Just now, PomPolo said:

This is an interesting one @BritManToo there was talk of it being compulsory for foreigners in Thailand to have health insurance?  However it is a catch 22 when you call a Thai health insurance company and they say unfortunately we can't cover you, another one that is going to be as difficult to enforce as their tax rules.

The Thai government has never suggested such a thing.

Just imagine them trying to enforce that on all the Burmese and Cambodian migrant workers.

4 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

The Thai government has never suggested such a thing.

Just imagine them trying to enforce that on all the Burmese and Cambodian migrant workers.

I would beg to differ @BritManToo directly from the Thai Embassy website
https://www.thaiembassy.com/travel-to-thailand/health-insurance-in-thailand

It's just more than likely that the immigration offices do not enforce it.

Foreign or Thai Insurance Policy?

When you first come to Thailand, you may already hold comprehensive travel or medical insurance from your home country. Expats who wish to obtain the long-stay non-immigrant O-A visa from their home country will need to show evidence of a health insurance policy that covers the holder for 40,000 Baht ($1340) outpatient and 400,000 Baht ($13,400) inpatient costs as a minimum. This policy can be from an insurance provider in your home country or one in Thailand. However, an important point to note is that once you come to obtain your yearly extension at an immigration office in Thailand, it will need to be from an approved Thai insurance company, something to be aware of if you are considering purchasing a new policy before traveling.

 

Just now, GypsyT said:

Really?

 

No matter how I cook my Norwegian salmon still is 1300 THB kg...

The same could be said for prime Oz or NZ beef..

 

Try to find Lamb.

 

Wine

 

Brie, Camenbert, Comté, Gruyère, Apremont...

 

And I could go on.

6 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Rich people rarely understand what it's like to live for not rich people.

 

If that 3,000 does not include rent and insurance, unless one fornicates with prostitutes or eats at Dukes every day, I have no idea how anyone could spend that much in a day.

I spent 2100 baht on two bottles of wine, so that was more than half of it.  I also ordered a pizza and bought some stuff at the local Tops.  So it all adds up. 

 

Anyway, spending 3000 baht a day can easily happen.  Rent and utilities are extra.  

 

I wouldn't want to be in Thailand if I didn't have access to at least that much money.  Maybe I spend it, maybe I don't. But I can if I want to.  

 

And don't forget all the "emergencies" that come up from time to time.  Nothing ever goes as planned. 

28 minutes ago, Ben Zioner said:

The same could be said for prime Oz or NZ beef..Try to find Lamb...Wine

Brie, Camenbert, Comté, Gruyère, Apremont...

 

And I could go on.

Don't know about the wine, but the rest available at Makro, and imported from OZ & NZ, as I buy the Harvy whole beef tenderloins, & Picanhas quite often.  

 

Along with NZ green mussels, and N. Atlanta (?) Salmon.  Shrimp and Lobster (Maine) also imported.  Not a fan of fresh water seafood, or warm water Lobster.

 

And yes, use same for Thai dishes.   Still live comfy & eat quite well on <20k a month.

 

If you drink a couple nice bottles of wine every night, then yea, you might need an extra 100k a month 

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

I've not had any insurance not compelled by government dictate.

3x life threatening illness in the past 15 years all fixed in government hospital for very small amounts of money. And my son born in government hospital at no expense to me. No need to use private hospitals at all.

Not necessary to use private hospitals (though in some cases wsit lists can prove dangerous...I know somrleone who need voronary bypass urgently and govt hospital wait was 6 months.  He would have died long  before that). 

 

But do not be deceived by your low costs to date.  Govt hospitals are slways much less glthan private but bills can still top 1 million if very specialized surgeries and ICU care etc  involved. 

Just now, KhunLA said:

Don't know about the wine, but the rest available at Makro, and imported from OZ & NZ, as I buy the Harvy whole beef tenderloins, & Picanhas quite often.  

 

Along with NZ green mussels, and N. Atlanta (?) Salmon.  Shrimp and Lobster (Maine) also imported.  Not a fan of fresh water seafood, or warm water Lobster.

 

And yes, use same for Thai dishes.   Still live comfy & eat quite well on <20k a month.

 

Good, but every time I check out of Makro I pay over 8000, and we stopped buying their meat as they are "cut illiterate", then we go to tops to find some proper ribeye at 400+ a piece. 

