1 hour ago, The Fugitive said:

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

 

If they are an active poster on AN ....... that could be a very difficult task for many

6 minutes ago, Cameroni said:

 

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.

I agree - isn't ideal  He should be OK though without insurance. He has 2 million baht in the bank and 30k income with a house that is paid and no major bills.  I hope he enjoys his remaining years and lets go of the fear.  What else can he do? Switching to a marriage visa gives him 1.6 million for emergencies.  Not ideal but I really think he'll be fine.

3 hours ago, KannikaP said:

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. 

 

some people think the "combination method"   is 10k  in their bank account ........ and 10k in an envelope  !

1 hour ago, newbee2022 said:

No deductables. Go for a quotation online: WRLIFE 

OK, I looked into them but decided to go with AXA with a  100k deductible. It is extremely inexpensive at around 14k for 4 mil coverage  annually ( 58 yo in good health). I would be comfortable with a 300k deductible but at the low price of 14k I didn't see the point.  

On 9/20/2025 at 10:10 AM, Canoodler said:

As a side note, I have though about returning back to the UK or the Philippians to try and get my British state pension un frozen, but at my age ( 75 ) and the cost / effort involved , seemed not worth it.

You said your state pension has been frozen for 20 years. So it is approximately 320 GPB every 4 weeks.

 

Current state pension is 920 GBP every 4 weeks. That could increase your monthly income by around  25,500 THB.

 

I think you should seriously consider a return to the UK, or relocation to Philippines for a while. I'm sure I read on here that someone got permanently uprated after a 3 month stay in the UK. Worth a look.

2 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

No deductables. Go for a quotation online: WRLIFE 

That is the insurer that I previously mentioned...  

1 hour ago, Cameroni said:

having insurance is the ideal solution.

 

Having insurance that pays out when needed, is the ideal solution. Just think of all that money flushed down the toilet when they refuse to, as is so often the case. 

 

Invest in real estate or other, liquidate easily if medical costs are needed, stop flushing half one's pi$$poor income down the toilet with insurance. 🙂

2 hours ago, The Fugitive said:

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.

Its not an incorrect opinion its fact. Whats your point.  I never said there wasn't corruption by some imm officers,  agents and bank staff. what I said is accurate about complyng with regulations.

 

Every imm office isn't corrupt and that window is getting smaller. I follow the regs and have had no problem filing correctly but then I have the money to be here properly. You do whatever you want but when you play stupid games you win stupid prizes.

 

Have a great day we are done discussing this issue

29 minutes ago, simon43 said:

That is the insurer that I previously mentioned...  

Good choice

1 hour ago, atpeace said:

OK, I looked into them but decided to go with AXA with a  100k deductible. It is extremely inexpensive at around 14k for 4 mil coverage  annually ( 58 yo in good health). I would be comfortable with a 300k deductible but at the low price of 14k I didn't see the point.  

100k deductable? Wow. But if it's ok for you?

56 minutes ago, chickenslegs said:

You said your state pension has been frozen for 20 years. So it is approximately 320 GPB every 4 weeks.

 

Current state pension is 920 GBP every 4 weeks. That could increase your monthly income by around  25,500 THB.

 

I think you should seriously consider a return to the UK, or relocation to Philippines for a while. I'm sure I read on here that someone got permanently uprated after a 3 month stay in the UK. Worth a look.

 

It has gone through my mind about temporally returning back to the Uk , to try and get back into the system and get my British state pension un frozen , or trying my luck in the Philippines . Sadly with returning back to the Uk , I have no living family relatives, and all my past friends have either immigrated to another country , or have passed away. So locating cheap accommodation for how long it may take to get my British state pension un frozen , may be very expensive . 

 

There has been some excellent comments and advice about my current situation , but no matter what route I take , be it to terminate my Cigna Health insurance , and some how rely on my never increasing Thai bank saving account, to be there should I need urgent inpatient medical treatment ,

 

Or change my current retirement visa to a married to a Thai spouse visa ( giving me 400,000.00 Thai Baht extra ) to utilize, and then use the discount payment options from Cigna , and then carry on paying the Cigna health insurance monthly payments , which are both unnerving and stressful options.  
  

