Utley

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On 9/10/2017 at 8:37 PM, Pib said:

 

It is "not" fee-free on the Bangkok Bank end.  

 

There is one NY branch fee and one local branch fee.  These "two" fees as shown below.  These fees will not appear anywhere on your account/passbook since the fees are applied "before" posting to your account.  This fools a lot of people into thinking no fees were applied but indeed the fees were applied.  

 

However, if you are signed up for Bangkok Bank's free SMS Remittance Alert the SMS you get when the funds post to your account will show the two fees.  The NY branch fee is shown indirectly since you will notice the amount of dollars arriving your account is missing some funds...usually $5 or $10 based on the typical size of benefit payments (the NY fee was sliced off the funds as they flowed thru the NY branch)...and then it will directly show the local branch fee in baht being applied.  

 

 

 

Thank you - that is good to know.  So if I transfer $2,000 to Thailand from the U.S. via Bangkok Bank, I will incur $10 of fees directly deducted from the transfer ($5.00 plus 1/4 of 1%).  Pretty reasonable compared to the alternatives.

10 hours ago, Kim1950 said:

The New Decision Ready Claims Program. You might qualify then be able to use FMP.  Seems you can use a VSO sponsor. I am told there are VFWs or American Legions in Thailand. Beats me, but worth seeing what's available. 

 

https://www.benefits.va.gov/compensation/drc.asp?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=fb2&utm_content=MA&utm_campaign=MA

 

Also these diseases have known to have been caused by Agent Orange.

 

https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/conditions/index.asp

 

Some veterans who were stationed in Thailand can qualify as being exposed to Agent Orange.

 

 

Thank you for the information but we seem to be talking about two different things.  I am already rated 70% disabled by the VA in regard to agent orange related illnesses and I use the FMP to get reimbursed for medical expenses I incur in Thailand directly related to those disabilities.

What I am trying to do is get the VA to cover non-disability related health care expenses for expat veterans in the same manner that they provide non-disability related health care for U.S. based veterans. All I am asking is that expat veterans be treated like any other veteran, no more - no less.  To date, the VA won't even discuss the issue and will not respond when I ask the question "Why are expat veterans treated differently than stateside veterans?".

If you know the answer to that question, I would like to hear what you have to say.

9 hours ago, Kim1950 said:

This seems odd. My disability is directly deposited to my bank in the US and I then plan on this to be included with with wire transfers to BB.

We are talking about two different things - a direct deposit of your disability funds vs. the reimbursement of medical care expenses related to that disability incurred by you when you are outside of the U.S. via the FMP.  For example, I receive a monthly disability amount for an agent orange related disability but I also have to visit a hospital in Thailand (where I live) every 90 days for blood work.  I am reimbursed for the cost of the blood work via the FMP. 

10 hours ago, Kim1950 said:

This is correct and it also covers treatment that is not available at your primary VA Hospital. My last two colonoscopies were outsourced to a private specialist. Theses were at no cost and were not service connected.

 

VA healthcare is tiered into Priority Groups 1-8 based on % of disability and-or service medals, so the level of service is not the same for all veterans. There is considerations for income. Some VA Hospitals are better, even much better than others. 

 

Mine in Bedford, MA, is great, a golf course, indoor, a gym, primary care physicians, urgent care, free eye exams and glasses, walk in counseling, fee yoga and meditation classes, free produce, weekly activities, job and housing assistance, and no waiting. I get meds. This is one factor in my consideration in retiring in Thailand as I get older the this VA is a great backstop for free care. I am in Group 3.

 

If you were in Priority Group One, you would passing over a lot of benefits. Group 8 not so much. They may even drop coverage for Group 8. Has anyone applied for VA healthcare in the US and been placed into a Priority Group. I know veterans who retired in Panama and when necessary the visit the Bedford VA. 

 

You have good idea about VA services or Medicare for Expats. 'Young people ' aren't the problem. It would an administrative nightmare. They can't even manage these services in US and it's plagued with fraud.

The question here is why are veterans who live outside of the U.S. excluded from the program?  If the concept is valid for U.S. based vets then it is also valid for non U.S. based vets.  The FMP program could readily be expanded to handle the payments.

