45 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

 

You are self insured?

It does take a fair amount of discipline to stay healthy, which most people don't have.

You can't be in the bars drinking every day. Daily alcohol alone will cause problems.

 

 

 

Just like with anything ........ the older it gets the more careful and diligent one must be regarding taking care. 

I did plenty of traveling,  and some drinking........ 

but over 60 i became more and more conscious of what to do and what not to do .  Learned a lot by reading and observing .    And almost totally relying on diet changes and natural remedies ... that work !      I am not on PPI's , statins, blood pressure drugs, etc etc that are overly prescribed and very often harmful .

 

47 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

You are full of BS, are you aware Immigration fully understand the documents provided by agents and their source? and the same person usually signs them off? maybe you are new in Thailand

Nope I am correct. If an agent provides the funds and gets your stamp for you then they pull their money out, they dont leave it in your account for the full year.

At renewal you can not provide proof of funds meeting the requirement  without using an agent again. This is because the requirements state that the funds remain in your account at the correct levels throughout the year, which did not happen.

 

Please explain how you are meeting the Imm requirements by using an agent for funds. I'll wait here to see your answer. As for imm knowing about agents and what they are doing, yes because some of them are in on the payment scheme with agents to falsify the documents and stamping. 

 

Ok go, explain how your meet the Imm requirements for financials

On 9/21/2025 at 6:28 PM, Sheryl said:

 

If my math is correct, the 2000 pound deductible will pay for itself if you average less than 1 claim each 4 years. Seems worth it, the higher deductibles, at your age, not. 

 

And the 10% savings by paying annually is also surely worth it.  Looks to me like you'd save at least 3K a month with those 2 measures, which, if you have been living on just 11K a month, would surely be a help.

 

I would also definitely change to extension on grounds of retirement, freeing up another 400 k. in savings. 

 

You seem to be thinking that you must either keep paying the premiums out of your monthly income, or pay it entirely from your savings, but surely the most sensible course would be a mixture of both. Figure out what you can reasonably live on, put the rest aside towards your annual insurance premium and make up the difference out of savings. If for example you can live on an average of 20k a month, then put 10k aside each month for 120k annually, and take the rest (about   another 60k if my math is right) from your savings each year, which at that point will be 2.4 million (400k saved by doing marriage rather than retirement extension).  60k a year from your savings will last a good while, even keeping in mind the need not to dip below 400k for visa purposes, have another 86k or so set aside for your deductible and then some safety margin.  Pick a minimum savings amount number that you are comfortable with , say 1 million, as the point at which to seriously rethink things.  That will still be  about more than 15  years hence. You may not even be alive then (aged 90 !), if you are, odds are that you will have had reason to be glad of the insurance in the interval and that will alter your thinking on this enormously. You are putting too much stock on past experience rather than what not only may, but almost surely does,  lie ahead.   Your state of health up to age 75, and your state of health from 75 onward, very, very different matters even in best case scenario.

 

The other option of course is to spend the full 30k each month, drop the insurance, and live knowing your savings (even the amount needed for visa purposes) could be wiped out at any time. Some people do exactly that, just assuming it just won't happen or deciding nto to worry until it does.  But someone who is fretting as much as you are now over this, doesn't seem like that sort of person. 

 

The other thing to consider is how you will feel about having to use only government hospitals for anything not very minor, with the 6 AM queueing, long waits, red tape,  crowds, care provided by medical students/interns  etc. etc. Bothers some people more than others.  Makes a difference to outcomes more in some situations than others. 

 

For me personally, the assurrance of being able to get the best available care, provided by experienced specialists of my choosing, and not having to worry about money when already stressed with a major illness or accident, is worth quite  lot.  I have had the experience of being at least as healthy as you are only to have a sudden major accident  (unpreventable by me) leading to over 600k in hospital bills.  And then to develop spinal problems (age related so actually long in the making but I had no idea, you don't until it reaches a certain tipping point and then the pain suddenly strikes) -- another close to 1 million in bills (2 separate surgeries - fully successful, I'm now fully active and pain free) etc. So I know firsthand that "past performance is not an indication of future returns".  And I have had a close friend who suddenly needed major cardiac surgery, the wait list at government hospitals was 6 months and he would nto have lived that long. 1.4 million bill at private hospital (with ultimately excellent outcome).  He, too, had "never been sick".  It happens and the older you are, the more likely it is to happen.

 

And in my years on this board, I have also seen a lot of foreigners having to repatriate  because medical bills wiped out their savings.  Not a good scenario. 

 

Sheryl , thanks for your comprehensive reply 

 

I emailed the Cigna representative and asked them to confirm the discount amounts available , this was their reply

 

Thanks for getting back to me.