2 hours 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

You are one that being ignorant and now trying to get out of your original claims.

 

I have and already converted to monthly deposits quite a while ago. I said that so maybe, learn to read. 

 

But you never answer the question I present about what the regs say.   You have a great day as your circular argument is done. 

1 hour 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.  

 

 

Your statements have nothing to do about using an agent or the difficulties that can come up as your doing the renewals yourself.  

19 minutes ago, Packer said:

 

Having insurance that pays out when needed, is the ideal solution. Just think of all that money flushed down the toilet when they refuse to, as is so often the case. 

 

Invest in real estate or other, liquidate easily if medical costs are needed, stop flushing half one's pi$$poor income down the toilet with insurance. 🙂

 

That is an issue of course, can always happen. You have to trust that your medical issue is clear cut and the insurer hasn't carved it out.

 

I hate insurance companies as much as the next guy, but I've also benefitted greatly from having insurance. So if at all possible, the OP should see if he can pay for a cheaper insurance, Genki come to mind.

 

However, if he can't and has to self insure, well, he has to roll the dice I guess.

 

Real estates does not liquidate easily, here again share investments are preferable. But stocks and index funds generally vastly outperform real estate.

 

But yeah, that CIGNA insurance is indeed pouring your money down the toilet. CIGNA are way too expensive.

2 hours ago, The Fugitive said:

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

I don't need your advice as I am friends with the imm officers here in NST. 

3 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

100k deductable? Wow. But if it's ok for you?

100k baht and I'm not a worried. The 1-4 million baht worries me and that is why I have insurance.  Hope it pays out if I need it 🙂

6 minutes ago, Dan O said:

Your statements have nothing to do about using an agent or the difficulties that can come up as your doing the renewals yourself.  

OK, I think you are confusing me with someone else 🙂 I don't think I stated they had anything to do with an agent.

2 minutes ago, atpeace said:

100k baht and I'm not a worried. The 1-4 million baht worries me and that is why I have insurance.  Hope it pays out if I need it 🙂

🙏

On 9/20/2025 at 11:21 AM, Lacessit said:

MO the OP should ditch the insurance immediately. The financial stress is not worth it.

 

The stress might lead to a debilitating illness, sooner than anything else, in fact.

 

On 9/20/2025 at 1:24 PM, simon43 said:

I have no idea if they would pay out if I made a claim

 

So...

For you....

Paying for health insurance is sort of like...

Buying a Lottery ticket every month?

 

On 9/20/2025 at 3:59 PM, BritManToo said:

Don't bother with tests, at 75 you're gonna die soon,

 

I completely agree.

Testing is a waste of time and money UNLESS you are trying to diagnose the cause of some sudden-onset symptom.

 

If one is taking vitamin D3, or trying to monitor the blood-level of some medication, then a test is warranted.

 

However, just for the mindless routine of a blood test every month, every half-year, or whatever, is MINDLESS, in my view, and completely ILLOGICAL.

 

Instead, one should put the resources toward a better diet and exercise....more cost effective approach.

 

On 9/21/2025 at 7:30 AM, henryford1958 said:

This is what these vultures want, for you to pay while you are healthly then price you out as you get older.

 

Yes.

Vultures, for sure.

 

The main reason he is reluctant to cancel now is due to his feeling of loss over what he has already paid to the vultures, during the past 10 years, month after month after month.

Perhaps the best way is to stay here as long as possible.

Then, IF a major health emergency arises, pay the airfare to return to the UK and get treated by the government.

 

How much can modern medicine, even super expensive modern medicine, prolong the life of one who is 75?

Probably not by much.

 

Modern medicine, these days, have become outrageously overpriced.

By how much have medical costs risen in Thailand, during the past five years, for example?

 

There is no good solution when healthcare is so expensive.

  

5 minutes ago, GammaGlobulin said:

The main reason he is reluctant to cancel now is due to his feeling of loss over what he has already paid to the vultures, during the past 10 years, month after month after month.

