Bye bye Thailand, thanks for nothing!

[JimTripper]

1 hour ago, save the frogs said:

 

some guys on here have been contemplating a "better place to go" for months and months on these forums ad nauseum ... so that surely gives them a head start? 

 

It's usually finances holding things up.

[Mike Lister]

Duplicates reported.

[Fr87]

3 minutes ago, Mike Lister said:

Cambodia and PI candidates: they may sound good on paper but the reality and longer term is they are not workable for most. There are reasons why those countries only have 0.5% and 0.1% of foreigners living there and Thailand has 5.2%.

 

Thailand has this perfect blend of inexpensive, efficient and soft living. It's very easy to get settled in even for someone who's never been abroad. Undeniable. Too easy for my liking

 

I would imagine as they (Vietnam, Cambodia) build up their infrastructure expats will follow. Bali has the infrastructure but not the policies. Vietnam with it's coasts will be a winner. Philippines has so many issues and problems it will only attract the working class, grittier expat that can suffer the food, blackouts, chaos and crime.

 

Times will be getting much tougher and that old moniker of Land of Smiles is sadly gone. Thai people have it as hard as anyone else and this will just get more difficult as the economy cannot jump to a more mature, advanced, well paying status.

[jippytum]

Expats panic over the every newspaper story or scare blogs on this forum. The proposed tax on foreign investment income applies to Thai people with income derived from overseas. 

Many countries have a double taxation treaty. 

 

The tax chart shown in this blog is a joke. Don't panic guys and as for longtime expats leaving Thailand WTFWould you be better off??? 

 

Edited December 9, 2023 by jippytum
correction

[Prubangboy]

46 minutes ago, Fr87 said:

 

Good medical services and procedures at fair rates are only 30% less that in US

My experience is very diff. Blood test in NC, USA =$250. In Chiang Mai = $42.

 

What med stuff have you encountered that's only 30% discounted? Even botox is 50% off.

[Mike Lister]

4 minutes ago, Prubangboy said:

My experience is very diff. Blood test in NC, USA =$250. In Chiang Mai = $42.

 

What med stuff have you encountered that's only 30% discounted? Even botox is 50% off.

I agree completely. The problem is, far too many foreigners don't understand the medical system here, they want Bumrungrad quality and service at government hospital prices and complain when they don't get that. Here's a tip, if you want inexpensive medical care, don't go to the likes of Bangkok Hospital or similar.

[Prubangboy]

1 minute ago, Mike Lister said:

they want Bumrungrad quality. Here's a tip, if you want inexpensive medical care, don't go to the likes of Bangkok Hospital or similar.

Even at Bumrungrad, it's at least half off of US costs. 

 

Plus: I can stroll into Chiang Mai Ram Hospital any day of the week and get seen. In the states, I'd typically wait a month for even a routine appointment.

 

-Which brings me full circle to my very obvious point that has many a passive aggressive loser posting confused yellow faces and unconvincingly feigning confusion:

 

-Living in Thailand is a super-deal. If they want some chump change from me for using their roads and sewage system, that's fine with me.

 

If I'm a very low income retiree and that small amount will cause me some discomfort, that's on me, not Thailand.

 

When I factor in my savings of state income tax, decreased medical insurance/costs, and not having to run a car; those savings cover all of my expenses, plus about $50 a day to spend.

 

I am literally being paid to stay out of America. I am happy to take that deal.

[Mike Lister]

4 minutes ago, Prubangboy said:

Even at Bumrungrad, it's at least half off of US costs. 

 

Plus: I can stroll into Chiang Mai Ram Hospital any day of the week and get seen. In the states, I'd typically wait a month for even a routine appointment.

 

-Which brings me full circle to my very obvious point that has many a passive aggressive loser posting confused yellow faces and unconvincingly feigning confusion:

 

-Living in Thailand is a super-deal. If they want some chump change from me for using their roads and sewage system, that's fine with me.

 

If I'm a very low income retiree and that small amount will cause me some discomfort, that's on me, not Thailand.

 

When I factor in my savings of state income tax, decreased medical insurance/costs, and not having to run a car; those savings cover all of my expenses, plus about $50 a day to spend.

 

I am literally being paid to stay out of America. I am happy to take that deal.

I can relate to that. I have a flat in the UK but it would cost me much more to live there and I'd be existing rather than having the freedom to do what I chose and to holiday at the beach when I want. And if I wanted to see doctor there I'd have to go through some complicated process and unless I was bleeding from my ears and arse, I'd maybe get one in a few weeks, even then I'd get ten minutes at tops. Here, I decide which of a dozen or more specialists I want to see and then I go and see them, six hundred baht and a couple of hours later I've had my consultation!