7 hours ago, Amphoephen said:

I have my disability direct deposited into My Bangkok Bank Account, there are no extra fees and certainly not the huge wire transfer fee. I know that Chase bank charges $42 USD for every wire Transfer, and the great thing about Bangkok Bank is that they have a Branch in New York, so there are to internatinal transfer fees. Something to concider to save a lot of money in the long run.

Using Bangkok Bank in Thailand  with their U.S. subsidiary in New York is the way to go.  Open a bank account with Bkk Bank in Thailand then have your VA disability payment sent to their New York branch referencing your Thailand based bank account number.  The NY branch will automatically transfer your funds into your Bkk Bank account in Thailand overnight at the best exchange rates possible at the time with no fees. 

21 minutes ago, missoura said:

My letter said basically the same thing as Utley's and amvet's letter. It appears that even though I was a paratrooper with Uncle Sam and involved in two wars, I do not have any service related medical problems. Therefore, I am not covered here in Thailand. I will write an email to the big boys, but not counting on much.

I would encourage you to go to Expat Veterans on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/expatveterans/

The site has all the information you need to contact everyone of any importance related to VA matters.

9 hours ago, amvet said:

Have you figured out how to get them to direct deposit your money instead of mailing you a check?

Nope - a check in 60 days is the best I can do.  Bangkok Bank does clear the check within 3 days though.

2 hours ago, amvet said:

I understand that.  I think many American Vets don't know about FMP and the guy I replied to seemed to say Thailand was singled out for not being able to get medical work done and paid for by the VA.  If more Vets got more work done in Thailand the VA would save a bunch of money.  Too bad reason and common sense and frugal business sense is not more important to the Government in the USA.

I live in Thailand and have no problem using the FMP - other than having to wait 60 days for reimbursement!

11 minutes ago, amvet said:

I have a card like that and live in Thailand.  Enclosed is the letter I got.  No problem with Thailand.  What did your letter say?

This is your card for service connected disabilities with reimbursement through the FMP (Foreign Medical Program).  What I am trying to do is get the law changed so that  expat veterans can receive VA health care - the same health care that stateside veterans now receive (unrelated to service connected disabilities).

12 minutes ago, Langsuan Man said:

You can't understand the concept of income tax and how it supports the payment of all government services

 

And NO, you can't see my DD 214

Then I guess my MBA was wasted!

30 minutes ago, Langsuan Man said:

 

I never said anything about "revenue" for hospitals, I point out the lost US Income Tax revenue from all those involved in the US healthcare industry.  From the guy who mops the floor at the hospital to the head of the neurology department

 

Yes,  the US government pays for  this care but they get a little back for their outlay.  With foreign payments they get back nothing 

Those involved in the U.S. healthcare industry lose nothing by the VA paying for veterans healthcare overseas.  The money is going to be spent overseas one way or another; all we are talking about is who foots the bill.

The U.S. Government gets a HUGE return on their investment; they get young men and women joining the military and fighting America's battles.  If you can't understand that, then you are probably not a veteran.

I received the following email from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs yesterday (not the actual secretary but someone on his staff):

"Good Morning Ken,

I do understand what you are saying.  Congress will indeed need to change the law in order for us to provide payment for non-service connected care overseas so I believe you are on the right track by contacting those mentioned.  Thank you."

Gayle Beatty
Chief, Program Support Department
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
3773 Cherry Creek N Dr. Ste 410
Denver, CO  80209
303-398-3434 (Office)
303-398-5193 (Fax)

That means that things are not going to change on their own; we must be the catalyst if we want change.  Please join my email/letter writing campaign to the U.S. Congress to get the laws changed.  If you go to my Facebook Page Expat Veterans, you will find all the information you need.  Besides, what else do you have to do with your time here in the LOS?

6 hours ago, rjwill01 said:

Thai is only if receiving disability and for the condition you are approved for. You can do this under the Foreign Medical Program that I just received my approval for. They will not reimburse for other medical expenses, only for those you have connected disabilities for. 