 

If you were to pay quarterly the price would be £1228.89 per quarter. ( 3 months ) approximately 52,900.00 Thai Baht and the approximate monthly payment would work out to 17,650 Baht a month.

 

And if you were to pay the premium in one go annually it would be £4560.81 , approximately 196,307.00 Thai Baht and the approximate monthly payment would work out to 16,366 Baht a month .

 

The new monthly payment without any discounts would be  £422.27 , approximately 18,500.00 Thai Baht .

 

I also had a look at whats involved in changing my current retirement visa into a married to a Thai spouse visa ( freeing up 400,000.00 Baht ) . Doing that visa change seem a real pain in the backside .

 

 

 

The Cigna monthly amounts are taken from my Thai bank and are subject to any currency  fluctuations ( £ / ฿ ) .

 

On 9/21/2025 at 5:26 PM, Sheryl said:

it may cover to age 90 but I doubt it can be newly issued at OP's age of 75.

There are other insurances where you can attend at any age with fixed premiums.

I told you this now several times. Please remember.

On 9/20/2025 at 10:51 AM, NoDisplayName said:

believe not possible to use combined monthly pension income + bank deposit for your extension financials.

I use the Combination Method ie 400k in the bank and 35k per month via Wise. Some IOs say they will not accept it, but it is in the rule book...as long as it adds up to over 800k, then it is OK. 

16 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

There are other insurances where you can attend at any age with fixed premiums.

I told you this now several times. Please remember.

Yes, but what would a 75 or over ex-pat be quoted for such insurance...a ridiculous amount.

As others have suggested, put the premiums you pay into a bank, in your wife's name, so that when you do pop the old clogs, there is no probate malarkey. 

I use the nearest Government Hospital, and had Gall bladder out last year for Bht 40k all in. 

 

For 76 yo (I'm 58 and pay 14k) with 100k deductible.  72k annually and renewable until 99yo.  Big company that has been around for a long time.  I stayed in 3 hospital for about a month in 2015 and they paid everything.  I didn't have a deductible.  Pain in the butt applying if you are upfront and honest.  They will ask endless questions about prior hospital stays and whatever at your age which will be frustrating but worth the hassle IMO.

 

Public hospitals are very inexpensive and like many have stated, ditching the insurance is better than trying to live here on 12k a month after paying for your Cigna  insurance.  You have 2 million baht and odds of you using more than 500k at a public hospital is slim.  It could happen but not worth living in extreme poverty and depleting your available options each year as you become poorer.

3 hours ago, Dan O said:

Nope I am correct. If an agent provides the funds and gets your stamp for you then they pull their money out, they dont leave it in your account for the full year.

At renewal you can not provide proof of funds meeting the requirement  without using an agent again. This is because the requirements state that the funds remain in your account at the correct levels throughout the year, which did not happen.

 

Please explain how you are meeting the Imm requirements by using an agent for funds. I'll wait here to see your answer. As for imm knowing about agents and what they are doing, yes because some of them are in on the payment scheme with agents to falsify the documents and stamping. 

 

Ok go, explain how your meet the Imm requirements for financials

You are obviously new in Thailand, certainly here, lots of threads about this, look them up

1 minute ago, scubascuba3 said:

You are obviously new in Thailand, certainly here, lots of threads about this, look them up

Nope  been here quite a long time.  you read the regs and explain how using an agent to provide funds and a stamp for a fee and then tell me how it legally meets the regs.  After that tell me how you can then renew a permission of stay the next year and meet the regs yourself and not an agent again?  You cant because its not possible.  Nice try at deflecting because you cant back up your claims. 

4 hours ago, rumak said:

 

Just like with anything ........ the older it gets the more careful and diligent one must be regarding taking care. 

I did plenty of traveling,  and some drinking........ 

but over 60 i became more and more conscious of what to do and what not to do .  Learned a lot by reading and observing .    And almost totally relying on diet changes and natural remedies ... that work !      I am not on PPI's , statins, blood pressure drugs, etc etc that are overly prescribed and very often harmful .

 

That takes discipline and the danger isn't immediate which lessens the odds of ditching bad habits.  99% of expats here let their health slide and many could have a heart attack tomorrow.

36 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Yes, but what would a 75 or over ex-pat be quoted for such insurance...a ridiculous amount.

As others have suggested, put the premiums you pay into a bank, in your wife's name, so that when you do pop the old clogs, there is no probate malarkey. 

I use the nearest Government Hospital, and had Gall bladder out last year for Bht 40k all in. 

I'm 78, member since 4 years and pay 295 Euro/month, 3 mill cover, NO rising premiums.

So, it would be appr similar premium.

