CaptainJack

2 hours ago, Morty T said:

You mentioned a good pension, but it seems it's not good enough. You already knew what the requirements were before you came; so I am lost on the rest of your story, unless you were expecting to do border runs as a viable alternative.

Hi Morty T.  There were just a lot of factors I did not understand until I got here and decided to try retirement.   I made a lot of mistakes,  I admit that.

I knew it was time for me to leave, and shared, in hindsight,  a poor initial post.  I've tried to answer as many detailed questions as I have been asked, hoping that they will be of some help.  

Sorry my initial post was not clear enough.   My bad.

Cheers...

3 hours ago, jimcarr65 said:

Captain Jack, 

 

Very good post, I even shared it with my friend who is 73 and was considering moving there to be closer to his Thai GF. After reading what you wrote he decided against it you know why?....Because it is reality over there now. I lived there from 2014-2017 and taught English at a good school. However, I am only 52 and was not saving for retirement, living check to check, no 401K, the pollution was gagging, the hassle of Immigration and all the paperworl involved(went to Laos once with 50 sheets of paper for an extension, was missing 1 paper, back to Thailand!!!), the constant "mmmaaaaaasssaagggeee" in Pattaya got on my nevers, it was nice for the first 6 weeks but not when you live there. You did the right thing. 

 

Only question I have is if you are a Vietnam Vet what about VA benefits? 

Hi,

The VA provides zero coverage outside the USA.   Thanks for the comment. 

16 hours ago, ChristianBlessing said:

Thanks CaptainJack for this well-reasoned and clear post. After 11 years working in Malaysia, with some consideration given to retiring in Thailand, my spouse and I too have decided that there are simply too many hurdles to get over. We have a nice home in Arizona where we will retire; Thailand will be a pleasant yearly getaway for us going forward, allowing us the best of two worlds.

Glad you made the correct decision for yourselves.  Best to you.

20 minutes ago, marcusarelus said:

The way I read it was Jack has an eye problem that he can't fund repair if it occurs here.  So he can't stay.  Maybe I'm wrong. 

Yes. I had two, very successful vitrectomy's and my doctor successfully sealed the busted capillaries in my retina. I see fine now, but without really good insurance,  if I started having problems again, I'd be blind before I could get back to the USA from Thailand.  It all added up to go home.  I am looking at Panama.  The flight would be a bit expensive on short notice,  but I can be back in Austin,  with one stop in a little over six hours.  Options and planning are essential.   I've learned a lot from this experience.   Thanks for your comment. 

17 minutes ago, natway09 said:

Interesting post. You can be very alone here in Thailand without the right friends, not just the

gold diggers.

I am too old now to make the change but if I am frugal we should be OK.

Some of your topics are valid but I sense an underlying bit of Thai resentment between the lines.

The money required for an extension of stay is to me acceptable. (Have a look at immigration requirements in your country or Oz, NZ or the UK) & 70% of expats here would not even be able to consider. 

Best of luck,,,, enjoy

Thanks.  No Thai resentment.   I am frustrated with the Thai government and immigration issues.   Another commenter posted I showed up at exactly the wrong time.  Maybe.  I'm not sure of much right now, other then I need a reboot, get my head clear, rethink a whole bunch of stuff and going home is the right thing for me. 

The bottom line for me was I think I could have managed about everything that was thrown at me, but I researched everywhere and contacted every insurance agent I could, and I never found medical insurance coverage, that included preexisting conditions,  for less then 700usd a month.  That blows my financial planning.  

I know it sounds totally stupid I did not figure this in, but I just flat missed it.

I was not going to go into much detail,  but, I will at least explain.   I'm not worried about my high cholesterol and Lipitor being a reason for not paying for a stent procedure if needed  even if It would still really wipe a big chunk of my savings. 

What I'm really concerned about is I had two eye procedures done due to vitreous traction and retinal bleeding in 2013.  Because I'm at risk of another,  I need access to covered medical care. You know  it's just stupid I did not think of all this. My bad.  I've got some serious thinking to do about what my future plans are, as soon as I'm over the worst jet lag in my life.  Thanks for your comment.   Take care.

