Options to stay here in old age

[Leaver]

7 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

I can understand that in a land where bribery and corruption are never far away, it is easy to become confused between a 'bribe' and a 'tip'.

 

I will not try to insult your intelligence by explaining the difference, beyond commenting that what my wife gives, which is only a small amount, is given afterwards as a tip for services rendered, not as a bribe to get things done. 

 

Whether it will pay a dividend in the future only the future can tell, but I'm not going to get wound up over the cost of a few beers In my opinion, a good relationship with immigration is worth a lot more than that.

 

 

 

Fair play. 

 

We all know the way it goes here, but now it's a "tip" not a "bribe" yet you pay it in the hope of a return in the future.  

 

Why tip if you are legally entitled to be issued the visa?  Yes, we all know that can make life difficult by asking for extra photo copies of this and that, which most of the time means they are asking for a "tip" anyway.

 

Do you see the extortion? 

 

Do you think these criminals will do you a favour in the future?  if you needed a favour, for sure your "tip" would simply become a "bribe." 

 

Wouldn't it just be better to just wait until if / when you needed to pay the bribe money?  ????

[nausea]

A wing and a prayer, and an SO who cares. My money, while not brilliant, is probably enough to live here for the rest of my natural lifespan.

[Leaver]

19 hours ago, nausea said:

A wing and a prayer, and an SO who cares. My money, while not brilliant, is probably enough to live here for the rest of my natural lifespan.

 

Unless they change the requirements.  

 

What's your Plan B?

[georgegeorgia]

On 16/02/2021 at 1:11 AM, brewsterbudgen said:

I'm unlikely to retire until I'm around 67, so is that "old age"?

Then you will only have approx 15 years left to enjoy life 

[georgegeorgia]

On 18/02/2021 at 10:27 AM, BritManToo said:

Don't care about health insurance, don't have it, don't want it.

50bht to see the doctor, pills are cheap, prefer to die than to be butchered.

And what happens if u need treatment for say something serious eg Cancer .

 

[Sujo]

13 minutes ago, georgegeorgia said:

And what happens if u need treatment for say something serious eg Cancer .

 

Then curl up your toes.

 

i too have never had health insurance, or any insurance of any kind. Never will i get it.

 

Health insurance seams like more of a US thing. The rest of the developed world not so much.

 

count me out of that cycle.

Edited February 20, 2021 by Sujo

[BritManToo]

8 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

And what happens if u need treatment for say something serious eg Cancer .

 

I accept my death when it comes, I'm 65 now and have already had my time.

Old people enduring anything to live another month or two always seemed a bit sad and desperate to me.

I don't really believe in surgery, OK for repairing impact damage, but always seemed a failure for cancer.

Known plenty of people operated on that had cancer, they all died shortly after, wishing they'd never been cut.

Edited February 20, 2021 by BritManToo

[CharlieH]

25 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I accept my death when it comes, I'm 65 now and have already had my time.

Old people enduring anything to live another month or two always seemed a bit sad and desperate to me.

I don't really believe in surgery, OK for repairing impact damage, but always seemed a failure for cancer.

Known plenty of people operated on that had cancer, they all died shortly after, wishing they'd never been cut.

Views similar to mine, just make sure I am not in any pain, and let nature do its thing. I dont want to be messed with either or take any chemical cocktails (chemo). 

 

[lopburi3]

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

Known plenty of people operated on that had cancer, they all died shortly after, wishing they'd never been cut.

Been 5 years (knock on wood) and still not regretting surgery (which was major/bladder).  But agree with you that we have to weigh the choice.  Have since had other (liver) cancer and chose not to have surgery but did have almost non invasive RFA and so far that has worked with no ill effects (but requires expensive MRI monitoring).  Have had a number of skin cancers removed over the years.  All costs money so it is very wise to have insurance as that provides options. 

Edited February 21, 2021 by lopburi3

[DividendGuy]

I have seen foreign people waiting in ambulances or taxis at CW immigration. They were waiting for the IO to do their paperwork for them. There needs to be an improvement in this system that would allow the elderly to be handled in a more caring way. This is the reason for me to think about leaving Thailand. Thai immigration is too harsh on the elderly foreigners and I don't want to go through a yearly harsh experience when I am not so mobile or have health issues.

