SurfRider

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"cheap shoes, which are sold at inflated prices, isn't able to copy them and then sell them under a noname brand without spending a single dollar on promotion?"

Sounds great - just tell me where to find them . . .

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Yes, I saw the Solomon brand at the super-sport store. Look good, but unfortunately, nothing close to the size I need. The only one they had in the size I need was Reebok at 7000 Baht.

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Thanks to everyone for all the great suggestions! I'll check them out and report back.

I've never seen these used shoe places - if anyone has specific location information I'd like to look there also.

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Found running shoes at Central Festival - around 5000 to 7000 Baht!

Anyone know where to find more reasonably priced running or walking shoes? Need large size U.S. 12 to 13 or Euro 46 to 48 - Wide.

Thanks in advance for any information.

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"Looks like I found the $34 per month Medicare Advantage Policy which is in addition to the Part B premium"

I don't know what you're referring to on the Medicare website, but his Medicare-Advantage policy is from a private company, not Medicare. He's not paying any of those high premiums that you mentioned. Yes, you need to be enrolled in Part-B to be able to purchase the private Advantage add-on. I assume that's because the private company needs to be reimbursed from both Parts A and B.

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"wanting to misguide others"

You're the one misleading people. You've got your head stuck in Thai Govt. insurance and government hospitals. I don't know what type of ambulance was called after he had the accident, but I'm reporting what ACTUALLY HAPPENED - that's obviously at odds with what you think SHOULD have happened. Everything I've reported is 100% accurate.

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"It is very difficult to find a Dr. who will accept a patient on Medicare"

It might be worth checking with Kaiser Permanente. They're a large nation wide operation and they accept Medicare patients. Some of the Mayo Clinic satellite clinics also accept Medicare.

https://medicare.kai...ortal/medicare/

http://www.mayoclini...t/medicare.html

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"there is a limit to how many months outside the USA one can stay each year and still be covered by the Medicare traveler provisions"

"Medicare Part A does not pay IN FULL for anything but only 80%"

He has Medicare-Advantage coverage, which is private insurance that costs US$34 per month. It's an extension of Medicare coverage that covers most of what Medicare does not. The cost of the hip replacement was paid in full by the private insurance and they are reimbursed by Medicare.

"he started going to the wrong Hospital. Mistake 1"

He had few options. He was in severe pain, immobile, and requested Bumrungrad. They couldn't take him for some reason, so the ambulance took him to Bangkok Hospital.

Why don't you consider staying on-topic and keep your irrelevant opinions out of the discussion?

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Here's an example of one good reason why Part-B is worth having.

A retired American friend fell and broke his hip while visiting in Bangkok. He was immobile and taken to Bangkok Hospital. The doctors put three screws in his hip so the bones would start to fuse together and heal. The cost of the initial surgery was the equivalent of US$5000. It was covered by his state-side insurance (Medicare Advantage) because it covers a person who is traveling. Medicare reimburses his private insurance company.

Three months later it was discovered that one of the screws had migrated and was about to enter the hip joint, which would cause severe pain. The surgery would cost US$15,000 in Thailand, which he would need to pay up-front out of his own pocket. The state-side insurance was only good for the initial operation and would not cover the second surgery.

He went back to the states where doctors discovered that no healing had taken place and recommended a complete hip replacement, which he decided to do. The entire cost was covered by Part-A and Part-B, with the exception of medication.

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If you decline Part-B and later decide to enroll in it, the penalty is 10% for every year when you were NOT enrolled - added to the monthly payment and deducted from your Social Security benefit payment.

Medicare has 4 parts.

Medicare Part A is for inpatient care in hospital and nursing facilities

Medicare Part B is for doctors fee and outpatient services

Medicate Part C is for other services not covered by Part B.

Medicare Part D is for prescription drugs.

