1 hour ago, The Fugitive said:

Suggesting the OP could ' lose his permission to stay' by using a visa agent to satisfy financial requirements is hardly addressing his issues. Who has been deported for doing so?

What I said is accurate. Where did I say anyone get deported?

What I said is If you use an agent and then try to go by yourself in the following year without creating financials for the entire year you will have no documents to show financial compliance and not be able to renew. You have to leave and start over. Pretty simple but I guess too complicated for you to understand. I've explained it several times so go back and read or read the regs.  Your time on this issue is up with me, good bye

GPT: 

8️⃣Will my State Pension increase if I move back to the UK?

 

.

GPT-4o mini

Yes, your State Pension can increase if you move back to the UK, but there are specific conditions that apply.

Key Points to Consider

Eligibility for State Pension Increase

• If you have been living abroad and are receiving your State Pension, it may not have increased while you were outside the UK, depending on the country you were living in.
• Upon returning to the UK, your State Pension will be reviewed, and you may be eligible for an increase based on the current UK rates.

Factors Affecting Your Pension

• Country of Residence: If you were living in a country that does not have a reciprocal agreement with the UK, your pension may not have increased while you were away.
• Years of National Insurance Contributions: The amount you receive is also based on how many qualifying years of National Insurance contributions you have made.

Steps to Take

• Contact the UK Pension Service to inform them of your return and to check your eligibility for any increases.
• Ensure that your National Insurance record is up to date, as this will affect your pension amount.

If you have specific details about your situation, such as how long you've been abroad or where you were living, I can provide more tailored information.

8️⃣Will my State Pension increase if I move back to the UK and how long to live in UK then?

 

.

GPT-4o mini

Your State Pension can indeed increase if you move back to the UK, but the duration of your residence in the UK will play a significant role in determining how much it increases.

Key Considerations for State Pension Increase

Eligibility for Increase

• Returning to the UK: If you have been living abroad and are receiving your State Pension, it may not have increased while you were outside the UK, depending on the country you were living in.
• Reassessment: Upon returning to the UK, your State Pension will be reassessed, and you may be eligible for an increase based on the current UK rates.

Duration of Residence

• Minimum Requirement: There is no specific minimum period you must live in the UK to receive an increase in your State Pension. However, the longer you reside in the UK, the more likely you are to benefit from any future increases.
• Impact of National Insurance Contributions: To maximize your State Pension, you should ensure that you have a sufficient number of qualifying years of National Insurance contributions. If you return to the UK and continue to make contributions, this can further enhance your pension.

Steps to Take

• Contact the UK Pension Service: Inform them of your return and inquire about your eligibility for any increases.
• Update Your National Insurance Record: Ensure that your contributions are up to date, as this will directly affect your pension amount.

 

 

Mind the words MAY, CAN, so a shot in the dark.

Maybe a letter to https://rossnaylor.com/frozen-state-pension/ ?

No idea if he wants to be paid or what. But you can have a try on it?!

Also came to this on that site, but not sure what is meant by it.

 

 Bringing it to Thailand, would be now the best, as the Thai government changed rules again.

If im right no tax . 

 

3 hours ago, xtrnuno41 said:

Which visum do you have?

CAnt find it, mentioned by you.

As I understood there are 2 types of visa, NON O and a NON OA, could be working.

One without insurance and the other one with in demand.

Obvious you cant have the one then with insurance, NON OA, if you stop. IF you have NON OA.

If you have this one and you stop, you need to change NON O. 

Dont get me wrong, I dont know what you have. Just pointing out.

 

Of course you can do NON O married, less money in bank for it. Popping up with 400kbaht, but gone in 2 years time when having the insurance.

Or stop then and keep money separated for emergencies,  emergency account

The amount you pay now and stop, put a 9000 baht/month or less on the emergency account, so you built up.

9000 to have and the other in the pot what ever amount you can afford. 

If your wife may die before you, surely hope she will stay with you long time, you have to go back again on visum NON O retirement. Again stress for changing visum. So worth while? You are growing older and not always everything is looking easy then.

 

Maybe you can also find better conditions or other company and have that insurance.

You can lift your "own risk" and therefor pay less.

You are getting older and paying will rise more and more.

Yeah it is the idea, you stop and then you need it. You cant tell.

But just the idea, same as you play lottery years, never win and it could pay out when you stopped.

However you are living now!  

 

 

 

 

Hi and thanks for your thoughts.

 

I have been continuously using a retirement visa ( Non – O )  for around 10 years. ( 800,000.00 Baht ) .

 

Yes , even if I do change my current retirement visa to a married to a Thai spouse visa , and doing that would then give me an extra 400,000.00 Baht , With the new Cigna monthly payment being 18,500.00 Baht , which is approximately ( 222,000.00 Baht a year ) . That would mean that the extra 400,000.00 Baht , would only help pay the Cigna monthly payments for about Two years .

