5 hours ago, swm59nj said:

I can see moving to another country because you visited and enjoyed it. Want a change of scenery.  

But I see many people move here because they have next to nothing .  No health insurance,  little income,  And they whine about how bad their home countries are.  And many  are not happy in Thailand either. 
Most of the issues and opinions I read here appear to be caused by poor retirement planning.   Having  little income, no health insurance.  You should have planned that out better.  No one is going to hand you anything for free, or discounted costs.  

 I see a lot of blame.  But no one seems to want to blame themselves..  

 

Old saying...wherever you go - there you are ????

3 hours ago, Neeranam said:

Don't know who said it but these are sexpats and we don't want them to stay here. Obviously, young women don't want to spend time with retired farang, so they are doing it for money, ie prostitution, which is illegal. 

Who is "we" who don't want "them" to stay ?

Some sort of "moral majority" perchance?

What an absurd question.

Of course the majority "expat" foreigners want to stay. 

there is nothing to prevent people leaving Thailand so inevitably almost ll people who live here want to stay - other wise they would have gone

8 hours ago, vandeventer said:

Yes, Thailand is a great place. But like any country there's the good, the bad, and the ugly. The Thai people is what makes this country so good to live in and the weather is great and it's cheap to live here. I think most retirees that are on pensions would not be able to live on their pensions in their home country .However with this fine weather there are a few draw backs like being careful when you eat out as bad bacteria grows at such a high rate in hot climates. Stay heathy and you will live a long and happy live here in Thailand ,I know I will.

Looking at the cost of living rises in the UK and many other countries, I completely understand that Thailand offers far better value than most when it comes to budgeting.   So for the pensioner expats it makes more sense to stay put in Thailand.

1 hour ago, Bedfont said:

Medical services are much cheaper than the United States.

 

I saw  a presentation by domestic medical insurance company here suggesting, in some cases, Thailand was becoming more expensive than even there. More my point, if one lives here, and had a medical issue, the cost can eat up a serious chunk of your savings. People in the UK (and other European countries) are unfamiliar of needing savings to cover such events.

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

most?

I would expect so..... the majority  was once UK... add European countries to that. 

Certainly not all. 

1 hour ago, Gottfrid said:

How did you read that I complained? Never stated if I viewed it as positive nor negative.

That is how it read to me....  

Are you trying to say your post was pointless?

Edited June 16, 20224 yr by jacko45k

41 minutes ago, KaputtAlreadyNa said:

My experience is mostly pay first before entering the consultant room. ( I am with both MediBank and Bupa )

Warmest 

Once, with a broken wrist, they took my insurance card, but insisted on taking money off my credit card first before they would do anything, or the insurance company responded. Another time , my insurance company responded they would not cover, and I had to pay and claim myself... but the hospital did perform a small procedure, and I paid with my CC  soon after. 

Fortunately not been in a more critical situation.... yet.

6 hours ago, freedomnow said:

Thai people are rude= not that i find..maybe more a reflection of your habits

 

this country is expensive = not that I find...40 baht for an excellent coffee ? 40 baht for a decent Thai meal ?

 

the heat monotonous... = not that i find..living in the north gets 3-4 nice cooler months through the night...main reason for staying in north.

 

Thai people are rude.  They are great.  But outside the village.  Different story.  And I've been told straight up, you're farang, what do you expect? 

 

Where do you find a good Thai meal for 40 baht? That's Thai fast food street food, and you might as well be eating a McDonalds hamburger everyday if that's to your liking. 40 baht cup of coffee cheap. That's makes a large black coffee 1,50$, when I'm used to paying 1$ in my home country.  

 

And yeah, it's cooler in Chiang Rai.  But not really.  All my life I worked out doors from -40C to 36C.  Loved the heat, and appreciated the cold.  But 10, 11 months of solid hear wears you out.  

Edited June 16, 20224 yr by CharlieH
Thai script removed

1 hour ago, Kalasin Jo said:

And a returning long absent Brit expat will not immediately get back in to the system be it NHS or for benefits. Need to establish " habitual residence" at a specific address. At least 3 months, up to 6, to do that.

This is not true. A British passport holder is entitled to NHS treat from the moment that take up residence in the country. They can be asked to provide proof of that of course.

 

https://www.aesinternational.com/blog/repatriating-to-the-uk-part-2 and scroll down to 'accessing the NHS'.

7 hours ago, freedomnow said:

Thai people are rude= not that i find..maybe more a reflection of your habits

 

this country is expensive = not that I find...40 baht for an excellent coffee ? 40 baht for a decent Thai meal ?

 

the heat monotonous... = not that i find..living in the north gets 3-4 nice cooler months through the night...main reason for staying in north.

 

The only real drawback in Thailand, if you don't take immigration issues into considerations, is the unelected PM and his Junta.

7 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Actually they determine you can pay first in my limited experience, and you pay PDQ. 

What is PDQ? Here we have another poster who seems to think he is texting, and not on a forum.

The best thing coming back to europe, was queuing, no stress no worries, and everybody stayed in a diciplined line. What a relief coming back to a civilized world. 
 

When driving, nobody cut you off, or tried to get inside, or any other crazy maneuver to get passed you. 
 

 

Anyone have a link to the actuall thread mentioned?

3 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

What is PDQ? Here we have another poster who seems to think he is texting, and not on a forum.

Pretty Damn Quick 

7 hours ago, vandeventer said:

Try Greenland it might be better for you?

The Greenland people are very friendly much like Thai people, but the country is very, very expensive and the weather is nice if you like snow like me.

