7 hours ago, jayboy said:

 

The fact you have paid tax all of your life is irrelevant.Free access to the NHS has nothing to do with having paid tax.It is all about residency.

 

 

No one is turned away from a first visit to hospital. No one is refused emergency treatment. If follow up treatment is required, simply say you are staying in UK for the foreseeable future. Job done.

2 hours ago, youreavinalaff said:

No one is turned away from a first visit to hospital. No one is refused emergency treatment. If follow up treatment is required, simply say you are staying in UK for the foreseeable future. Job done.

 

The charge would normally be the relevant NHS tariff plus 50%. As you suggest, nobody would be turned away for emergency treatment or from A and E, but you are wrong to suggest there would be no financial consequences.In any case it seems unlikely some Bangkok based expatriate would travel to UK to sort out emergency treatment, more likely something more serious requiring hospitalization.Highly unlikely in my view to evade payment.

 

Of course some would get away with it, just as some people freeload at expensive restaurants and the do a runner before the bill arrives.But it doesn't seem a clever way for UK expatriates in the UK to plan their medical needs - particularly as in an emergency many would be too ill to travel.

7 minutes ago, jayboy said:

 

The charge would normally be the relevant NHS tariff plus 50%. As you suggest, nobody would be turned away for emergency treatment or from A and E, but you are wrong to suggest there would be no financial consequences.In any case it seems unlikely some Bangkok based expatriate would travel to UK to sort out emergency treatment, more likely something more serious requiring hospitalization.Highly unlikely in my view to evade payment.

 

Of course some would get away with it, just as some people freeload at expensive restaurants and the do a runner before the bill arrives.But it doesn't seem a clever way for UK expatriates in the UK to plan their medical needs - particularly as in an emergency many would be too ill to travel.

Whilst I agree with your sentiments, your comments regarding cost, were an expat to return and say they plan to remain in UK for the foreseeable future, are incorrect 

From my experience and point of view, 25-30.000 THB per month is quite enough if you live alone and have a place to live. Single accommodation can be easily found for 5-6000 THB per month. If you have a Thai spouse 40.000 per month is OK. In rural areas, the cost of living is 20-25.000 THB per month. Of course, this is without a car and very costly health insurance which is a luxury and not necessary.

7 minutes ago, vukovar77 said:

 health insurance which is a luxury and not necessary.

Good luck with that.

On 1/24/2025 at 11:19 AM, KhunLA said:

You've been at it for awhile, so should know your budget by now.  If not, start keeping track (write down) every expense you have for about 3 months.  Also count all COH now, and in 3 months again, count again, and you'll know exactly how much 3 months cost.  You will miss many expenses while keeping track, though shouldn't be much, but nice to know.  COH vs your expense tracking.

 

If you don't know where it's going, you can't control it.  Once you know where it's going, you can adjust, if needed.

 

I did that about 30 years ago for 6 months.  Carried a tiny notebook in my back pocket and recorded everything, down to a pack of gum.  It was an eye opener, and I highly recommend it.  Should be a lot easier with a computer in your pocket in the form of a smartphone, and they have apps for that.

 

57 minutes ago, vukovar77 said:

From my experience and point of view, 25-30.000 THB per month is quite enough if you live alone and have a place to live. Single accommodation can be easily found for 5-6000 THB per month. If you have a Thai spouse 40.000 per month is OK. In rural areas, the cost of living is 20-25.000 THB per month. Of course, this is without a car and very costly health insurance which is a luxury and not necessary.

Health insurance is a luxury and not necessary? Tell that all the Go Fund Me people who unexpectedly landed in hospitals and are not able to pay their bills. 

8 minutes ago, msbkk said:

Health insurance is a luxury and not necessary? Tell that all the Go Fund Me people who unexpectedly landed in hospitals and are not able to pay their bills. 

 

A lot of them have insurance but whatever it was that lended em in hospital voided the coverage.

Their family and friends wont reach into their pockets so scab from the public instead.

On 1/24/2025 at 9:01 AM, PomPolo said:

Hello all, just wondered peoples thoughts were on this.

I currently have a retirement visa in Thailand down to my savings and age however I can't touch my personal pension until I am 57 years old.
I live in the north of Thailand and my wife and I have just built a house so rent would not be an issue.
I am not a huge drinker but will meet up with friends every now and again but don't hit the bars every day.
I am sure similar questions have been asked before I won't go into full details of the value of my personal pension but I think it is reasonable.
At a retirement age of 57 in my circumstances people with more experience of Thailand than myself what would you recommend/suggest as a minimum retirement fund and not working, I understand questions like this are subjective and relative depending on point of view and circumstance but just looking for peoples point of view?

A couple million USD should cover it.

6 minutes ago, suzannegoh said:

A couple million USD should cover it.

Hahaha I'm gonna have to rob a bank then or go and live in Phuket and gamble on my 0.015 bitcoin maturing to a couple of mil and not just becoming a worthless piece of binary code on the internet 🤣

3 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

 

A lot of them have insurance but whatever it was that lended em in hospital voided the coverage.

Their family and friends wont reach into their pockets so scab from the public instead.

Yes, riding a motorcycle without helmet is  not covered.

8 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

Good luck with that.

Yeah. For smaller health issues I  can go to Thai government hospitals and pay a fraction I need to pay in private one.If you are over 65 it is almost impossible to have good insurance here .