 

The thorn in my side is that should I terminate my Cigna health insurance policy , I have this nightmare , that a few weeks after terminating my Cigna health insurance policy , I have chest pains and wake up in a hospital ICU and the cost for my treatment amounts to more than I have in my limited Thai bank savings account ( 2 Million Baht ) . 

 

 It feels like a time bomb ticking away .

 

😟

3 hours ago, xtrnuno41 said:

GPT: 

8️⃣Will my State Pension increase if I move back to the UK?

 

.

GPT-4o mini

Yes, your State Pension can increase if you move back to the UK, but there are specific conditions that apply.

Key Points to Consider

Eligibility for State Pension Increase

• If you have been living abroad and are receiving your State Pension, it may not have increased while you were outside the UK, depending on the country you were living in.
• Upon returning to the UK, your State Pension will be reviewed, and you may be eligible for an increase based on the current UK rates.

Factors Affecting Your Pension

• Country of Residence: If you were living in a country that does not have a reciprocal agreement with the UK, your pension may not have increased while you were away.
• Years of National Insurance Contributions: The amount you receive is also based on how many qualifying years of National Insurance contributions you have made.

Steps to Take

• Contact the UK Pension Service to inform them of your return and to check your eligibility for any increases.
• Ensure that your National Insurance record is up to date, as this will affect your pension amount.

If you have specific details about your situation, such as how long you've been abroad or where you were living, I can provide more tailored information.

8️⃣Will my State Pension increase if I move back to the UK and how long to live in UK then?

 

.

GPT-4o mini

Your State Pension can indeed increase if you move back to the UK, but the duration of your residence in the UK will play a significant role in determining how much it increases.

Key Considerations for State Pension Increase

Eligibility for Increase

• Returning to the UK: If you have been living abroad and are receiving your State Pension, it may not have increased while you were outside the UK, depending on the country you were living in.
• Reassessment: Upon returning to the UK, your State Pension will be reassessed, and you may be eligible for an increase based on the current UK rates.

Duration of Residence

• Minimum Requirement: There is no specific minimum period you must live in the UK to receive an increase in your State Pension. However, the longer you reside in the UK, the more likely you are to benefit from any future increases.
• Impact of National Insurance Contributions: To maximize your State Pension, you should ensure that you have a sufficient number of qualifying years of National Insurance contributions. If you return to the UK and continue to make contributions, this can further enhance your pension.

Steps to Take

• Contact the UK Pension Service: Inform them of your return and inquire about your eligibility for any increases.
• Update Your National Insurance Record: Ensure that your contributions are up to date, as this will directly affect your pension amount.

 

 

Mind the words MAY, CAN, so a shot in the dark.

Maybe a letter to https://rossnaylor.com/frozen-state-pension/ ?

No idea if he wants to be paid or what. But you can have a try on it?!

Also came to this on that site, but not sure what is meant by it.

 

 Bringing it to Thailand, would be now the best, as the Thai government changed rules again.

If im right no tax . 

 

 Thanks, I never thought about any tax-free lump sum. I'm now going to see if I can find out more information about that .

7 hours ago, Dan O said:

What I said is If you use an agent and then try to go by yourself in the following year without creating financials for the entire year you will have no documents to show financial compliance and not be able to renew. You have to leave and start over

Already told you that's nonsense, look back, obviously the following year of using an agent you need to get the financials right, what don't you understand about that?

7 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Already told you that's nonsense, look back, obviously the following year of using an agent you need to get the financials right, what don't you understand about that?

I already wrote that, learn to read.

12 hours ago, Canoodler said:

 

Hi and thanks for your thoughts.

 

I have been continuously using a retirement visa ( Non – O )  for around 10 years. ( 800,000.00 Baht ) .

 

Yes , even if I do change my current retirement visa to a married to a Thai spouse visa , and doing that would then give me an extra 400,000.00 Baht , With the new Cigna monthly payment being 18,500.00 Baht , which is approximately ( 222,000.00 Baht a year ) . That would mean that the extra 400,000.00 Baht , would only help pay the Cigna monthly payments for about Two years .

 

The thorn in my side is that should I terminate my Cigna health insurance policy , I have this nightmare , that a few weeks after terminating my Cigna health insurance policy , I have chest pains and wake up in a hospital ICU and the cost for my treatment amounts to more than I have in my limited Thai bank savings account ( 2 Million Baht ) . 

 

 It feels like a time bomb ticking away .

 

😟

 

 

Be decisive. (I would cancel the policy)

 

Forget any nonsense about lump sums on private pensions - that horse has bolted.

 

Forget about investing your money in Pattaya condos.