1 hour ago, BritManToo said:

The Thai government has never suggested such a thing.

Just imagine them trying to enforce that on all the Burmese and Cambodian migrant workers.

Actually there is a govt health scheme for the migrant workers cost sbout 2000 baht a year and essentially same cover as the "30 baht" scheme.   

31 minutes ago, Ben Zioner said:

 

Good, but every time I check out of Makro I pay over 8000, and we stopped buying their meat as they are "cut illiterate", then we go to tops to find some proper ribeye at 400+ a piece. 

The 2 beef items I mentioned is about the only things I get, beef wise from Makro.  I'll occasionally pick through the brisket and or trimmings of, if fresh and looking good.   Have them grind that for burgers.

 

Agree, don't know who trains the staff, but 'cut illiterate' sums it up nicely.

 

Really don't bother with any other cuts of beef any more, as too iffy.  Tough, too fatty, or grislily.   I like Piranha sometimes, just to make Tallow from the 'fat' cap.

 

Only Makro worth shopping at for beef, or anything, as the local Lotus's has got to be the worse in TH, and hasn't changed in 15+ years since arriving.

 

Use to pop up to Gourmet Markets @ Bluport mall Hua Hin, but that's just about shut down, and 80% of shelves empty last time there.   Rumor is Big C or FoodLand may be taking over.

43 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

Not necessary to use private hospitals (though in some cases wsit lists can prove dangerous...I know somrleone who need voronary bypass urgently and govt hospital wait was 6 months.  He would have died long  before that). 

 

But do not be deceived by your low costs to date.  Govt hospitals are slways much less glthan private but bills can still top 1 million if very specialized surgeries and ICU care etc  involved. 

I don't believe in surgery or ICU (except for accident damage).

3 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I don't believe in surgery or ICU (except for accident damage).

 

So, if you had appendicitis you would refuse surgery and risk almost certain death?????

1 hour ago, PomPolo said:

would beg to differ @BritManToo directly from the Thai Embassy website
https://www.thaiembassy.com/travel-to-thailand/health-insurance-in-thailand

Just for one class of VISA, that was never particularly popular.

 

19 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

So, if you had appendicitis you would refuse surgery and risk almost certain death?????

They said I would die if I didn't have my gall bladder removed (12 years back). I refused, and it got better.

 

They told me I would die if I didn't have my prostate removed (5 years back). I refused and it got better.

 

They told me my 5 year old son needed his appendix removed, I moved him to another hospital that said he had constipation (8 years back). He recovered and is 13 now.

2 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Just for one class of VISA, that was never particularly popular.

 

A Thai Non-Immigrant O-A often i.e. a Retirement Visa is not popular?  I suspect most of the people in this forum are on that visa so hopefully it is reasonably popular!
The point I was trying to make is when you do your 1 year retirement visa renewals theoretically you are also supposed to produce health insurance, I am guessing the same pattern will happen for the current farang taxation debacle.

4 minutes ago, PomPolo said:

A Thai Non-Immigrant O-A often i.e. a Retirement Visa is not popular?  I suspect most of the people in this forum are on that visa so hopefully it is reasonably popular!
The point I was trying to make is when you do your 1 year retirement visa renewals theoretically you are also supposed to produce health insurance, I am guessing the same pattern will happen for the current farang taxation debacle.

Nah, almost all the expats are on non O.

6 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

They said I would die if I didn't have my gall bladder removed.

I refused, and it got better.

 

   But leaving your gall bladder there wouldn't cause death , it would just hurt a bit

13 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Nah, almost all the expats are on non O.

Agreed I didn't ask who was married in the topic participants, I think we are both correct on this one and call an official stalemate 555 - I'm not legally married yet 🙂
O Retirement with marriage or dependents yes
O-A Retirement yet to make the leap 🙂
O-X gotta be super rich so not even going there 🙂

B wouldn't want a job or business here hehe

Elite visa I just don't see the point in it fast track for airports and golf clubs for millions of Baht I get that for free 

Just googled and there are Smart, Ed and media visas also so might be some media holders hanging around this forum, not sure smart people would apply for a smart visa though you are an instant tax target then!
🙂

3 minutes ago, PomPolo said:

Agreed I didn't ask who was married in the topic participants, I think we are both correct on this one and call an official stalemate 555 - I'm not legally married yet 🙂
O Retirement with marriage or dependents yes
O-A Retirement yet to make the leap 🙂
O-X gotta be super rich so not even going there 🙂

B wouldn't want a job or business here hehe

Elite visa I just don't see the point in it fast track for airports and golf clubs for millions of Baht I get that for free 🙂

You don't need to be married to get a non O.