 

 

https://www.behavioraleconomics.com/resources/mini-encyclopedia-of-be/sunk-cost-fallacy/

28 minutes ago, Oliver Holzerfilled said:

 

https://www.behavioraleconomics.com/resources/mini-encyclopedia-of-be/sunk-cost-fallacy/

 

I think you actually meant this, in addition:

 

Status Quo Bias...

 

In addition to Sunk Cost Fallacy you already mentioned.

 

 

On 9/20/2025 at 10:10 AM, Canoodler said:

So I now find my self is a worrying and stressful situation where my private health insurance monthly cost has just increased to a point where its now becoming a financial burden thats making me think about terminating my private health insurance policy .

 

I’m a 75 years old retired expat who has lived permanently in Thailand for 20 years and has a wonderful Thai wife and no children .

 

So this is my current situation .........

 

I receive a British state pension and a small private pension amounting to a total of 30,000.00 Baht a month. The British state pension has been frozen for 20 years. I have no other income .

I have a Thai bank savings account balance of just over 2 Million Baht.

My private health insurance monthly payment has just increased to 18,500 Baht a month.

I have had my private health insurance ( with a company called Cigna / inpatient only ) for over 10 years and I have never made a claim .

Due to my financial situation we live a quite and simple village life in the house I had built 20 years ago.

My Thai wife is disabled so not able to work.

For my visa situation, I use the retirement option extended every year , and need to have 800,00.00 Thai Baht in my Thai bank account.

Personally I am in good health , and have never had a serious illness or had to be admitted to hospital as an inpatient .

The recent private health insurance cost increase to 18,500 Baht a month ( 222,000,00 Baht a year ) is causing a very stressful and worrying situation , to the point where now I’m considering terminating my private health insurance .

 
Monthly total income ( pension payments ) = 30,000.00 Baht , minus – 18,500 Baht private pension payment leaves a monthly balance of 11,500.00 Baht. So as you can see the monthly amount I’m left with after paying the private health monthly payment , is very small .

 

Currently I am having to withdraw money from my Thai bank savings account every month to make up any shortfall and we try to keep our spending to the minimum. 

 

Taking into consideration my poor current financial situation , I can think of no other option but to terminate my private health insurance , and just keep my fingers firmly crossed that should I need hospital medical inpatient treatment , the treatment cost involved would not empty my Thai bank savings account balance.  

 

If I did terminate my current private health insurance policy , that would leave me in the position of having 30,000.00 Baht income every month , which I’m sure we could live on without too many problems, or having to use money from my Thai bank savings account .

 

As a side note, I have though about returning back to the UK or the Philippians to try and get my British state pension un frozen, but at my age ( 75 ) and the cost / effort involved , seemed not worth it.

 

 So any thoughts or constructive advice on my above situation would be very welcome .

 

.
 

 

Hi mate, 

 

I am sorrt what you are going through mate. 

 

I am 33 years old. I am disgusted how insurance is treating you guys so badly. I know that they will do the same with me in the future. 

 

Here are some of my suggestions that can help you mate: 

1.  start a bz without any costs. You can use the funds from bz to pay for the cigna premium. Like you can start a youtube channel and attract an audience as an example, Find used products and sell for a higher price as another example. 

2. Find ways to cut expenses so like beer, fast food etc 

3. Do not get rid of cigna insurance as if you try another one, the new insurance company might not take you on or cover your preexisting conditions. Just put a high deductible on cigna and try to tell cigna " Hi, I have been a long time customer of yours, please give me a discount for being a loyal customer" 

4. talk to a financial advisor in the UK and ask him what are some investment options  out there that can help you earn money and discuss your financial situation. I told my advisor that insurance will be expensive in the future and I might have to self insure so I asked him for an investment vehicle that can replace private insurance.  He told me to put it all in one etf and withdraw money from that when I get old.  Check with yours 

 

 

 

I hope it helps man. 

 

 

 

 

8 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

 

Yes.

Vultures, for sure.