1 minute ago, Dan O said:

Nope  been here quite a long time.  you read the regs and explain how using an agent to provide funds and a stamp for a fee and then tell me how it legally meets the regs.  After that tell me how you can then renew a permission of stay the next year and meet the regs yourself and not an agent again?  You cant because its not possible.  Nice try at deflecting because you cant back up your claims. 

I here this all the time but am never asked by IO to verify I met the balance requirements with the exception of the last 2 months.  I never worry about the requirements until 2 months before getting my extension. Been on a retirement visa for 5 years and applied in three different provinces.  Maybe, I've just been lucky.

4 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

I'm 78, member since 4 years and pay 295 Euro/month, 3 mill cover, NO rising premiums.

So, it would be appr similar premium.

That's not bad. Provider and deductible?

16 minutes ago, atpeace said:

That takes discipline and the danger isn't immediate which lessens the odds of ditching bad habits.  99% of expats here let their health slide and many could have a heart attack tomorrow.

 

everything depends on the individual .    ask any motorcycle .

41 minutes ago, atpeace said:

I here this all the time but am never asked by IO to verify I met the balance requirements with the exception of the last 2 months.  I never worry about the requirements until 2 months before getting my extension. Been on a retirement visa for 5 years and applied in three different provinces.  Maybe, I've just been lucky.

You certainly have. There are guys on here who have been refused Extension because their money in the bank dropped 1000 below the 800000 for just one day.

Normally one must get Bank statements to show that the balance never went below the required amount. Which three IOs did not check that regarding your lucky renewals?

1 hour ago, atpeace said:

That's not bad. Provider and deductible?

No deductables. Go for a quotation online: WRLIFE 

15 hours ago, atpeace said:

 

 

Error.

 

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, atpeace said:

I here this all the time but am never asked by IO to verify I met the balance requirements with the exception of the last 2 months.  I never worry about the requirements until 2 months before getting my extension. Been on a retirement visa for 5 years and applied in three different provinces.  Maybe, I've just been lucky.

You have to provide a bank statement and acct verification letter and\or bank book so imm doesn't need to ask you as its on the statements and bank book.

 

Your comment about not worrying except the 2 months before is exactly what I am saying. If you use an agent they pay a fee to an imm officer to get a stamp and there is no statements provided to you for that stamp or any docs at the end of thevyear for you to use for renewal.

 

If you try to do it yourself the following year after using an agent you cant prove either 12 month or 2 months prior short of starting to put money in an acct at the right amounts starting at the permission date on the stamp for the year before.  There are tons on posts about changing away from a agent and the advice is always leave the country and start over because you can't prove your money compliance 

15 hours ago, Dan O said:

tell me how you can then renew a permission of stay the next year and meet the regs yourself and not an agent again?  You cant because its not possible.

Again, that's your incorrect opinion. It isn't based on practical experience. First time I applied for a retirement extension by myself my IO looked at my last extension saying; 'Ah! Chon Buri. How much did you pay your visa agent? I told her and she replied; 'if you wish to do this with us we can do it for less'. I declined on that occasion but, nevertheless, she approved my extension. I took her up on her other offer of VIP service which includes appointments via her Line app, thus no queuing, no form filling or photocopies (she does both) or questions. Basically, I jump the queue, sit on chair for a desk cam photo and she gets the chief to sign me off immediately. You could try being pleasant and listen to what they suggest. Mutually beneficial in my experience.

5 minutes ago, Dan O said:

There are tons on posts about changing away from a agent and the advice is always leave the country and start over because you can't prove your money compliance 

So naive, you can do the financials for 12-13 months prior to switching from agent to immigration, do some better research

14 hours ago, Dan O said:

the advice is always leave the country and start over because you can't prove your money compliance

Alternatively, speak in a friendly and respectful manner to your immigration officer.

1 hour ago, KannikaP said:

You certainly have. There are guys on here who have been refused Extension because their money in the bank dropped 1000 below the 800000 for just one day.

Normally one must get Bank statements to show that the balance never went below the required amount. Which three IOs did not check that regarding your lucky renewals?

I certainly have not.  Ubon, Chiang Mai, and Jomtien.  The last two were a while back.  As for the 800k, I assume I would also be denied if it dropped below 800k for a day in the prior 2 months before applying but have never let that happen.

1 hour ago, newbee2022 said:

No deductables. Go for a quotation online: WRLIFE 

But read the posts on that company first.

On 9/20/2025 at 5:20 AM, Packer said:

Ditch it straight away. 

 

Keep 800,000 in the bank for the visa

Invest the 1.2 million left over. Perhaps a condo in a nearby city to rent out, or investment account paying monthly or annually. 

 

5% return on the 1.2 million is 5,000 per month, added to your 30,000 pension. Giving you 35,000 per month.