 

Forget about going back to the UK to get, what would only be, a temporary increase in the state pension.

 

 

Keep your money where it is and then choose to apply for your extension of the basis of retirement, or marriage if you see a need to draw on the 800k (you likely won't as you will be saving 18.5k per month.

 

Remember - if you change the type of extension you need to show that you complied with LAST year's approval ie 800k for 3 months after and not dropping below 400k after that. 

 

 

Sleep easy and enjoy your remaining years.

On 9/24/2025 at 1:00 PM, scubascuba3 said:

On 9/24/2025 at 8:22 AM, Etaoin Shrdlu said:

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

 

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

Well done for finding that 👍 problem is for the customers on this forum ignorance is bliss. @brewsterbudgen

@simon43

@jerrymahoney

@newbee2022 you lot probably aren't concerned by the link above?

So if you go to the above link, it no longer talks about the class action suit but gives this:

 

Direction for Stakeholder Inquiries: WRLife health insurance case 
All stakeholders, including potential plaintiffs and defendants, are hereby directed to submit their inquiries and complaints to the appropriate official bodies based on their respective residency jurisdictions.

 

 For Residents of the Kingdom of Thailand: WRLife customers 
Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB): 

 

The OCPB website is the same place you would go to complain about a defective washing machine and nowhere on that complaint site does it contain the word 'insurance'

55 minutes ago, jerrymahoney said:

So if you go to the above link, it no longer talks about the class action suit but gives this:

 

Direction for Stakeholder Inquiries: WRLife health insurance case 
All stakeholders, including potential plaintiffs and defendants, are hereby directed to submit their inquiries and complaints to the appropriate official bodies based on their respective residency jurisdictions.

 

 For Residents of the Kingdom of Thailand: WRLife customers 
Office of the Consumer Protection Board (OCPB): 

 

The OCPB website is the same place you would go to complain about a defective washing machine and nowhere on that complaint site does it contain the word 'insurance'

 

This highlights the problem of dealing with a company that isn't licensed in the jurisdiction in which one lives or in a jurisdiction that has a developed insurance regulatory system.

 

Can anyone even name the insurance company, and I mean a legitimate insurance company that is licensed as such in the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated, that is the security behind these policies? 

You and others have asked the question 'who is their underwriter' for years now. This is the answer I have given:

 

From Gemini AI:

 

Captive insurers in Nevis can access reinsurance markets directly, purchasing coverage at wholesale rates. This is because captives are essentially insurance companies. 

Captives can purchase reinsurance coverage directly from the global reinsurance market. 

 

33 minutes ago, jerrymahoney said:

You and others have asked the question 'who is their underwriter' for years now. This is the answer I have given:

 

From Gemini AI:

 

Captive insurers in Nevis can access reinsurance markets directly, purchasing coverage at wholesale rates. This is because captives are essentially insurance companies. 

Captives can purchase reinsurance coverage directly from the global reinsurance market. 

 

 

Name the captive insurance company incorporated in Nevis that is the security behind the policies.

17 minutes ago, Etaoin Shrdlu said:

 

Name the captive insurance company incorporated in Nevis that is the security behind the policies.

Lloyd's of London.

 

You and others have been at this for years now -- and it's getting to be a bit weird.

43 minutes ago, jerrymahoney said:

Lloyd's of London.

 

LoL Isn't incorporated in Nevis?

39 minutes ago, jerrymahoney said:

Lloyd's of London.

 

You and others have been at this for years now -- and it's getting to be a bit weird.

 

Lloyds of London isn't incorporated in Nevis and isn't a captive insurer.

 

I haven't seen any credible evidence that Lloyds is involved at all.

 

What is weird is the lack of available information about any bona fide insurer behind these policies.

 

6 minutes ago, Etaoin Shrdlu said:

 

Lloyds of London isn't incorporated in Nevis and isn't a captive insurer.

 

I haven't seen any credible evidence that Lloyds is involved at all.

 

What is weird is the lack of available information about any bona fide insurer behind these policies.

 

This is weird. I've answering these questions from the hit squad for years.

 

That's IT

Not related but maybe a point of interest to some people.  I just put in my first claim with Cigna and was approved quickly. The money was deposited into my USA bank within 24 hours of me filing the claim. I decided to pay cash for the colonoscopy and file the claim for reimbursement. They paid 100%. You have a choice and can get the payment sent to any bank.

12 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

LoL Isn't incorporated in Nevis?

As I wrote above: 

 

Captives (insurers in Nevis) can purchase reinsurance coverage directly from the global reinsurance market. 

 

I only joined this topic because you and the other guy referenced ominously that silly Vietnam website.

4 hours ago, jerrymahoney said:

As I wrote above: 

 

Captives (insurers in Nevis) can purchase reinsurance coverage directly from the global reinsurance market. 