 

The main reason he is reluctant to cancel now is due to his feeling of loss over what he has already paid to the vultures, during the past 10 years, month after month after month.

Perhaps the best way is to stay here as long as possible.

Then, IF a major health emergency arises, pay the airfare to return to the UK and get treated by the government.

 

How much can modern medicine, even super expensive modern medicine, prolong the life of one who is 75?

Probably not by much.

 

Modern medicine, these days, have become outrageously overpriced.

By how much have medical costs risen in Thailand, during the past five years, for example?

 

There is no good solution when healthcare is so expensive.

  

 

I agree GG. Many Brits think that the great British NHS can solve all your health problems and you will live forever. Once you are over 75 you are basically finished and at best medical intervention can ease your pain or extend your life for a while. Spending millions on health insurance is useless. One farang i know got cancer at 77.  He smoked and was in bad health. He had good insurance and must have spent millions on treatment, chemo, ICU the works. He was dead within a year.  Far better to accept your fate and give those millions to your loved ones.

11 hours ago, chickenslegs said:

You said your state pension has been frozen for 20 years. So it is approximately 320 GPB every 4 weeks.

 

Current state pension is 920 GBP every 4 weeks. That could increase your monthly income by around  25,500 THB.

 

I think you should seriously consider a return to the UK, or relocation to Philippines for a while. I'm sure I read on here that someone got permanently uprated after a 3 month stay in the UK. Worth a look.

But do not tell DWP that you are coming back to Thailand.

11 hours ago, atpeace said:

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.  

I am not insulting you by calling you a liar, but cannot understand how you and your IO can bypass the rules about the deposit in the bank going below the required figure, and your IO does not require 12 month statements and letters of possession of said accounts, copies of your Bank book, updated on the day you apply as most member IOs do.

I am far from being an angry person with attitude problems. What makes you think that.

3 hours ago, global expat said:

Hi mate, 

 

I am sorrt what you are going through mate. 

 

I am 33 years old. I am disgusted how insurance is treating you guys so badly. I know that they will do the same with me in the future. 

 

Here are some of my suggestions that can help you mate: 

1.  start a bz without any costs. You can use the funds from bz to pay for the cigna premium. Like you can start a youtube channel and attract an audience as an example, Find used products and sell for a higher price as another example. 

2. Find ways to cut expenses so like beer, fast food etc 

3. Do not get rid of cigna insurance as if you try another one, the new insurance company might not take you on or cover your preexisting conditions. Just put a high deductible on cigna and try to tell cigna " Hi, I have been a long time customer of yours, please give me a discount for being a loyal customer" 

4. talk to a financial advisor in the UK and ask him what are some investment options  out there that can help you earn money and discuss your financial situation. I told my advisor that insurance will be expensive in the future and I might have to self insure so I asked him for an investment vehicle that can replace private insurance.  He told me to put it all in one etf and withdraw money from that when I get old.  Check with yours 

 

 

 

I hope it helps man. 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for your comment, It has gone through my mind about the possibility of trying to generate some sort of income that would help my poor financial situation . My Thai wife of 20 years knows our situation and she is trying to think of ways that we could make some extra money. Personally Ive tried to think of ways to generate some income, but so far any thing Ive found , looks a bit too risky , where I could loose what little savings I have .

 

We have both had to cut back on our spending , and forgo many things that we once enjoyed and looked forward to. While out shopping we tend to only purchase items that have a reduced price tag, or near the end of their sell by date. Ive also stopped buying any foreign food or drinks , due to them being too expensive. Ive stopped drinking alcohol , again to cut back our spending. We take no holiday trips or leave our house , because us doing that only ends up having to spend more money. 

 

My savings are deposited in a Bangkok Bank account which offers virtually no interest , and trying to find a better solution to earn more interest, may be a too risky task .

My financial situation is some thing thats constantly playing on my mind , to a point where now I’m having a great deal of problems managing to get to sleep at night .    

 

 

 

This is certainly something to be aware of if considering changing insurers:

 

https://www.insuranceinasia.com/wrlife-health-insurer-investigated-uk-thai-asean-authorities/