 

3 hours ago, SiSePuede419 said:

When I made pizza on the grill I used yeast in the dough --thats costs money.

You're joking. 500 gms for Bht 150. That'll do for 50 pizzas ie One a week for a year.

44 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

You don't need to be married to get a non O.

 

I definitely stand corrected on that one just checked - this is the reason I post on AN it checks me to research more on my own situation with people who have lived in the country a lot longer than me appreciate that@BritManToo

P

On 1/24/2025 at 4:09 AM, PomPolo said:

Going to get 25% of my private pension fund at 57 which also should be a good chunk then a reasonable monthly payment after that. 

 

Why take the 25% in one go if you're not going to spend it immediately'  Leave it in the pension to grow or take it over a longer period.

3 minutes ago, treetops said:

 

Why take the 25% in one go if you're not going to spend it immediately'  Leave it in the pension to grow or take it over a longer period.

Also another one on my radar @treetops the job I used to have was heavily involved around consultancy and as yet I don't think talking on a phone would be breaking any Thai working rules.  If someone wants to talk to me after I am 57 it would be rude not to pick up the phone, don't mind mentioning the pension company I am with AXA, the growth on that has been phenomenal probably only bitcoin has beaten it but I am certainly not investing in that, obviously wish I had sooner, wisha, shoulda, coulda not good investment tactics 🙂

15 hours ago, GypsyT said:

Really?

 

No matter how I cook my Norwegian salmon still is 1300 THB kg...

Try to quote the right person next time muppet.

On 1/24/2025 at 3:35 PM, KhunLA said:

Not really, as @BritManToo emphasis on "if you cook it yourself", I take as raw whole food ingredients, being same quality used no matter what, 'western' or 'Thai' food you are preparing.  

Thai steak quality can't compare with  Waghe beef. So you can't compare quality at all. Kobe beef is even better. Don't comment if you never ate Michellene food quality in your lifetime.

16 hours ago, KireB said:

I can't, I've got kids. Car costs me 15 to 20k a month, all cost included.

Reading the posts on here I have to wonder how a Thai couple with kids can live on less than 20,000 baht a month if both work.

 

13 hours ago, BritManToo said:

 

 

They told me I would die if I didn't have my prostate removed (5 years back). I refused and it got better.

 

 

You were just lucky then. If you had prostate cancer and it progressed to the stage the capsule broke and released the cancer you wouldn't be on here now.

They got mine just before it broke.

 

I'm not saying that doctors don't get it wrong- they do all the time, but sometimes they are right.

4 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

Thai steak quality can't compare with  Waghe beef. So you can't compare quality at all. Kobe beef is even better. Don't comment if you never ate Michellene food quality in your lifetime.

Do we care?

47 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Reading the posts on here I have to wonder how a Thai couple with kids can live on less than 20,000 baht a month if both work.

 

They wouldn't have a car, no nice house, no good education for their kids, nor acation other than visiting family. That's how.

2 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

You were just lucky then. If you had prostate cancer and it progressed to the stage the capsule broke and released the cancer you wouldn't be on here now.

They got mine just before it broke.

 

I'm not saying that doctors don't get it wrong- they do all the time, but sometimes they are right.

You only know what they told you.

What if you hadn't had cancer at all, and it was a misdiagnoses?

They told @simon43 he had prostate cancer, and he didn't.

7 hours ago, FritsSikkink said:

Thai steak quality can't compare with  Waghe beef. So you can't compare quality at all. Kobe beef is even better. Don't comment if you never ate Michellene food quality in your lifetime.

Unless you lived in Japan, you probably never had Kobe beef.  Had wagyu, and don't care for it.  I'll take a good USA prime any day, over most others.  Much more about who's cooking it.

 

So you're saying high end Michelin Thai food, isn't as good as high end western food or cost the same 

 

News flash ... price doesn't always equal quality.  I've eaten in high end restaurants, along with not so high end, and put out quality food just as good.