores the point medical treatment is not as freely available as you are making out. If it is emergency treatment, yes. If it is a non-emergency situation such as a knee or hip replacement, the patient goes on a waiting list in the public system.

A guy I used to work ( Victoria ) with was in constant pain for 18 months waiting for a hip replacement. That's why I maintain top level private health cover in Australia, to jump the queue for any non-acute condition I may develop.

Your Gap policy is for PRIVATE hospitals not public..You forgot to mention that?

Generally hip replacements are not "constant pain" but a dull ache when walking I should know Im about to join the waiting list. Meds knock out most pain anyway. A mate just had a double hip replacement after 10 months wait...would have cost a million baht here

33 minutes ago, CygnusX1 said:

Queanbeyan, NSW (still live there, only part time in my Thai condo).

Doctor seen at Queanbeyan GP Super Clinic, 23 Antill St

Google “Medicare Gap Payment”

 

 

What are Australians paying?

There are a large number of hospitals and physicians in Australia that do not charge a gap payment. Let’s take a look at the stats!⁴

Doesn't sound like a fortune to me and 88% dont charge so use one of those

How much can I get back from Medicare?

The amount Medicare pays toward your treatment varies based on where you are being treated:

• If you are treated in a public hospital. Medicare will pay 100% of the cost for the treatment itself, the anesthesia, all diagnostic work like blood work and x-rays and all fees like theatre fees, accommodation fees and doctor's fees.
• If you are treated in a private hospital. Medicare will pay 75% of the public rate for the treatment, the anesthesia and all diagnostic work. You and your health insurer are responsible for the rest, including 100% of the cost of all fees like accommodation fees, doctor's fees and theatre fees

21 minutes ago, CygnusX1 said:

People shouldn’t gain the impression that everything’s free under Medicare. Couple of months ago I visited a doctor in Australia to have my ears dewaxed, the fee was around $75. Less than half of that amount, $35, was refunded to me by Medicare. When I broke my pelvis a few years ago, I would have been up for a fortune if it hadn’t been covered by workers’ compensation.

Public hospital costs

Most treatment in Victoria’s public hospitals is free for all Australian citizens and most permanent residents. These costs are mainly paid for by Medicare.

You will not have to pay for hospital clinical services, doctors’ and specialists’ fees, medication, hospital accommodation and operating theatre fees. However, you may have to pay extra costs for some services such as TV or internet connection  ????

6 minutes ago, mehrdad said:

I think strongest baht only hurt the country with lower foreign investment and lower export and lower tourism! 

https://commodity.com/thailand/