A word to the wise when submitting claims to the FMP:

1. Indicate the "ICD Code" for each medical procedure explaining how it relates back to your VA-approved disability (obtain a "medical certificate" from your doctor).  Do a Google search to obtain the ICD Codes online. You can hand write this information on your medical certificate.
2. Indicate the "NDC Code" for each prescription medication (keep your receipts in Thai Baht indicating payment).  Do a Google search to obtain the NDC Codes online. You can hand write this information on your receipt.
3. Include the foreign exchange rate in effect on the day of the medical treatment.  Thai Baht to U.S. Dollar rates can be obtained online from Bangkok Bank; what you are looking for is the "Buying Rate" for USD in $50-$100 denominations.  The default date is "today" but you can change that at the top of the table. You can hand write this information on your receipt.
4. Only send copies of your documentation to the FMP; keep all the originals.
5. If you send your documentation to the FMP via Thai Postal EMS, it will cost slightly in excess of 1,000 baht and arrive in Denver in 8 days.  A less expensive option is to send your documentation via Thai Postal Registered Air Mail for about 100 baht.  Delivery time is from 2 to 4  weeks (you will have a tracking number).
6. The FMP will take about 1 month to process your claim and send a check to you via first class mail (you will not have a tracking number); that takes 2-4 weeks to arrive.  If you have an account with Bangkok Bank, you can deposit your U.S. Treasury check with them with little hassle and have your funds available in a day or two.  I don't know about other Thai Banks.

31 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

Extending this to all health care for Vets and/or to all Medicare recipients would exponentially increase the number of reimbursements and I very much doubt either system could or would do that without first establishing country specific reimbursement rates (which entails time and research) and also without establishing some sort of verification system to guard against false or inflated claims.

 

The current FMP program is going to cover only a fairly small number of claims hence they may be willing to not bother about that, but such a large expansion would be another matter.

 

I am not saying overseas coverage for Vets and Medicare patients  should not be pursued, just that one has to appreciate the issues.  The case would be bolstered by some data on #s of eligible persons living in Thailand compared to other countries i.e. the case would need to be made that it makes sense to prioritize Thailand. Numbers of eligible persons would be one factor; the other would be evidence of health facility readiness (ISO certification and the like).

 

 

Agreed but my perception is that not that many Americans choose to retire overseas, vets or otherwise.  But hard data needs to be had before decisions can be made.

In regards to Medicare being made available to Americans retiring overseas, I would think that the program would be nearly break-even.  The cost savings from using foreign medical facilities could very well pay for the administration of such a program.

I have had the exasperating opportunity to deal with the FMP program on several occasions.  I promise you that they go over my receipts with a fine tooth comb!

1 hour ago, Sheryl said:

I don't think revenue for US hospitals is a factor in the policy either for VA or Medicare.

Rather the issues are:

1. Administrative costs: to reimburse foreign hospitals the VA and Medicare would have to:

- establish appropriate reimbursement rates (which would require significant research)

- determine which hospitals have acceptable levels of care and are able to provide appropriate documentation --- ditto

- negotiate, monitor and enforce contractual agreements with the above hospitals -- requiring considerable investment if staff time and probably setting up an incountry office

- review and process hospital claims, ditto to the above

2. Would have to do all this in multiple countries as Thailand is not the only place ecpat vets or retirees live. Even if limited to places with sizable expat populations, it is still more than a few countries.

3. Costs would be considerable especially when viewed relative to the number of potential beneficiaries and weighed against competing priorities. The VA in particular is struggling just to meet the needs of Vets in the US.

4. I expect both programs are savvy enough to realize that while it is true the costs of care overseas is lower than in US hospitals, most of the time Vets/retirees do not hop on a plane and come back to the US when they need medical care. Inatead they pay for it themselves (either at point of care or by purchasing private insurance). The net effect of expanding coverage to overseas facilities would likely be increased expense even aside from the administrative costs. Pay less for care that would otherwise have occurred in the US but also pay for a lot of care that would otherwise have occurred outside the system. This is especially true for countries like Thailand which are located quite far from the US.

 

Sheryl - you make some very good points; the one thing we don't want is to expand government bureaucracy and waste taxpayer's money.  I may have a solution.