 

[Leaver]

On 2/20/2021 at 10:12 PM, Sujo said:

Then curl up your toes.

 

i too have never had health insurance, or any insurance of any kind. Never will i get it.

 

Health insurance seams like more of a US thing. The rest of the developed world not so much.

 

count me out of that cycle.

 

I would feel having no insurance quite inhibiting on my freedom. 

 

No so much for health insurance here, even though I do have it, but more so throughout my life, in my home country. 

 

I couldn't imagine starting up the car and driving off, uninsured.  I would have to be so careful that it would cause stress. 

 

Yes, I could have covered my own vehicle damages if I had an accident, but say I crash into a very expensive European car, possibly beyond repair, that's going to sting.

 

However, property damage is nothing compared to injury damage.  Say you crash into someone and put them into a wheelchair for the rest of their life.  I suppose you declare bankruptcy and your victim gets nothing.  Good for you, I suppose, no good for them.  

 

Imagine passing away with a wife an young children, and a mortgage, and having no life insurance.  I could never have done that to my wife and kids at that time in my life.  I slept better at night knowing that if the unforeseen happened to me, they would receive a pay out.  

 

I guess you have been lucky, but then again, there's always tomorrow, and the mystery of what tomorrow brings is what insurance is for.  

[Leaver]

16 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Old people enduring anything to live another month or two always seemed a bit sad and desperate to me.

 

That's terminal cancer.

 

You may have the option, pay for treatment, and you may go into remission and live to die an old man.  Don't pay, or can't afford to pay, or are uninsured, well, go to the temple and arrange the BBQ.

 

I am no fan of insurance companies, but in many cases, those with it have lived, while sadly, those without it have perished.  

 

There's no NHS in Thailand.   

[Patong2021]

This topic  seems to run every few months and always the same response; X country is so much better, no Y is better, and all of it almost always speculation and imagined outcome from people who have not lived recently in those countries and who have no understanding of long stay legalities or what it is like to be an elderly farang in the countries. Everyone is different. As is said in real estate topic when people say they want to buy a condo in a district, they are told to rent and live there first.

 

If you want state of the art medical care, or quality elder care you will not get it in Philippines or Thailand, or South America. Only countries with advanced social service system will provide this. That means Australia, Nordic countries, Germany, France and other similar. Yes, they have problems, but they still perform better than what is available in Thailand. That's because the money is invested in the service infrastructure.

Yes for minor ailments Thailand is good, but if you have age typical cancer, dementia, or need advanced cardiac care, you will do much better in advanced world country.

 

If you want personal safety, Philippines, South America and Thailand are not for you. Personal safety is not just fear of petty crime like mugging or hold up. It includes road safety, systemic corruption, and the integrity of judicial system. If you want to invest in expensive home and have assets, and want certainty, Thailand is not the place, nor is Philippines. They can be lost on the whim of a corrupt local official. Same for South America. If you want professional police and reliable court system in South Asia, Singapore is the only option.

 

Many farangs are deluded and live in fantasy land when they offer that X country or Y country is so much better because they are  respectful of old people and other fanciful ideas. Sorry to say, but it is the poverty and need for money that talks. Life is cheap in the poor countries and the people will just as easily cheat you. Unless you are their immediate family, they don't really care. And no, you will not be different.

 

It all comes down to adapting and having money and supervision with life advocate.  You can get the physical care quality upgraded and can hire staff. All this costs money. None of this will work unless you have someone you can trust to watch over. This person will advocate for you when you need care, following up on medical visits, medication, or making sure visa was done. Some people have a trusted spouse, others have a son or daughter. The people on their 2nd or 3rd divorce or constantly complaining about wife or who talk of Thai women like farm animals to be bought and sold will obviously have no one and no matter where they go, will have a big problem when they reach stage where they need help. They have not done particularly good job with their own lives, so why would one listen to them and their advice?

