TallGuyJohninBKK

Right.... https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/harris-trump-presidential-debate-election-2024/card/harris-greets-supporters-after-debate-EHQFxhDzt9INTC7RTQXl

Trump getting more unhinged and falling into more delusions: False: Trump claims Haitian immigrants are "eating the dogs" and pets in Springfield, Ohio Trump: "In Springfield, they're eating the dogs — the people that came in — they're eating the cats. They're eating — they're eating the pets of the people that live there. And this is what's happening in our country, and it's a shame." Details: Officials in Springfield, Ohio, say they have not received any credible reports of Haitian immigrants abducting and eating pets, despite viral claims on social media that have been amplified this week by Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance and others. A city spokesperson told CBS News there have been "no credible reports or specific claims" of pets being harmed by immigrants. Clark County Park District officials told CBS News there has been "no evidence or reports" of people eating pets or wildlife. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-harris-abc-debate-fact-check/

Looks like the fact checkers at CBS News were quite busy swatting down all the falsehoods Trump put forward at the debate: Fact checking debate claims from Trump and Harris' 2024 presidential face-off False: Trump claims "millions and millions of people" are "pouring into our country monthly" ... False: Trump claims "they had the highest inflation perhaps in the history of our country" ... False: Trump claims Walz says "execution after birth" of babies "is okay." (more) https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-harris-abc-debate-fact-check/ In CBS' list linked above, four major falsehoods by Trump. And regarding Harris' remarks, one rated inconclusive and the other rated "Partially true, needs context."

They say photos can be worth a thousand words.. Let's see what the Wall Street Journal had to say via their post debate photos: https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/harris-trump-presidential-debate-election-2024 The old guy is toast!

Interesting that on that Fox News link you posted above, it currently has a video with Fox asking a focus group of voters in their studio who they thought won the debate, and most of them said Harris won... and that's even on the Fox network. https://www.foxnews.com/video/6361820235112

From CNN: Harris baits Trump: Harris appeared to have a plan to throw Trump off his game, and she seemed to succeed during the contentious debate, saying that foreign leaders were laughing at him and accusing him of belittling people. Harris also called out Trump for attacking her racial identity. Trump’s arguments: Trump blamed Harris for President Joe Biden’s policies, including the US withdrawal from Afghanistan and immigration, as he vowed to improve the economy. He also repeated lies about widespread fraud in the 2020 election. Big endorsement: After the debate, superstar singer Taylor Swift endorsed Harris, saying that the vice president “fights for the rights and causes I believe need a warrior to champion them.” https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-harris-debate-abc-09-10-24/index.html The big liar just can't stop with his lying.....

For all the Trumpers here who started disparaging Harris before the debate had even started, let's have a look at the real world: Harris Dominates Fiery Debate, Putting Trump on the Defensive https://aseannow.com/topic/1337872-trump-harris-who-won-the-debate/

More showing Harris' debate performance moved the needle in her favor: Who won the Harris-Trump debate? We asked swing-state voters. September 11, 2024 In the first presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump, The Washington Post tried something new: We asked a group of uncommitted, swing-state voters in real time about their reactions to Tuesday’s debate. They thought Harris performed better, regardless of how they plan to vote in November. (more) https://archive.ph/jdxni https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/interactive/2024/presidential-debate-voter-poll/

With Schwab Bank, they have their own free and standard next day ACH transfers to and from whatever external accounts you want to link to your Schwab account. I would never use Zelle, as there have been far too many reports of problems with their service, and from what I've read, it seems to be on the decline. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/zelle-refunds-impostor-scam-banks/ https://www.wsj.com/articles/small-banks-warn-they-might-have-to-drop-zelle-over-scam-payment-costs-11670849934

In my experience, a lot of Thai bank branches are resistant to doing counter withdrawals using foreign debit cards, and they'll often make up all kinds of excused for they supposedly can't. My opinion is that's just a lot of bogus excuses aimed at getting people to use their ATMs so the bank can pocket the 220b ATM fee. For anyone who has a non FCF, no cash advance fee credit cards, the various Thai bank branches seem more willing to do counter withdrawals with those... But you really have to doublecheck that your credit card won't seriously ding you with fees for that kind of foreign transaction.