The VA has a program called "Foreign Medical Program (FMP for short).  This program reimburses expat veterans for medical care they received outside of the U.S. if that medical care is directly related to a service connected disability already approved by the VA (and for which the vet is already receiving monthly benefit compensation).  A reimbursement program similar to that could be set up for both Medicare and standard VA Health Care outside of the U.S.  One would go to the medical facility of their choice, pay for the service, and submit copies of the bills to the "Foreign Reimbursement Office" in the U.S. for review.  If approved, a check reimbursing the individual would be sent.

While this would be a "reimbursement" program and not a "direct pay" program, it would be low cost to administer.

What do you think?

3 hours ago, Langsuan Man said:

All these pundits that claim that the VA should fully support overseas medical care because it is " cheaper " forget all the tax revenue that would be lost from US providers

How much would foreign doctors pay in US income tax ($ 0), how much would foreign pharmacies pay in US business tax ($ 0), how much of this subsidized medical service would come back to the US ($ 0)

So the loss in tax revenue would be substantially less than the supposed savings. And what about US veterans in Germany or England where medical care for non residents is substantially higher than in the US

Should they get more than veterans in Thailand or the Philippines ?

No, the system was set up to serve the majority of veterans, not those who choose to live overseas

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Thaivisa Connect mobile app
 

You are not thinking this thing through.  Either expat vets pay for health care on their own in a foreign country or the U.S. Government steps up to the plate and shoulders their responsibility by having the VA meet the needs of expat vets in a foreign country.  Either way, no funds are going to be spent in the U.S. so no tax revenues lost.

As to health care in Germany or England, how many vets do you know would retire in a foreign country that had a higher cost of living than the U.S.?  Very few, if any.  People who leave the U.S. for retirement go to countries that are less expensive to live, not more.

2 hours ago, dddave said:

I also opted out of "B" in person at an SS office in Boston a few months ago.  Nothing in "B" I wont get from the VA.

Just gotta come up with the airfare.

That is my point exactly; why should an expat veteran have to leave his home and family to return to the U.S. for medical treatment from the VA.  It just doesn't make any sense.  Medical care in Thailand, even from private hospitals, is less expensive to the U.S. taxpayer than medical care from a VA facility in the U.S.  And there is less hardship on the veteran and his family when receiving medical care locally.  So I say, lets put a stop to this madness and get the rules changed.  I know it is a long shot, but the time has never been better with the new Trump administration now taking over.  They want to drain the swamp, how about starting with changing the archaic rules that prevents expat veterans from receiving medical care locally.

If you want to help and try to get the rules changed, please go to  Expat Veterans - Bringing awareness to the fact that Veterans who live outside of the U.S. are excluded from receiving VA Medical Care.

31 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

 

What I find particularly egregious, regarding Medicare, is that expats living abroad and paying out of pocket for health insurance are fined if they do nto also purchase Medicare Part B, which they canot use while living abroad. A substantial fine that is life long.

 

Expats living abroad are exempted from the fine if they have health insurance through an employer, which few medicare eligible people would have, but there is no exemption for those who have insurance they buy themselves.

 

No this is both illogical and outrageous.... either we should have options to use Medicare overseas or we should be exempted from purchasing Part B unless/until such a time as we move back to the US.

Are you sure about the fine?  I have been receiving SS for several years and have always opted out of "Part B" Medicare.  I have never been fined nor have I ever read that Part B was mandatory for expats (I do not maintain a U.S. residence).

3 minutes ago, SaintLouisBlues said:

Bitter - you clearly haven't read my other posts about how much fun I'm having this week

You are correct; I don't recall having ever read one of your posts.

2 minutes ago, SaintLouisBlues said:

The usual - reading uninformed posters on TV who are clearly living on Fantasy Island

Why in the world must you be so bitter?

9 minutes ago, SaintLouisBlues said:

Exactly, it should clear up the $587.33 billion deficit in a matter of ... weeks?

To that I cannot attest but I do know one thing; if we do nothing then nothing will change.  I encourage you to go to Expat Veterans to get the names and addresses (and sometimes emails) of those in Congress that can effect change.  I know it is a long shot, but what better do you have to do with your time today?