2 minutes ago, yobosayo said:

Hi Cpt. Jack. greetings from a  crew member 12th Group 11th Bn. Vultures 162nd Assault Helicopter Co.  Phouc Vien. do your home work for the places you want to go. yes maybe try for a few months. Have a Texas Day from San Antonio.

If for no other reason  I'm really glad I made this post to hear from you.  I was at the 50th anniversary of the 1st Aviation Brigade at Ft. Rucker, which was also the 45th anniversary of the 45h anniversary of the 16th Aviation Battalion.   We were the Vulture Unit at Can Tho.  Were you at the anniversary?  If so, we met. Great to connect. 

23 minutes ago, Tony125 said:

Some of your posts do not make sense why not to retire here but hey it's your choice. 

 

1. The 90 day reports can be done online so you don't have to actually report to immigration. I do because they are 5 mins from my house and I know some of the girls/officers who work there.

 

2. If your pension is enough you don't need to keep 800,000 baht in a Thai bank (400,000 if married) just show the deposits being transferred to a Thai bank monthly. 65,000 retirement extension---40,000 married to Thai extension both good for a year.

 

3. You say you receive 2 Gov pensions. If 1 is retired Military you can be covered by TRICARE an amendment  to Medicare and will cover ex-military here in Thailand. I am ex military but retired from US Postal Service and my Gov health plan covers me forever wherever I am in the world. I don't even have to pay Medicare if not planning to return to US as my Gov policy pays for care here. Why if retired from Gov job did you not keep the health insurance?    

 

4. Been coming to Thailand since 2000 and lived here since 2013 and have never been stopped by a police officer.

Hi,

Just for clarity sake. One pension is social security and the other from a DOD contractor.  I spent 15 years including my reserve time in the military and then went to work at a better paying government job. I have a friend in Bangkok that asked about the Tri-Care thing already.   It would have been nice.

Take care....

24 minutes ago, marcusarelus said:

An' the blasted English drizzle wakes the fever in my bones;
Tho' I walks with fifty 'ousemaids outer Chelsea to the Strand,
An' they talks a lot o' lovin', but wot do they understand?
Beefy face an' grubby 'and -
Law! wot do they understand?
I've a neater, sweeter maiden in a cleaner, greener land!

Rudyard Kipling. 

And to finish the verse  which by the way, is well the one to write...

Ship me somewheres east of Suez, where the best is like the worst,
Where there aren't no Ten Commandments an' a man can raise a thirst;
For the temple-bells are callin', an' it's there that I would be --
By the old Moulmein Pagoda, looking lazy at the sea;
On the road to Mandalay,
Where the old Flotilla lay,
With our sick beneath the awnings when we went to Mandalay!
On the road to Mandalay,
Where the flyin'-fishes play,
An' the dawn comes up like thunder outer China 'crost the Bay!

38 minutes ago, granuaile said:

First, want to say a great post.

I think we all have our reasons for staying or leaving. When I came here I didn't think I'd ever leave, still not sure leaving will be permanent. Now, more than nine years later, I had already decided to, probably, leave and that was before the U.S. embassy discontinued the income affidavit - the changes due to that just sort of cemented it. I love this country, I love it's people (not just in BKK, but also up in CM and down South). I fell in love with Thailand the first time I was here, and on the balcony where I was staying on the river heard the adhan while gazing over across a Buddhist temple, something just said this is the most wonderful place on earth.

I don't mind the smog and never been stopped by police at all, but I live in a Thai neighborhood and never had a desire to live in the areas that draw a lot of foreigners. That said, other issues were drawing me home. Most of my family passed away in the years I've been here, my father passed away a year after I came here and was buried within the time frame it takes to even get back there. I also have a son back home as well and want to be closer to him as well.

I had already decided to go home for a few reasons. One was because I'll be turning 65 and while in good health will lose my current insurance, which is through my retirement plan and has excellent coverage abroad. I went back and last month signed up for Medicare B and my retirement's health insurance for those of us on Medicare. It too will cover me abroad, but much more limited (no limit on emergency care but one on routine care) and it requires me to reside in the states as a condition, so I've officially changed my residence back to the U.S. already and just back here to take care of things (mainly giving my possessions away, but also saying goodbye to friends).  I have a house there, a dog, and family, things I don't have here. They also have to take me, which is  a step above the uncertainty here. Also, back home state law requires state-supported universities, colleges, and vocational schools to waive tuition and fees at age 65 (I'd rather not turn 65, but if I have to...). Another reason is that I want to spend several months over the next year or so traveling in Europe, especially in Ireland.