 

I only joined this topic because you and the other guy referenced ominously that silly Vietnam website.

We are just trying to help we know how easily the elderly get scammed 

10 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

We are just trying to help we know how easily the elderly get scammed 

Gee thanks but that Vietnam website is worthless as you would've noticed if actually had read it.

 

But you folks have been at this WrL hunt for longer than Captain Ahab chased Moby Dick:

 

Everybody dies.

 

If over the age of 65 let nature take it's course. Enjoy spending your money on things you enjoy, then when it is your time it is your time. 

 

The stress, worry and paranoia people put themselves through over insurance when they should be enjoying the last few years of their lives is sad to see. 

4 minutes ago, Packer said:

Everybody dies.

 

If over the age of 65 let nature take it's course. Enjoy spending your money on things you enjoy, then when it is your time it is your time. 

 

The stress, worry and paranoia people put themselves through over insurance when they should be enjoying the last few years of their lives is sad to see. 

It's a USA thing. Preventative medicine makes big bucks. People are astounded when I tell them I've yet to have an annual medical at age 69. In the UK we were brought up to only go to a doctor if you are really ill and not getting better.

On 9/23/2025 at 12:59 AM, 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.

 

 

I am not self insured but in the USA I had a very affordable Catastrophic health insurance plan. I was an independent contractor and bought my own insurance through blue cross.   yes it had a high deductible, $10,000 but I didn't care.  I was and am well financed.  I had no chronic issues, no medication needs.  I just wanted insurance against a big cost accident or health issue.  Obama care came along and said catastrophic plans are not good.  My health insurance each subsequent year went from 125 a month to 325 a month to 530 a month and would have been 800 a month the next year.  Luckily I got a direct job that had very reasonable insurance benefits.   Well, let me decide what is good for me or not.  I had zero medical issues and still don't at age 68.. knock on wood.  Now I am on Medicare and it is what it is.  Medicare premiums are based on ones MAGI so now and then my premiums go up and down.

@Canoodler You should look at thai insurance companies like "Thai Life" or "Muang Thai" and many others.

 

For example "Health Fit DD" plan from Thai Life allows new members up to 80 years old to sign up and renewable up to 99 years old. Plans go from 1 to 30 Million baht in coverage. For example 5 million coverage between the ages of 76-80 costs 74289 thb per year with 50000 deductible. (I found a premium table with google: image link)

 

or Muang Thai D Health Plus plan allow new members up to the age of 90 and renewable up to 99 years old. there is a calculator on their website here. It doesn't have a deductable option so it can get expensive the older you get.

 

And there are more options that allows sign ups to the age of 80 (Bangkok Life, KrungThai-AXA, ) and I think FWD allows sign ups to the age of 75. And I think Allianz Ayudyha has some plans too that are available for old people. 

 

Quick tip: Even if an insurance company website has english version check out the Thai version, sometimes it has more plans. And not every plan is availabe at every age.

 

They all will be cheaper than Cigna.

On 9/26/2025 at 12:24 PM, Packer said:

Everybody dies.

 

If over the age of 65 let nature take it's course. Enjoy spending your money on things you enjoy, then when it is your time it is your time. 

 

The stress, worry and paranoia people put themselves through over insurance when they should be enjoying the last few years of their lives is sad to see. 

To die can be a long, slow and painful process. And it can be very expensive as well especially if uninsured,  Something to keep in mind. Otherwise I agree.

On 9/23/2025 at 12:00 PM, hotandsticky said:

 

 

There are too many fingers in that particular pie for anything to seriously change.

One reason there might be a serious change is that the revenue department does not have its fingers sufficiently in that pie.

On 9/24/2025 at 8:22 AM, Etaoin Shrdlu said:

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

 

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

 

On 9/24/2025 at 1:00 PM, scubascuba3 said:

Well done for finding that 👍 problem is for the customers on this forum ignorance is bliss. @brewsterbudgen

@simon43

@jerrymahoney

@newbee2022 you lot probably aren't concerned by the link above?

 

Well, interestingly, if you click on that link now, all you get is the following error message!

 

 

Make of that what you will!!

 

37 minutes ago, OJAS said:

 

 

Well, interestingly, if you click on that link now, all you get is the following error message!

 

 

Make of that what you will!!

 

 

It was probably fake news so they had to remove it.

28 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

 

It was probably fake news so they had to remove it.

Yes, and the phrase 'ignorance is bliss', as posted by one of the two guys above who got all excited about the Vietnam website, probably applies to both of them.

From the deleted website:

1 hour ago, jerrymahoney said:

Yes, and the phrase 'ignorance is bliss', as posted by one of the two guys above who got all excited about the Vietnam website, probably applies to both of them.

Only time will tell, fingers crossed 🤞