We are not Thai citizens. We are visitors. Why should we expect to be treated for free?

39 minutes ago, thayroopthai said:

We are not Thai citizens. We are visitors. Why should we expect to be treated for free?

Do Thais even get free treatment?

I dropped Part B soon after arriving here permanently in 2010 after being a one month millionaire for years and mistakenly marrying and buying house, for her in 2008. At 100+% disabled the VA/FMP covers most of my medical and all related to my service connected disabilities with the exception of meds not on the "approved" list. I did fly back to the states for immediate cancer surgery at Minneapolis VA Hospital. A cancer hospital without rival in the VA system. Btw, Medicare Advantage is a scam and should be done away with asap. My 8 month stay in the states was 8 months too long except a reunion in Chama, NM with old friends, once "outlaws" now the upstanding citizens of the Chama/TA area...lol. I had been considered an "outlaw" long before become a LEO. Nice to spend time with son and family. That's it, barring an unknown unknown I will not return to the dictatorship now known as Amerika. I have no need for Medicare in any form.

I don't plan to return to the US on a permanent basis so I didn't sign up for Part B. Maintaining hospitalization coverage with April International and paying outpatient costs out-of-pocket.

In all of the numerous responses to this question, I did not see anything about the connection between MEDICARE Part B and TRICARE for Life, so I will respond about that and my experience of being retired, now, and living in Northeast Thailand for about 8 years. 

Another factor to add is that my Bride of 57 years holds both Thai and U.S. citizenship, so the cost of MEDICARE Part B, currently $202.90 USD per month for each of us, is doubled to $405.80 per month.

I am retired from the U.S. Air Force after a 28-year career, and I am also retired from the Civil Service working for the Department of Defense for another 24 years.  My Bride worked for the Air Force Exchange Service for a total of 25 years before she took an early retirement to take care of my mother in hospice care.

Each of us pay the $202.90 for MEDICARE Part B deducted from our monthly Social Security checks.  That covers medical care in the U.S., and it also covers TRICARE for Life, the medical care insurance for military retirees and their dependents.  Here is the part that is vital for us living in Thailand:

No, we cannot use MEDICARE for medical services provided in Thailand.  However, we CAN claim any medical care or services through TRICARE, which covers up to 80-percent of all covered care.  The claim process is completely online through their website, and takes about 2-3 weeks for our bank in the U.S. to receive payment.

As others have mentioned, the cost of most routine medical care in Thailand if incredibly inexpensive, particularly when compared to medical care in the U.S.  We go to a local clinic about 5.5 kilometers from our home for most routine care.  That clinic is open three times a day: 0700-0830, 1200-1300, and 1700-2000 daily, and is staffed by a local family of doctors and nurses who also work at the local government hospital. 

We time our visits by scheduling our arrival at their clinic for just before they open, so we are the first patients they see.  From the time we check in for patient screening, to the time we are seen by a doctor, to the time we pick up our medication and leave, it is typically less than 30-minutes, and typically costs us between ฿200 and ฿500 Thai baht, including the medication.  For most of that care, we do not even submit a claim through TRICARE, since it is so little.

We have also used both government and private hospitals here.  For example, we recently went to the Suddhavej (Teaching) Hospital, part of Maha Sarakham University, to get complete eye exams for each of us that included tests for glaucoma, standard vision tests, and a peripheral vision exam.  We were walk-in patients without a prior appointment, so the process took about 3-1/2 hours, including receiving documentation in English, and the total cost for each of us was only ฿550 baht.

A few years ago, at the end of the whole COVID-19 pandemic thing, my Bride decided while we were in Roi-et to stop by Chureevetch (Private) Hospital as a walk-in and ask them for a variety of tests:

Female physical exams including PAP test, mammogram, chest X-ray, EKG, urinalysis, blood work-up, and doctor analysis, followed by upper and lower GI physical exam tests including colonoscopy, endoscopy, COVID RT-PCR (Rapid) test, medication, and doctor analysis. 

After spending the day doing the first series of tests, my Bride was admitted into the hospital for the night to take the medication that completely clears the GI track, and then have the rest of the tests done the next morning.  By midday the following day after the one night in the hospital, plus meals for both her and me, the total invoice came to ฿35,000 ($1,075 USD), of which TRICARE paid $830 USD (฿26,975).  We had to cover a deductible and a co-pay fee adding up to about 20-percent of the total bill.