 

Thailand is not a country for the person with an existing chronic illness or who is 75+ and alone. All it takes is a medical crisis or  dispute with a local and the world changes. The Philippines is no better.  Both countries have too many firearms in the  hands of irresponsible hotheads. The sad reality is that many older people who are in Thailand permanently were living hand to the mouth with no emergency funds, no health insurance and no family. For them, it doesn't matter where they go, life will be the same.. Money and a trusted partner and some family will make ALL the difference.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 2/21/2021 at 3:56 AM, georgegeorgia said:

Then you will only have approx 15 years left to enjoy life 

In my experience, life becomes less enjoyable the older I get.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 2/21/2021 at 12:52 PM, BritManToo said:

I accept my death when it comes, I'm 65 now and have already had my time.

Old people enduring anything to live another month or two always seemed a bit sad and desperate to me.

I don't really believe in surgery, OK for repairing impact damage, but always seemed a failure for cancer.

Known plenty of people operated on that had cancer, they all died shortly after, wishing they'd never been cut.

I had surgery for prostate cancer- wish I'd had something else. Kept me alive but hardly worth living. I'll never have surgery for cancer again. I only went through with it because I was still middle aged. If I got it at my age now I'd never do that. Existing isn't living.

[CrunchWrapSupreme]

You’ve really got to have a good pension or other form of income from abroad to stay here. $2k USD is what immigration asks as the minimum to do the monthly retirement method, and I’d say that’s about right to be comfortable.

 

I’m in my late 40’s. When I talk to farangs 10-20 years older, many are often blessed with good pensions from their years having worked at some big famous company in the Western world. Well, I was born a bit too late for that. My entering the working world in the 90’s is about when that sort of work was disappearing, replaced with being outsourced, offshored, and scaled back, with most of what I ended up with being in crappy sales and retail. Thus I have no such outside income to fall back on, and my plan has to be going back home in about five or so years. I’ve got a place with mom, and she’s not going to be around much longer.

 

Luckily my Thai wife likes this idea, as she’s got a great work ethic, likes to see the money coming in as she works, and has been well aware that in Thailand this is severely limited. The fact she could be making around $20 USD, or 800 baht an hour, is really mind blowing to her and most Thai people. She sees the time we keep spending here as wasted money. We still have many working years left, and more opportunities to advance our careers back in the US, with me in teaching, and her in hospitality.

[BritManToo]

2 minutes ago, CrunchWrapSupreme said:

You’ve really got to have a good pension or other form of income from abroad to stay here. $2k USD is what immigration asks as the minimum to do the monthly retirement method, and I’d say that’s about right to be comfortable.

 

The fact she could be making around $20 USD, or 800 baht an hour, is really mind blowing to her and most Thai people.

1) Marry a local or father a child and that drops to 40kbht/month ($1,300).

Not something most foreigners in Thailand find hard to accomplish.

 

2) Not that mind blowing when they find it's not actually enough to live on and 1 medical event will bankrupt you.

Edited February 22, 2021 by BritManToo

[stretch5163]

On 2/15/2021 at 7:01 PM, foreverlomsak said:

Please tell me about being able to remain in Thailand by maintaining 28,000 Baht in a bank I've never seen anything about it before, I'm very interested.

I think the Original poster cleared this up as it was dollars not baht.

Edited February 22, 2021 by stretch5163

[PGSan]

16 hours ago, Patong2021 said:

age typical cancer

What is this? 

[PGSan]

6 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

In my experience, life becomes less enjoyable the older I get.

On the contrary, after 70 it just gets better and better! 

[lopburi3]

10 minutes ago, PGSan said:

On the contrary, after 70 it just gets better and better! 

Obviously drinking the good stuff.

[thaibeachlovers]

17 hours ago, PGSan said:

On the contrary, after 70 it just gets better and better! 

LOL.

So no heart problems, no brain problems, no forgetfulness, no impotence problems, no prostate problems, no diabetes, no eye problems, no gout, skin doesn't tear if one brushes against anything, etc etc.

Must have the body of a 20 year old.

[meechai]

On 2/20/2021 at 5:12 AM, Sujo said:

Then curl up your toes.

 

i too have never had health insurance, or any insurance of any kind. Never will i get it.

 

Health insurance seams like more of a US thing. The rest of the developed world not so much.

