jayboy

Interesting thread. A common theme is the increasing cost of heath insurance premiums though in my experience over many years is that these have always easily exceeded the inflation rate.These increases apply to everybody not just the older customers.What I'm not sure of, and perhaps someone could advise, is whether - because obviously claims are more frequent in older people - there is an extra increase simply because the customer is old. My other query is whether in health insurance there is any element of non claim bonus - though I don't think there is.

Classic

This is not the practice followed by most long term residents.They usually keep their passports secure at home - usually in a safe - unless it needs to be shown for a particular purpose known in advance.They tend not to carry an original passport around in provincial Thailand on the off chance there is a problem.It is also tempting fate if one relies on the security measures of provincial hotels. Of course one should take a copy of one's passport or have it in digital form.If one has a Pink Card or a Thai Driving License, take those along as well.

I agree with your post but not this bit. Losing a passport is a massive inconvenience and I never take it with me anywhere in Thailand except for the rare occasions I know in advance it will be needed - eg immigration rituals.

Can you not get your pensions paid into accounts at UK or US banks.

Easy.Don't file a Thai tax return (unless there is a compelling requirement to do so) especially since in the vast majority of cases the tax to be reclaimed is chicken feed. Yes interests rates are rising but they are still low in Thailand. IF one files a return then one must state all income that is eligible.Obviously pension and investment income must be included. I file a UK tax return and declare all relevant income. But for the run of the mill expat pensioner one would be well advised to avoid submitting a tax return.IF one has Thai investment income that's a different matter and as to the UK angle one would need to take professional advice.

Don't buy any of this. Thailand Tax authorities will concentrate on the vast army of tax evading Thais and not a bunch of relatively low income foreign pensioners. Contrary to what you say it's not a simple matter at all to trace tax liability of foreign pensioners, and equally to the point, the effort involved and prospect of modest additional receipts make it not at all cost effective.

Increasing tax receipts is every Revenue Department's priority in every country.However there is little or no no evidence for the contention that resident foreign pensioners are a prime target.I have checked this with two accountancy firms in Bangkok.They advise there while there is no evidence resident foreign pensioners are a prime target, naturally resident foreigners with income or investments in generated in Thailand must be careful to pay tax in accordance with local regulations. There may be some pensioners caught up in the Thai income tax system, perhaps because they incautiously claimed back tax imposed on interest without fully considering the implications. Odd really because the amounts involved are so small - in most cases scarcely worth bothering about.

But how did you become involved in the tax system in the first place? In my experience I have never been aware of a foreign retiree -without any Thai investment income - volunteering to pay Thai tax on pension income.There could be a reason to do so, perhaps if a condition of pension income being paid free of tax by the UK provider being evidence it was being taxed in Thailand. Another possible reason is that UK banks are increasingly under pressure to clarify customers' tax status. It could also be that you simply wish to 'do the right thing' which is admirable.

You will presumably have good reasons but I'm struggling to understand why you are paying tax on your pensions in Thailand, particularly as the amounts involved are small.

Interesting.If you don't mind me asking, is your pension paid gross (free of tax) from the country of origin?

And as a matter of interest do you pay Thai income tax on your pension remittances?

I'm fairly sure a friend of mine based temporarily in the UK during Covid used his account with SCB to make transfers to Thailand and pay his Thai bills - utilities etc.I think he did it from his laptop and without a VPN.

I've always taken it along at the time of five year renewal but it's never been asked for.

In my day. yes.Open to the idea of a modest re-entry. Do you know what the word proselyte means? Look it up and read my post again.It implied no position one way or the other. Still you have provided yet more supporting evidence that any enquiry on possible adverse effects sets many committed consumers into disapproval that even a question was raised.

A report in the Economist this week, quoting from a 2019 study, notes that patients who used marijuana on a daily or weekly basis needed up to three times the typical anaesthesia dose to stay under while in the operating room.The article is headed, "Waking up in the middle of a surgery is the stuff of nightmares." I have no idea of the credibility of this suggestion though The Economist has greater heft than most publications.For those interested - eg smokers about to go under the surgeon's knife obviously more research would be advisable.. However as is so often the case, the comments beneath the article are equally as interesting.A common factor is the spluttering rage and indignation on the part of many when any suggestion is made that marijuana might not be perfectly safe.Most would accept that abuse of alcohol is more dangerous.But I can't help feeling that there are so many vested interests involved, certainly in Thailand, that getting a truthful response is unlikely.Can anyone point to a credible science based source of information on the medical risks of marijuana in general, which is not subject to unsound views from proselytes on either side? The obvious answer to the anaesthesia point is that the patient should be upfront and transparent with his/her medical team.Tall them what your intake is and they can adjust the anaesthetics as necessary

Still common practice and at dental clinics too.It always makes me laugh - the sheer chutzpah involved.

Huh?

Huh?

My Apple watch is tethered to my Thai mobile number.I'll be traveling to Australia quite soon and wondered, if I purchased roaming rights from the Thai provider, whether my watch will be fully functional overseas.

Slightly off topic but in my experience long term foreigners who profess to hate Thailand have only themselves to blame - whether having lost most of their money or chained to some unsuitable partner or isolated in some dull as ditch water Isaan village (or a combination of all three). The other side of the coin are those who uncritically adore every aspect of Thailand and revile their home country.It's an attitude I prefer to that of the Thailand haters because it's more optimistic.But it's no closer to the truth. The reality is that Thailand is a very attractive country with some deep seated problems - like anywhere else.I love it but recognize the issues.Those who claim to be uninterested in their home country seem not to realize they are simply confirming they didn't fit in - which is fine .But it's silly not to recognize that European countries are superbly livable - for the well educated, the better off and civilized.

It's not actually breaking any rule.I've observed high status Thais over several decades and most will wai a subordinate if the latter initiates the gesture. Thus for example on leaving a restaurant the high status Thai will often wai a waiter if the latter initiated.It will usually be rather perfunctory but the thought is there. I don't think Thais of any rank care very much whether farang use a wai or not (very few ever get the nuances quite right) but it's certainly not a negative feeling.

I suspect that's because their computer coding doesn't make the distinction clear. For those who write off non alcoholic gin as juniper juice there is ignorance to be dispelled.The best have excellent botanicals and flavours.It will be enjoyed by those who have sworn off booze but equally by those who need to preserve a clear head (driving etc). The market demographic is a young sophisticated wealthy one - and I can perfectly understand why the late middle aged cor blimey Pattaya chubster would have little interest.

Thanks and to all others who responded. I've ordered the same model from Lazada.