These changes just sealed things. If they would accept my official documents from back home I might have yet changed my mind. However, in addition to all the uncertainties about transferring money here and it showing up here as an international transfer. I love my bank back home, it's locally owned and I get hugs whenever I'm back there or leaving to return here, and for me a few trips to the ATM work fine. But not with the end of the income affidavit. Also I help out back home with the bills and property taxes and insurance. Not something I have to do, but something I choose to do, and something I just won't stop - and importing the 65,000 each month wouldn't let me do that.

I may return one day, or I may opt for Indonesia (due to it's permanent residency option) or the Philippines, where I have in-laws and can enter with my spouse for a year at a time as balikbayan. Or Central/South America. However, I think I'll just stick to lengthy (and short) trips to various places around the world, unless Ireland ever becomes an option. If I do come back it would probably only be if my spouse and son joined me.

I wish you well Captain Jack. Thanks for a thoughtful post, and ignore the naysayers. I think a lot of us are making this same choice for a whole lot of disparate reasons. Life is too short to live it with all the uncertainties.

Thank you for your great comments.   Good luck.

1 hour ago, JimmyTheMook said:

 

How do you afford Austin then?

Did you own a property you returned to?

 

It is by far not a cheap area to live in any longer.

 

Hi,

I'm not living in Austin.   I'm staying with my best friend,  my only family I have until I decide my next step.  Austin is way to expensive for me.  Good question.   I've got some ideas. We will be talking about them over the next week or two.  Right now? Just trying to settle and center and make better decisions.   Thanks for your comment. 

2 hours ago, Ahab said:

Hope everything works out for you. Where did you reside when you lived in Thailand? The reason I ask is that where I live the chance of an immigration office or any other kind of Thai government official coming around is close to zero (and hasn't happened in the two years I have been here).

 

Thailand is not for everyone, good luck in Austin.

At the Lighthouse. 

Thanks for your comment. 

The Light House
8 299 - 300 Charoen Nakhon Rd, Khwaeng Khlong Ton Sai, Khet Khlong San, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10600, Thailand
+66 83 002 5434
https://maps.app.goo.gl/a3iHe

3 minutes ago, GinBoy2 said:

You can go around and around on these threads.

 

My wife is Thai we met and for 12 years lived in Singapore. Wise women, told me I'd tire of the place within 10 years, got it wrong by 11 months

 

We moved back to the US, nearly 2 years ago now, but we still do the snowbird thing to our house in Khon Kaen.

 

That dual location thing seems to be an increasing option for many retirees. 

 

I've said this before in many threads, but over the past 10 years the cost advantage of being in Thailand pretty much evaporated for me at least.

 

Now we have a holiday home which is perfect

Sounds like you got a good plan.  Good job!

4 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

I can do this a lot shorter, I didn't research the medical cost, now I know I can't afford it, I have to go back.

I understand.  Sorry.

1 minute ago, glegolo said:

I didn´t mean that Thailand suffered when living here, but my meaning was that Thailand misses out and suffer when a retiree leaves...

 

glegolo

Sorry, I misunderstood.  Apologies.

Just now, Damrongsak said:

I'm still in Virginia in the USA.  Wifey has been back in Thailand for about 2.5 years as the advanced party.  She's coming back for about 6 months for good pizza and steak and we'll see where that leads.  I still have a 90 year old Mother and a brother who need looking after here.  Contact me if you need to bellyache.  Misery loves company, as they say.

LOL.  You made me laugh.

3 minutes ago, lamyai3 said:

If you'd retired here 9 weeks ago, this comment might be true. But no amount of research you could have done 9 months ago would have suggested the recent changes were on the cards. 

Yep, I know.  I give myself a break on that.  The medical and just my own tolerance for the process to live long term in Thailand, I own that.  Thanks....

1 minute ago, steven2018 said:

Retiring or living in and out of Mexico for a U.S. citizen might be a better option for a retiree on Medicare -- a few hours flight back to the U.S. beats a 22-hour flight in time and cost.

Mexico, Panama and Costa Rica are on my list to research.  Thanks!