 

count me out of that cycle.

 

It all sounds fine but......This ^^^ is pretty much why Thailand will eventually insist on insurance being part

of any Visa extension renewal. It is coming even more now after the previous year of virus scares.

 

Thailand in recent years has become well aware of many old falangs refusing to have health insurance (mostly due to lack of funds)  only later to lose their nerve

when the real pain of dying comes & showing up at hospitals begging. Then literally skipping out of the hospital leaving bills behind after their death

 

Kind of all started around the time that Graham (Graham & Pie fame ) died after doing the go fund me page for his heart bypass

Next we had a few months of articles about how most Falangs has less than xxx baht per month to live on etc. Which came as a surprise to

most Thai's who thought all falangs had money trees back home sending baht

 

Not long after that the baht requirements & the time it was locked up in your proof of funds accounts for visa extansions changed to longer locks.

 

Anyone who thinks mandatory health insurance is not coming to a immigration renewal near you is not paying attention ????

 

[Neeranam]

On 2/15/2021 at 5:27 PM, Clive said:

Looking way into the future what options are open to foreigners who can't make it to the immigration office to renew their visa due to inability to walk/alzheimers or some other medical condition.

This is the main reason I got Thai citizenship. 

 

[Leaver]

On 2/24/2021 at 11:32 AM, Neeranam said:

This is the main reason I got Thai citizenship. 

 

 

Do you actually have Thai citizenship?  

[Susco]

On 2/24/2021 at 9:42 AM, meechai said:

 

Anyone who thinks mandatory health insurance is not coming to a immigration renewal near you is not paying attention

 

Anyone who isn't well off enough to self insure, or doesn't have health insurance, isn't paying attention and should not be living in a foreign country.

Edited February 26, 2021 by Susco

[madmen]

On 2/15/2021 at 8:51 PM, DoneTravelling said:

You really believe Thailand is tops in health, wow. Hospitals are fairly inept, private hospitals are just money grabbing. 

My wife had constant headaches, after a 10 minute consultation in a private hospital she was crying like crazy, the quack had told her she needed emergency brain surgery, it turned out she had blocked sinuses. Numerous other doctor stories I can tell.

Either your wife is dense or the doctor is. I'm guessing it's the uneducated one. 

[Neeranam]

1 hour ago, Leaver said:

 

Do you actually have Thai citizenship?  

Yes

[Dan O]

On 2/15/2021 at 6:42 AM, Jingthing said:

You've posted a false assertion which I strongly suspected. 

I think they do help with 90 day reports if you live in Bangkok only. 

The visa assistance in that link is about the ORIGINAL Elite visa.

I don't see any mention of them actually taking for of the ANNUAL EXTENSIONS if you're in Thailand when they are due. If you aren't in Thailand when they are due, you don't need to do them at all, that is true.
So you're basic assertion is just wrong.

For me it would be a strong feature if I didn't need to do 90 day reports or annual extensions in Thailand. But living in Pattaya, NOPE.

The Thai Elite Site lists the support\assistance the provide with 90 day reports and other  government service  like drivers license, extensions, work permits etc. Not sure of the exact support but they list the turn around time for this support for each of those areas. You can go to the website and see it for yourself if you doubt it 

 

FACILITATION

 

As a state-owned enterprise, we are able to provide personalized support services for contacting other Thai government agencies regarding important documents to facilitate a productive visit in Thailand, such as: a visa application, passport inquiries, business networking, bank accounts and a driver's license.

 

Edited February 26, 2021 by Dan O

[Jingthing]

10 minutes ago, Dan O said:

The Thai Elite Site lists the support\assistance the provide with 90 day reports and other  government service  like drivers license, extensions, work permits etc. Not sure of the exact support but they list the turn around time for this support for each of those areas. You can go to the website and see it for yourself if you doubt it 

 

FACILITATION

 

As a state-owned enterprise, we are able to provide personalized support services for contacting other Thai government agencies regarding important documents to facilitate a productive visit in Thailand, such as: a visa application, passport inquiries, business networking, bank accounts and a driver's license.

 

No! They do not assist with ANNUAL EXTENSIONS.