 

I was in hospital two weeks ago and had my thyroid completely removed, it cost me half of what it would cost in the UK if done privately and the surgeon was a world class expert and professor at CMU. Whilst there for five days, my back began to hurt again so the doctor asked if I wanted to have someone look into it. Three hours later I've had an MRI using the latest TESLA high definition technology, and I've been assessed by a spinal surgeon, it cost me 8k for the MRI and 500 for the consultation. 

 

There is no comparison.

[Fr87]

28 minutes ago, Prubangboy said:

My experience is very diff. Blood test in NC, USA =$250. In Chiang Mai = $42.

 

What med stuff have you encountered that's only 30% discounted? Even botox is 50% off.

 

General surgery might be us6k here but 9k in US. For instance, Bumrungrad surgery for 425k thb is similarly priced already as US. The other top hospitals are the same.

 

Pathology tests are criminally priced in US. Much of the process is automated and lab techs one of lowest paying medical skilled labor.

 

I'd also venture that those tests done in a top ten BKK hospital would be double that price but that's only supposition

[Prubangboy]

55 minutes ago, Fr87 said:

 

 

 

I would imagine as they (Vietnam, Cambodia) build up their infrastructure expats will follow.

 

Hey, imagine away. 

 

Vietnam has shown no interest (and much reluctance) to host retirees.

 

Waiting for Cambodia to "build up their infrastructure" will def exceed your lifetime.

[Fr87]

16 minutes ago, Prubangboy said:

Even at Bumrungrad, it's at least half off of US costs

Absolute nonsense

[Fr87]

1 minute ago, Prubangboy said:

 

Hey, imagine away. 

 

Vietnam has shown no interest (and much reluctance) to host retirees.

 

Waiting for Cambodia to "build up their infrastructure" will def exceed your lifetime.

Sorry white guy that the world isn't operating on your timetable and especially to coincide with this thread 👍. I'll ring Hun Sen and Vietnamese Communist Party and tell them to sort themselves out pronto.

[Mike Lister]

Just now, Fr87 said:

Absolute nonsense

Blue Shield health insurance in the US, in some of the states, used to use Bumrungrad to outsource some medical work, there were articles in the news and on this forum about that very thing.

[Prubangboy]

1 minute ago, Fr87 said:

 

General surgery might be

-Truly, could you possibly be any vaguer?

 

I agree with your broad point that medical tourism prices are def shooting up (as are costs in the west).

 

We had major surgery (not merely general surgery) in Mexico. That was indeed about 30% off US prices.

 

But again, we could get it done. In the States, that would have been months of fighting with the insurer and then getting nickled and dimed as to what they'd cover and how much.

[Ralf001]

22 hours ago, Celsius said:

Hahaha.... this table must be a joke, right?

 

I mean, just look at it..... Thailand pretending to be a high income developed country that it isn't.

 

Thank god that after filing a tax return,  you mugs will have access to permanent residency and free healthcare!

 

And you don't have to worry about 90 day reports too!

 

WHAT A RELIEF!

 

Table is not a joke.

 

Not everyone in Thailand is earning Bt.8000 a month.

[Fr87]

4 minutes ago, Prubangboy said:

Waiting for Cambodia to "build up their infrastructure" will def exceed your lifetime.

I used to live in Phnom Penh in the early 90s. I cannot believe the changes. I believe it's probably fully livable as Thailand now. Cambodia is easier to get set up than Thailand in many ways and now according to EF First surveys better English.

 

For myself, I love the water and Cambodia just lacks the beautiful beaches of Thailand

[Ralf001]

21 hours ago, connda said:

Not sure where you are getting your information, but I've worked here, paid taxes, and trust me - I have no access to permanent residency and healthcare. 

 

I too work here.

Social security provides great healthcare and Iam eligible to apply for PR if I wanted to.

[JimTripper]

32 minutes ago, Prubangboy said:

Even at Bumrungrad, it's at least half off of US costs. 

 

Plus: I can stroll into Chiang Mai Ram Hospital any day of the week and get seen. In the states, I'd typically wait a month for even a routine appointment.

 

-Which brings me full circle to my very obvious point that has many a passive aggressive loser posting confused yellow faces and unconvincingly feigning confusion:

 

-Living in Thailand is a super-deal. If they want some chump change from me for using their roads and sewage system, that's fine with me.

 

If I'm a very low income retiree and that small amount will cause me some discomfort, that's on me, not Thailand.

