Globenauta

Following up on my last post, as I haven’t received a clear answer yet... I’m now ready to apply for Section 39 (self-funded SSO insurance) after leaving my job. However, when I visited the SSO office last week, they mentioned a lump sum withdrawal option, and I’m still unclear about it. I’ve heard that taking the lump sum might cancel my ability to keep Section 39 health insurance, but I haven’t been able to confirm this 100%. Can anyone who has faced this decision share their experience? Did you take the lump sum and later regret it? Were you able to get back on Section 39 afterward? I’d really appreciate any recent updates or personal experiences before I go back to the SSO office. Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone, I appreciate all the insights previously shared about continuing SSO coverage. I recently visited my local SSO office to switch from Section 33 (employee) to Section 39 (self-funded) so I can keep public health insurance. During the visit, the officer mentioned a lump sum withdrawal option, but the discussion was in Thai, and I didn’t fully understand it. My wife tried to follow along, but we’re still unclear on how this affects my options. What I understand so far: Since I haven’t reached 180 months of contributions, I wouldn’t qualify for a pension yet. Taking the lump sum now might mean losing future pension eligibility. If I stay in Section 39 and continue contributing, I could eventually qualify for a monthly pension. I can keep SSO health coverage for ฿432/month, but I’m unsure if taking the lump sum affects this. Questions: If I take the lump sum, can I still keep Section 39 health insurance? Has anyone taken the lump sum and later regretted it? Once I take the lump sum, can I later rejoin the pension scheme or is it final? I’d love to hear from anyone who has been through this process. Any advice or clarifications would be greatly appreciated before I go back to the SSO office. Thanks in advance for your help!

Thank you for sharing your experience! Camillian Hospital sounds like a good option, I’ll take a look at their health check-up programs. I appreciate the advice about being cautious with follow-ups. Thanks again for the helpful input!

Thank you so much, Sheryl! Your explanation about cancer screening is very helpful. We’ll definitely use your suggested list of tests as a guide and look into a basic package where we can add the necessary items. My wife had a colonoscopy last year, so it’s good to know that isn’t necessary again for now. Thanks again for taking the time to share your valuable advice!

Thanks so much, Celsius! Bangpakok hospitals seem to be on the opposite side of Bangkok from where I live, but Paolo Hospital is much closer. I’ll definitely check it out! I really appreciate your suggestion, thanks again!

Hi everyone, I’m looking for a health check package for my Thai wife (early 50s) in Samut Prakan or Bangkok. Ideally, the package would include tests like a full blood panel, hormone levels, heart and kidney function, and cancer screening, but I’m open to suggestions. Any recommendations for hospitals or clinics that provide thorough packages at reasonable prices would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

I respect that everyone makes choices based on their own situation. For me, I want to thank everyone who shared helpful advice in this thread, especially @Sheryl who pointed me toward a much cheaper registered alternative for Rosuvastatin. I’ve already purchased my first batch of Rosetta at 360 THB per box compared to Vivacor’s 888 THB. There may be even cheaper, non-registered options out there, but I feel fortunate to be in a position where I can prioritize quality and safety. Circumstances can always change, and I may adjust if needed, but for now, this is what works for me. Regards

As far as I know, there are currently only two regularly registered versions of Tadalafil available in Thailand: Original Cialis: Around 4,500 THB for a box of 28 pills (5 mg). Talafil: A generic version manufactured by the Thai company Millimed, priced at about 2,400 THB for a box of 30 pills (5 mg). Of course, there are plenty of unregistered or unregulated versions available at much lower prices, but they come with potential risks.

Millimed, it's not a distributor. Reputable Thai pharma manufacturer. Talafil is their generic Cialis version registered under Thai FDA. Never mind

https://www.mims.com/thailand/drug/info/talafil

That’s an interesting observation, but price differences between countries often come down to local market conditions, taxes, and regulations. As others have pointed out, there are lower-cost generic options available, including some that aren’t Thai FDA-registered. However, I personally prefer sticking to registered medications approved to minimize potential risks.

Hello, you're absolutely right - what I did was change the reason for my extension of stay from work to Thai spouse. As for the work permit, I haven’t applied yet, but I hope to have the opportunity to check and share my experience soon!

I'm happy to share that I successfully changed from a Non-B to a Non-O (Thai spouse) visa without needing to leave Thailand. I want to thank everyone here who offered their advice and guidance - it was very useful!

I agree - always better to take medications under medical supervision. I would also avoid taking any medications that aren’t locally registered to reduce potential quality issues and the risks of counterfeit drugs.

Thank you, Sheryl! That’s really helpful. I’ll definitely discuss with my dr. whether switching to a different statin or another generic rosuvastatin. At Fascino, Vivacor was actually the cheapest of the 3 or 4 options they had, but I’ll check around elsewhere. Also, I generally prefer to stick to meds that are registered with the Thai FDA (it doesn’t necessarily mean “locally made,” just that they are localluy registered). Really appreciate your guidance!