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I know of one smokehouse that uses coconut husks and their products are very good.

http://chef-a-gogo.c...-coconut-husks/

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"how i can opt out of that so-called "benefit" and stop paying that $115 monthly for Part B coverage"

When you turn 65 Medicare automatically enrolls you in Part-A for which there is no charge. They give you an option to decline Part-B, otherwise they enroll you in that also. Practically speaking, it's VERY CHEAP insurance for what it offers, but you can only use it if you go back to the US in the event of a serious medical situation.

If you're absolutely sure that you really want to drop Part-B, contact the SS/Medicare unit at the Manila Embassy. They will take care of that.

eMail: [email protected]

Social Security Administration

US Embassy Manila

1201 Roxas Boulevard

Ermita, 0930 Manila, Philippines

Tel No. (63) (2) 301-2565

Fax No.(63) (2) 708-9714

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Thanks, but there is no such thing as "Maps Lab" anywhere to be found on the page I'm viewing. I'm logged into Google, but likewise - no "edit" button anywhere. Maybe different Browsers? I'm using Firefox 17.0.1.

No big deal - I was only offering a suggestion to people posting new restaurants.

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You might suggest that people posting new restaurants also add the GPS coordinates since this is the easiest way to find some of these obscure locations.

I attempted to post the GPS for the curry place on the dark side, but it doesn't re-appear when the map is accessed.

The procedure to locate and post the GPS is:

1) Right-click the location and select "What's here?"

2) A green arrow will appear - Left-Click the arrow

3) Copy the GPS coordinates in the pop-up window. You can enter the coordinates into your phone or GPS in your car.

I tried the "Save to Map" option, but the green arrow is not there when you access the URL again . . .

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After not finding anything local for a very long time that was worthwhile buying, I recently had two boxers made by a local tailor. Not cheap (700 Baht), but I got to choose from many patterns of quality cotton fabric and the workmanship is excellent - they even have pockets! -- IMHO much better than roaming from market to market or waiting for a trip to another country. I could wear them out in public and nobody would know that they're "underwear". I'm ordering more very soon.

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Is this unit still available?

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There's an office on Chiyapruk-2, just east of Sukumvit in Jomtien.

https://maps.google....ed=0CJUBEPwSMAQ

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" 6-7% return on that after taxes. Thats 60-70k US a year"

The best low risk US investment return I'm able to find is around 6% BEFORE taxes, such as investing in the top ten Dividend Champions - That would be around 4.2% AFTER taxes.

Would you care to reveal your strategy for a low risk 6 to 7% AFTER taxes? . . .

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For all the envious uninformed gutter snipes - maybe you'd like to read his bio . . .

http://www.pattayama...m/434/who.shtml

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"Well i guess he's an Australian citizen"

Why would he give up his British citizenship just because he was working in Australia? Did you give up your native citizenship when you moved to Thailand?

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"Ian is an Australian & as far as I am aware"

He's from England but practiced medicine in Australia for more than 30 years. Why don't you check with him him before reporting incorrect information here? Seems to me that he would know where he was born, raised, and educated.

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"person you refer to is an Aussie"

That seems to be a common misunderstanding. Corness told me himself that he was born and raised in England. He practiced medicine in Australia for over 30 years, thus the apparent confusion.

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Apparently most of the crew posting here are opposed to BPH based on cost. I'd partially agree, but in most cases you get what you pay for. I've paid from 400 to 1000 Baht per visit depending on the specialty and experience of the doctor. I don't consider that unreasonable - especially if it's a critical issue.

I always go first to Dr. Iain Corness for a recommendation on which doctor to see - he's a Brit. and the liaison between expats and the hospital staff. He's always been very helpful. I think his hours are weekdays from 8am to noon - he's on the 2nd floor in the International Department at the top of the lobby escalator. He can also be reached by phone.

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I bought a 32 inch Panasonic TV that doubles as a computer monitor. Best screen I've ever had in many years of computing. Power Buy at Central was 14,000+ but many other units to choose from. Take your laptop along and test it with their Panasonic and Samsung display units. I recommend an LED over a LCD.

Here's the 32" next to its little brother, a BENQ 22 inch.

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