Schwab brokerage accounts operate pretty much the same as any other U.S. brokerage account, including these days typically no transaction fees on stock purchases and sales. Schwab Bank mainly has their checking account and debit card, with no foreign currency fees and reimbursing foreign bank ATM charges. Schwab makes it easy thru online banking to move cash back and forth between the two different sides of their operation, but both are available through the same Schwab online interface. Schwab Bank deposits are FDIC insured just as with any other U.S. bank. In the past, anytime anyone wanted to open a Schwab Bank account, Schwab would automatically include a companion brokerage account, even if people never wanted to use that.... But in the end, many do end up using the brokerage side and holding very substantial investments there. They make it easy, including easy to move funds between their bank and brokerage, and likewise easy to do online typically next day ACH transfers to and from other linked U.S. FI's that the account holder may have.

there certainly are other U.S. banks and credit unions out there that have lower or sometimes no FCFs, but you pretty much have to venture outside the world of the various U.S. mega banks. An expat first has to understand and be aware of just what FCFs are, and then do their bank shopping with FCFs as part of the equation.

Actually, Charles Schwab the corportation does have its own licensed bank, Charles Schwab Bank, that operates much like any other bank.. though more narrow in their offerings in that they're focused on being a cash management solution for people who also have Schwab brokerage accounts. https://www.schwab.com/resource/why-i-created-schwab-bank PS - account holders at Schwab definitely can do SWIFT international wire transfers from their Schwab brokerage account at least. I can't recall if that same international transfer capability is available on their banking side.

My comment was regarding the largest U.S. banks where most people typically will have their accounts. This chart below is from June 2023, so some may have increased theirs by now, but as you can see, 3% was most common at the time of the following report: https://www.usnews.com/banking/articles/foreign-transaction-fees-by-bank

just fyi, foreign currency conversion fees, if charged, are not generally charged as a flat dollar amount. They're almost always charged as some % amount of the transaction. On the other hand, a lot of U.S. banks also do have a different flat charge, which can be anywhere from $3 - $5, for using an out of network ATM -- which can mean an ATM belonging to a different U.S. banking company or any foreign ATM. If you want to know for sure, you can look at the actual exchange rate on your transactions, and see how that compared to the VISA or MC networks exchange rate websites listed earlier in this thread. If your bank is charging no foreign currency fee, then your actual exchange rate should be very close to the VISA/MC network rates.

But.... a similar requirement to be a "U.S. resident" also applies to the Medicare Part B coverage that you have and have used, correct? Not geographically specific like Medicare Advantage plans, but general U.S. residency for Part B (technically) as opposed to being an "expat"?

For that episode you recount, was that the U.S. price at the time for that procedure, or the price for having it done here in Thailand?

Sheryl, so, you're talking about scheduling those kind of preventive and diagnostic procedures covered by Medicare specifically when you're traveling back to the U.S. periodically for whatever reasons? And here, silly me, as a soon to be eligible for Medicare person, I've always thought of my trips back to the U.S. as vacation and having fun times -- not going for colonoscopies!!! 🙂 I guess I'm going to have to reconsider that outlook, once I get my Medicare card!!!

But from what I've read (I think), you can't actually sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan until AFTER you're already enrolled in basic Medicare? I didn't get the impression, a newbe could do A, B and Advantage all in one sign-up at the same time.

I have Pacific Cross Maxima, and this year they did an 8% general rate increase (apart from age bands) at my recent annual renewal.

I have an existing, decent Thai private med insurance policy that I've paid for and kept ever since I moved to Thailand, but one that is getting increasingly more expensive as I get into my mid 60s and beyond... Never really had to use it for anything big yet, fingers crossed. But now I'm looking at probably keeping the Thai policy for the time I'm continuing to live in Thailand, but also getting and paying for Medicare (some combination of A, B and beyond), just to cover in case I move back any time in the future or need to go back for some kind of treatment I want or can only get in the U.S. Then layer on top of that, the issues related to the Thai government's plans to start taxing worldwide income of anyone living here for more than half the year, and that at least creates some planning scenarios where I might decide to be out of Thailand for some periods of time... Who knows how all that's going to turn out.

One thing I'm confused about...if anyone knows the answer.... --for the initial open enrollment period just before and after a person turns 65, and you sign up for Medicare Parts A and B then... Do you also HAVE TO sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan during that same open enrollment period? Or, you can add on a Medicare Advantage sometime time later without any penalties? Anytime, or only during the annual open enrollment period at the start of the calendar year? TIA!

@ricklev and I are in the same situation, with the same upcoming important choices to make... Thus your post above re Medicare Advantage and the follow-up video links are VERY helpful and appreciated! 🙂 @Jingthing

Congrats for that! Charles Schwab has similar benefits for their wealthier account holders. But re Chase, as I was saying above, NOT for their regular run-of-the mill consumer checking accounts.

@GinBoy2 Hey, can you clarify a couple things re your comment above? --When you say "emergency" coverage, I'm assuming that means for things like accidents and such? Not that you go to the doctor for tests and find out you have cancer, right? --Is the $500,000 a lifetime policy cap for that coverage, and did you really mean $500K? That seems very high. I've seen other mentions of Medicare Advantage overseas coverage that talked about a $50,000 maximum overseas benefit.