 

When I factor in my savings of state income tax, decreased medical insurance/costs, and not having to run a car; those savings cover all of my expenses, plus about $50 a day to spend.

 

I am literally being paid to stay out of America. I am happy to take that deal.

Take the deal until you get older and you need medicare. Medical becomes unaffordable in thailand with more serious ailments and/or cost of coverage.

 

The question then is how do you move back when you're 70?

Edited December 9, 2023 by JimTripper

[Mike Lister]

US health insurers outsource medical care to Thailand.

 

https://www.magazine.medicaltourism.com/article/insurers-changing-game-medical-tourism

[Ralf001]

21 hours ago, Celsius said:

 

What idiot makes money in Thailand?

 

LOL

 

I do, monthly.

 

Many also make money in Thailand.

 

guess you are the idiot !

[bbi1]

22 hours ago, ujayujay said:

In any case, I say no to the state raid on my pension and say byebye Thailand!

 

See ya later, you won't be missed by Thailand. Thailand doesn't want poor pensioners here, they want people who are able to support themselves and have a few dollars to spend.

[charleskerins]

21 hours ago, Jingthing said:

My level considering most of my income.is US social security which is treated advantageously has no US tax so double tax credits do  nothing for me in Thailand. 

I really think they should exclude expat pensions as many countries do. Of course they can do what they want but taxing expat pensions definitely degrades Thailand's desirability as an expat retirement destination. 

Will I leave because of it?

No.

Already too heavily invested in staying.

Social Security is taxed in the US

[Freddy42OZ]

No one has raised the issue faced by old boys on pensions who won't be able to afford to take their wifey back home with them if they have to leave Thailand over this. 

Or the pensioners who've got kids and won't be able to afford to take their kids with them.  

However, I think this whole issue will blow over.   

 

[Prubangboy]

2 minutes ago, Fr87 said:

Sorry white guy that the world isn't operating on your timetable and especially to coincide with this thread 👍. 

I'm not complaining about anything. You are having imaginary arguments inside your head. I hope at least you are triumphant in them.

 

I am a rare "white guy" (like that's a sin) who has residency permission in Laos. Crazy communism and Chinese vassal state status makes that an iffy proposition. That saddo in this thread sobbing about his lack of "rights" here should never think about living in a SEA autocratic place.

 

They just opened a Bangkok Hospital in Vientiane. And yes, it's expensive due to the tiny and captive "white guy" market. It's Bangkok prices in $3 a day-land.

 

Some pasty-faced fellow transplant is dissing me as a white guy. Excuse me while I fall down laughing.

[Fr87]

13 minutes ago, Ralf001 said:

Table is not a joke.

 

 

I would like to single out this post and agree. Those are standard Thai tax rates. The person stating that it was a joke is the joke

Edited December 9, 2023 by Fr87

[beautifulthailand99]

It's been a good run whilst it lasted.What will be will be arrange your affairs as best you can and then prepare for the hit. Will be a lot more forms and hassle though for what was painless before.

[Mike Lister]

2 minutes ago, Freddy42OZ said:

No one has raised the issue faced by old boys on pensions who won't be able to afford to take their wifey back home with them if they have to leave Thailand over this. 

Or the pensioners who've got kids and won't be able to afford to take their kids with them.  

However, I think this whole issue will blow over.   

 

Well, this old boy doesn't want to go back home, neither does wifey and neither do the kids, that decision was made a long time ago and none of us would change it for anything. Plus I receive pensions which suit us just fine, plus we have significant savings and overseas property, there are lots and lots of others like me. The stereotype you're aiming at isn't the majority, not by a long shot.

[Fr87]

51 minutes ago, Prubangboy said:

My experience is very diff. Blood test in NC, USA =$250. In Chiang Mai = $42.

 

What med stuff have you encountered that's only 30% discounted? Even botox is 50% off.

 

The old Dental Hospital on 49 (now in On Nut) is similarly priced. Implant rear tooth 150k. This work can easily be had in the United States for about the same price.

Edited December 9, 2023 by Fr87

[Prubangboy]

1 minute ago, Fr87 said:

 

The old Dental Hospital on 49 (now in On Nut) is similarly priced. Implant rear tooth 150k. This work can easily be had in the United States for about the same price.

This is not my experience. My wife had an implant done last year in NC for $7K. In Chiang Mai, $2,800.

[Ralf001]

56 minutes ago, jippytum said:

 

 

The tax chart shown in this blog is a joke. Don't panic guys and as for longtime expats leaving Thailand WTFWould you be better off??? 

 

 

how do you figure it is a joke ?

 

Here is a link to the revenue department for you.

 

https://www.rd.go.th/english/6045.html