 

Make the 1.2 million investment easy enough to turn to cash and that will be your insurance should you need it before passing away. 

 

 

 

This is absolutely terrible advice.

 

First of all, investing in a Condo has been shown to be a vastly inferior investment compared to investing in an index linked fund. That's the first point. If you invest, then in shares, not real estate. Shares trump real estate every time.

 

Secondly, as Sheryl pointed out, having insurance is the ideal solution. Self-insurance is only for those who really can't afford insurance or are so rich that they can pay heart surgery easily.

 

CIGNA are well known to be among the most expensive insurers. The obvious option here is to insurce with an insurer compliant with visa requirements for an absolute minimum and then opt for one of the good new insurance companies like Genki or Safety wing, who do resident  options. But that will still be expensive.

 

This is a typical situation where it may be too late to remedy the issue. At that advanced age, well over 70, if there were an inability to insure due to monthly premiums there should have been a fund set aside for self insurance around the 2 million baht figure. Which now, for the OP is not realistic to achieve.

59 minutes ago, Dan O said:

You have to provide a bank statement and acct verification letter and\or bank book so imm doesn't need to ask you as its on the statements and bank book.

 

Your comment about not worrying except the 2 months before is exactly what I am saying. If you use an agent they pay a fee to an imm officer to get a stamp and there is no statements provided to you for that stamp or any docs at the end of thevyear for you to use for renewal.

 

If you try to do it yourself the following year after using an agent you cant prove either 12 month or 2 months prior short of starting to put money in an acct at the right amounts starting at the permission date on the stamp for the year before.  There are tons on posts about changing away from a agent and the advice is always leave the country and start over because you can't prove your money compliance 

My bank book never contains more than the last few months because there isn't a Bangkok Bank near me.  I usually update the day that I apply and it only goes back 2-3 months.  Transactions prior to that will not be printed in the book.  A few years back my Bank Book only showed 45 days of historical transactions and I was told to get  the  missing 15 days statement from the bank. No request for 12 months of statements.  

 

 

10 minutes ago, atpeace said:

I certainly have not.  Ubon, Chiang Mai, and Jomtien.  The last two were a while back.  As for the 800k, I assume I would also be denied if it dropped below 800k for a day in the prior 2 months before applying but have never let that happen.

Maybe, I've just been lucky.

15 minutes ago, atpeace said:

My bank book never contains more than the last few months because there isn't a Bangkok Bank near me.  I usually update the day that I apply and it only goes back 2-3 months.  Transactions prior to that will not be printed in the book.  A few years back my Bank Book only showed 45 days of historical transactions and I was told to get  the  missing 15 days statement from the bank. No request for 12 months of statements.  

 

 

You must be the only one then, or has anyone else had the same experience?

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

So naive, you can do the financials for 12-13 months prior to switching from agent to immigration, do some better research

 

6 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

 

 

 

Secondly, as Sheryl pointed out, having insurance is the ideal solution. Self-insurance is only for those who really can't afford insurance or are so rich that they can pay heart surgery easily.

 

 

But he can't afford it. He is on a 30k budget and and his policy is 18k per month.  He definitely could find much cheaper options than Cigna as I have but still going to around 8k with around a 100k deductible.  

 

It is what it is and if I were him, I would get a plan with a 300k deductible and 3-4 million in coverage for around 5-7k baht a month.  He can now live his simple life and have a good insurance policy for real emergencies.  

Just now, atpeace said:

 

But he can't afford it. He is on a 30k budget and and his policy is 18k per month.  He definitely could find much cheaper options than Cigna as I have but still going to around 8k with around a 100k deductible.  

 

It is what it is and if I were him, I would get a plan with a 300k deductible and 3-4 million in coverage for around 5-7k baht a month.  He can now live his simple life and have a good insurance policy for real emergencies.  

 

That's what I'm saying. It may be too late, because at his age he cannot increase his income. Obviously he would have to look for much cheaper insurance than CIGNA. But even the cheapest on the market, Genki or Safety Wing with their resident options, would be too expensive most likely. If he can't afford that, then he's really down to rolling the dice and self-insure. Which is not ideal, obviously.

1 minute ago, KannikaP said:

Maybe, I've just been lucky.

You must be the only one then, or has anyone else had the same experience?

No, I'm not the only one and I'm sure it happens all the time.  Maybe you just have an attitude problem?  You definitely have been insulting with me.  basically calling me a liar just because it isn't what you have experienced. Honestly, you come across as an angry person.  Chill - I'm just passing along my experiences with immigration.  

34 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

But read the posts on that company first.

You can read many posts. If it would be bad you would read here negative comments every day.

Do you? No!

So what?