jesimps

Divorce or compulsory medical insurance. I'd move to Cambodia, Vietnam or Philippines after doing some recces. I think I'd jump of a high building before I'd even comtemplate returning to UK.

2 hours ago, phantomfiddler said:

From where I was sitting it appeared that almost all of the violence during that time was perpetrated by the redshirts.

You must've had a very poor seat and your yellow-coloured specs couldn't have helped either.

Until you can teach Thais to obey rules and use common sense then you're on a non starter. I've been trying to get my stepdaughter to get lighter windows in her car, because it's difficult to see through them at night, to no avail. My wife takes her side saying "It's normal for Thais". I'm peeing against the wind, you just can't help some people. 

1 hour ago, gdhm said:

I offer this article I found today:

https://thethaiger.com/thai-life/compulsory-health-insurance-for-foreigners-will-it-affect-you

 

As I am here, I have observed in this and some recent topics, that a few fellow members seem to have a perverse kind of pleasure, in taking opportunity to infer or directly suggest those "not rich" living here in Thailand, who are worrying or struggling with one new Immigration requirement or another, are less worthy to be here. I find it very sad that these few, seem to prefer judging others based upon wealth alone, rather than judging us by our morals, decency and honesty. What pleasure may I ask, does anybody get trying to undermine the confidence of those already worrying they may have to leave and maybe leave their families!

 

Well said! I've been posting similar thoughts for ages because there're some very nasty pieces of work on this forum. I've started doing something that in my twelve years on here I've resisted and that's using the "ignore" button. Trouble is, there're so many of these weird people that I've ended up with lots of pages of ignored users. Never mind, the forum's a nicer place without them. Shame that you can't also block their imojis!

14 hours ago, bomber said:

you forgot to mention brexit,it would still be near enough 50 now its heading for a 20-25 year low of less than 40,maybe those Brits should work a bit harder ????????

It has nothing to do with how hard Brits work and everything to do with Westminster arsing about with Brexit. If we'd got on with it straight away it would've been sorted by now. The money markets hate indecision.

1 hour ago, Mango Bob said:

Why is everyone making a big issue of this?   They want us to have insurance doesn't matter what they say here, and what cost they make up. you have to have it.  Why not talk about the type of policies available.

Your post needs a correction "If you want to remain here you have to have it"

I guess that unless they make a specific announcement about those on retirement extensions and marriage visas, we can only wait for accounts from the first (mugs) expats to report for their extensions in July. Will they or won't they? That is the question. From the moment I set foot in Thailand in 2007, I haven't had one scrap of good news regarding immigration requirements or the British pound. I have a Thai wife and stepdaughter, but maybe it is time to work seriously on my contingency plans.

6 hours ago, the guest said:

It's very simple ... all tourists if they apply for VOA, include a mandatory fee for insurance to be paid on arrival. For long stayers, they must provide proof of insurance before visa is approved. Solution is easy !

"For long stayers, they must provide proof of insurance before visa is approved. Solution is easy !"

Why? I think most have the means to self insure anyway. Why force people to throw good money at insurance companies when they can afford to pay for medical treatment if and when it's needed? If they add a small fee to be paid by tourists on arrival, then the problem's solved. No, this is just a scam to top up their other scams.

"Last year, foreigners incurred Bt305 million in unpaid medical bills."

I'd like to see truthful stats of what proportion of that was incurred by people on OA visa. I'm willing to bet the farm that it was mainly short stay tourists who came without travel insurance. I refuse to believe that in 2018 there were 680,000 unpaid bills amounting to 305M left owing by people in that category.

3 hours ago, mike787 said:

Apparently the numbers are real...Expats want insurance...

Expats want insurance like they want a boil on their rear end.

Be nice to see what the junta fans on here have to say in response. The usual twaddle I should imagine.

4 minutes ago, 4MyEgo said:

What a load of rubbish.

 

It should be mandatory "worldwide" that long stayers or tourists have some form of hospital cover, no doubt a lot will disagree with my view and that's fine.

 

The question is, why should governments have to foot the bill, i.e. tax payers of that country.

 

It should be the responsibility of every individual to cover themselves and their families, if not, make it mandatory, I have no issue with it, and if others do, well they are entitled to their opinions.

 

Like I said earlier, I am covered and so is my family, this is not a troll, if you cannot get insured or cannot afford it, then that is a problem, but you cannot seriously expect the country you are a guest in to cover your hospital bills if you can't get insured or afford it.

 

It's a cruel world, sure, but there are a lot of Thai's that can use the money/facilities allocated in the system that goes on X-pats who use up their system by not paying for the services they have used, after all, they are not tax payers or citizens, so the government is well within its rights to protect it's system for its people and if you can't accept that, then that's "up to you" as they say here. 

Another smug, nonsense post. Someone who thinks what he chooses to do should apply to all. Who thinks that all his fellow expats are on the bones of their backsides, scrounging off the Thai system. How incredibly patronising! How about those who prefer to self insure? I have more than enough to cover any eventuality, but prefer not to gamble my hard earned on insurance which will be damned expensive and may not pay out anyway because of a pre-existing condition.

My wife and stepdaughter are covered because they're Thai, but I've paid cash whenever they've needed treatment. Despite being 74 yoa, I'm incredibly fit and healthy. Paying vast amounts each year would be money down the drain.

If they're looking for a solution, the best bet would be to allow people to use the 800,000 in the bank for their visa extension. At least that way, if the treatment was expensive, they'd have some of the bill covered.

I'm certain that the problem isn't with the long term expats anyway, I personally don't know, or have even heard of an expat not having the means to pay a hospital bill. If anything, it's the tourists who come without travel insurance who ride uninsured motorbikes and have really nasty accidents who're a problem. Some might say that it's also another way for the powers that be, along with the insurance company elites to line their pockets.

My family have a great life here, mainly because of me providing for them. I'll be unable to do this if I have to pay a massive annual insurance premium.

31 minutes ago, Myome said:

Has anyone seen anything official about this? Wasn't the news clip from a health official, not immigration?

 

The mother of a kid which my wife teaches is an immigration officer at Jomtien. My wife just phoned the lady (who she knows quite well), who said that it's the first she's heard of it. The lady rang back a little later saying that she phoned "her big boss" and he knows nothing either. Par for the course I would say.

I was going to be facetious, but poster #2 beat me to it. You have to be quick on here!

3 hours ago, smedly said:

correct - an O-A Retirement Visa can be "extended" by a year by crossing a border

 

an extension of stay is completely different and has its own set of financial rules in country - people need to calm down and stop reading stuff that isn't there and is unrelated to this announcement 

I hope you're right Smedders, but I think you're wrong. 

3 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

You will get free NHS treatment if you can show that you have returned to the UK to live there.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk
 

You'll probably get it anyway. I read recently that the hospitals have given up checking the passports of health tourists. Too much work. I'd imagine a Brit with an NHS number will have no problem bluffing his way in.