 

I lived there for more than 30 years before my pension and move to Thailand.

3 hours ago, FarangFB said:

There are many cons of living here but I can't think anywhere else in the world that would be better for me (and family).

 

Everywhere else has some or many of these problems:

 

- Overregulated 

- Wild Karens

- Imminence of war

- Very unstable government

- Dangerous crimes, gunpoint robberies etc

- Exploding homeless populations taking over entire neighborhoods

- Major drug usage issues

- Islamic laws 

- Population with dangerous conflicts about ethnical/religious differences

- Super expensive

- Unbearable heat (like 10-15 degrees hotter than Thai summer)
- Very unwelcoming to foreigners

- Can't get by with only English

- Severe lack of infrastructure 

 

As far as I know, Thailand is the only country that isn't plagued by any of these. There are of course other problems like corruption, stray dogs, road accidents, etc but it's still the number one place I can think of. 

Are you serious?? Are you actually saying Thailand has a stable government????

9 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Ill health is a concern. Medical services are often expensive here and most retirees hail from places where it is supplied free. 

 

Pointless returning to the UK 4 hours wait for an emergency ambulance, 6 weeks wait to see your GP. Waiting lists of 1 year or more to see a specialist or have an operation once you have seen a specialist. You have to go private to get anything now. Deliberate policy to remove free healthcare

8 hours ago, vandeventer said:

Nothing is for free in this world, and waiting for many hours to see a Free doctor may not be the best way to go.

In the UK it's hard to get an appointment and if you do it will be in several days time if not weeks away, so my family inform me.

Here that's why health insurance is vital.

19 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

Are you serious?? Are you actually saying Thailand has a stable government????

If you compare to their Neighbours, how bad is it? If you compare it to Asia including Emirates? How bad is it? 

7 hours ago, Elkski said:

It's so hot in Thailand.   I like 3-4 seasons.    If your married to a capable Thai woman, living in Thailand has automatically lost one big appeal.  

I've always liked the four seasons. The problem is they've not had a hit record in years. 

9 hours ago, vandeventer said:

9 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Ill health is a concern. Medical services are often expensive here and most retirees hail from places where it is supplied free. 

 

Nothing is for free in this world, and waiting for many hours to see a Free doctor may not be the best way to go.

But you’ve already paid by virtue of a history of taxes / National insurance and in my case STILL paying (tax on my retirement income)! But I cannot claim - I’m not talking about minor trips to say a government hospital here which is dirt cheap,but when you’re too old to get health insurance (or becomes too expensive)and you develop a more serious/expensive to treat condition as you age ,or experience a sudden event (heart attack?) . The pendulum tips financially as you become older ,which is why I’ve kept my U.K. house which yields a very significant rental income. I’m in good health and married for 20 years (Thai with British citizenship) ,so I’ve planned carefully and not burned bridges and when/if that time comes for whatever reason I can head back. For now though there are serious financial advantages to stay put.

1 hour ago, possum1931 said:

What is PDQ? Here we have another poster who seems to think he is texting, and not on a forum.

It would have been virtually instantaneous to Google it (or any acronym) rather than compile a grumpy question. ????. QED but again only IMHO… 

14 hours ago, webfact said:

Why would anyone leave? Great weather here, living costs 30% of the West, young female company.

That's a robust piece of kwaidung. Most things that make life worth living cost more than back home.

Edited June 16, 20224 yr by Boomer6969

2 hours ago, RobU said:

Pointless returning to the UK 4 hours wait for an emergency ambulance, 6 weeks wait to see your GP. Waiting lists of 1 year or more to see a specialist or have an operation once you have seen a specialist. You have to go private to get anything now. Deliberate policy to remove free healthcare

I don't agree with your last sentence, but non the less you make some valid points.

 

NHS waiting lists

2 hours ago, possum1931 said:

Are you serious?? Are you actually saying Thailand has a stable government????

Relatively yes, it does. Most of the other 3rd world countries are in a more volatile situation, including pretty much every African country.

 

 

3 hours ago, possum1931 said:

The only real drawback in Thailand, if you don't take immigration issues into considerations, is the unelected PM and his Junta.

And just how does that affect you on a day-to-day basis?

11 hours ago, jacko45k said:

Then you presumably have obtained some form of residency or worked in Thailand? I agree what you quote is great, but it is not readily available to most retirees in Thailand.

I can go to the big village and see one of perhaps 7 doctors and pay their fees, or I can go to the local health clinics or visit the hospital in the amphur village where I am registered  for a very reasonable price. 

 

Of course I pay more that Thais but I expect to. In the hospital they can treat me for most things but for surgery I would get referred to the provincial hospital where for a reasonable price I can get a private room. Most of the doctors speak English to a varying degree.

3 hours ago, Hummin said:

The best thing coming back to europe, was queuing, no stress no worries, and everybody stayed in a diciplined line. What a relief coming back to a civilized world. 
 

When driving, nobody cut you off, or tried to get inside, or any other crazy maneuver to get passed you. 

Never happened to me in Thailand.
Never tried to get inside me????

13 hours ago, vandeventer said:

Yes, Thailand is a great place. But like any country there's the good, the bad, and the ugly. The Thai people is what makes this country so good to live in and the weather is great and it's cheap to live here. I think most retirees that are on pensions would not be able to live on their pensions in their home country .However with this fine weather there are a few draw backs like being careful when you eat out as bad bacteria grows at such a high rate in hot climates. Stay heathy and you will live a long and happy live here in Thailand ,I know I will.

Bacteria also loves bad hygiene habits..