I was able to obtain an ultima plus policy from Pacific Cross, with the added Dental, Vision and a 1,000,000 THB accident insurance for a very decent price.  It only took 1 week for the underwriters to review the application and return the policy to be signed.  Then I made appointments for an initial Dental exam and Eye exam at the local hospital near my residence (Private Hospital), and the exams were very cheap, and are being reimbursed by Pacific Cross as these were required for the underwriters to review and approve the Dental and Eye insurance components.  All in all took me just under 2 weeks for the policies to be delivered after I had paid for it, after the application process, the medical policy approved, and the exams undertaken.  The agent I dealt with messaged me almost daily, and I am now awaiting the reimbursement for the 2 exams.  I am sure that they are very busy, but the price I was quoted for a Maxima Plus policy was more than I ended up paying for the Ultima Plus.  Very happy with the process.  

On 12/20/2019 at 4:48 AM, Martyp said:

The comparison between the UK and the US is very different. We do not have a National Health Service. It’s a private insurance market. It’s a “good” price because it it less than my US insurance was and I am happy with the terms of the policy.

 

Everyone’s circumstances are different. I live full time as a retiree in Thailand. I was able to suspend my US insurance. I can return to it in the future if I need it. I still pay for my dental and eye insurance In the US because one is cheap and the other is no charge. I make those doctor visits during my annual visits to the US though I am very happy with dental care in a Thailand. I took out travel insurance during my last trip to the US though I’m not sure I needed to. I have to check my Thai policy about coverage during a short trip to the US.

The suspension is only available at the end of the year?

Anyway of sospending mid year to carry on the following year?

3 hours ago, bigginhill said:

The suspension is only available at the end of the year?

Anyway of sospending mid year to carry on the following year?

I retired in the University of California retirement system. Open enrollment is in November and yearly benefits start January first. My initial concern was that if I left my US insurance that it would be difficult and expensive to get back in later if necessary. Apparently not so in the UC system. I don’t know if people in the normal US insurance market can do what I can do. It’s a nice feature for me so that I can buy Thai insurance and I don’t have any pressure to carry my US insurance as well.

20 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

I was able to obtain an ultima plus policy from Pacific Cross, with the added Dental, Vision and a 1,000,000 THB accident insurance for a very decent price.  It only took 1 week for the underwriters to review the application and return the policy to be signed.  Then I made appointments for an initial Dental exam and Eye exam at the local hospital near my residence (Private Hospital), and the exams were very cheap, and are being reimbursed by Pacific Cross as these were required for the underwriters to review and approve the Dental and Eye insurance components.  All in all took me just under 2 weeks for the policies to be delivered after I had paid for it, after the application process, the medical policy approved, and the exams undertaken.  The agent I dealt with messaged me almost daily, and I am now awaiting the reimbursement for the 2 exams.  I am sure that they are very busy, but the price I was quoted for a Maxima Plus policy was more than I ended up paying for the Ultima Plus.  Very happy with the process.  

What is your age please

16 minutes ago, flexomike said:

What is your age please

My age is 63. I believe that post was from a year ago. The process is taking considerably longer this year. 

Flexo, I am 55, and my post was yesterday.

Edited December 25, 20196 yr by ThailandRyan

It sounds like attempting to switch to an O entails some risk especially if I need some retirement letter from my embassy. So I'm probably gonna go to insurance route and stick with the OA. 
But merry xmas and thanks for all the advice given... 

3 hours ago, britishjohn said:

It sounds like attempting to switch to an O entails some risk especially if I need some retirement letter from my embassy. So I'm probably gonna go to insurance route and stick with the OA. 
But merry xmas and thanks for all the advice given... 

Yes, we were never given a definitive answer about what the specifics of the retirement letter are in Savanaket.  Seems like a border bounce would be the best way, but that assumes your local IO will upgrade your 30 day Stamp to an O...I chose to stick with OA...my PC was 27000...20k deductible.  

Edited December 25, 20196 yr by moontang