We have also traveled to the U.S. a couple of times, during which we have had a variety of annual tests, vaccines, etc., done that MEDICARE covered completely.  So we are not upset at all paying a total of $405.80 for MEDICARE Part B each month that also covers TRICARE.

8 hours ago, DFPhuket said:

I keep Part B and think of it as insurance in the broadest sense.

I have international coverage here, but I still travel back to the U.S. a couple of times a year for a few weeks at a time. More importantly, none of us knows what life will throw our way. I don’t plan to live in the U.S., but if I ever had to return, whether due to a serious illness or a change in circumstances, I’m covered.

At around $200 a month, it’s not a financial burden for me, so I’m comfortable keeping that safety net in place.

Best case, I never need it. Worst case, it’s there when I do. I look at it like home insurance - you hope you never use it, but you’re glad you have it if you have a fire.

There seems to be a rule that if you have been living abroad, that when going back to live in the US you are ineligible for Medicare until you have been resident in the US for 5 years. Is that true?

5 hours ago, KhunLA said:

I just calculated my penalty, for sign up, think I'll give that a pass. For those thinking about it: https://medicaresmartguide.com/calculators?calculator=partb

For me, 5 years coverage, from now, without increases would be:

$31k+ = 1M THB ... no thanks, if I'm reading it correctly, and not

$362.78 + $527.68 monthly, which would really be nuts.

It appears that you’re not reading it correctly. I expect that the exact numbers will be different now as they are basing their calculations on the 2023 base premium.

Given the post above on personal circumstances, this is mine:

Key Exemptions to Part B Penalty

You are exempt from the Part B penalty if you meet the following conditions (among others):

International Volunteers/Foreign Service: You were volunteering in a foreign country or working for a foreign government when you turned 65.

NB and maintain insurance coverage

7 hours ago, Gecko123 said:

medical problems I would most likely encounter would most likely have to be addressed on an urgent or time-sensitive basis, thus effectively stripping away the option of returning home in order to access medical care anyway.

Watching how no one lets the ambulances through, I feel I would be lucky to make it to the local hospital. It is about an 1 1/2 hr trip on a good day from here.

Anyway, I let part B go 10 years ago. I have enough savings for most things, and being near 80, willing to accept what I can't afford.

44 minutes ago, Airalee said:

It appears that you’re not reading it correctly. I expect that the exact numbers will be different now as they are basing their calculations on the 2023 base premium.

Don't think 2023 premium will make that much difference, if using 264 months / 22 years. Still a silly amount, and only good for elective surgery. I am 71, so far, pretty healthy.

I think I could have a major bypass surgery here, at govt hosp. for less than 5 yrs of premiums.

My neighbor is 60 and retired from U.S. military he says when he turns 65 he has to join Medicare Part B in order to keep his Tricare for Life medical plan(80% coverage). He says Part B will probably be close to $300 a month in 2030.

Having lived outside the USA since 1979, I know nothing about any sort of government-based medical support.

I don't expect nothing.

I will probably get nothing.

Besides, I am fit as a fiddle.

What would I use medicare for, anyway.

As Bush senior once stated:

Just roll me under the table.

On 3/25/2026 at 10:57 AM, Sheryl said:

Some Advantage policies cover emergency treatment abroad. BUT this assumes it is a temporary visit abroad. You normally need to be permanently living not just in US but in the specific plan area. Usually at least 6 months out of 12.

If actually living abroad and this comes out, it will invalidate the policy. They could even come after you for prior pay outs.

So this is usually a viable alternative only for part timers.

Possible there are some special emplyment related group policies which differ.

Yes, policies vary. At the time it was a BC/BS Seniors Medicare Advantage policy and the policy stated they would pay up to $5000.00 usd for out of country costs. Payment was processed through BC/BS Global. Now policy provider has changed to Humana in Kentucky so I have sent the inquiry as to coverage. We will see. I am anticipated cancelling Medicare Part B and attempting to get the ability to apply the earned retirement monthly premium so that I can apply it to coverage for only here in Thailand.

off topic political posts removed.

21 hours ago, placnx said:

There seems to be a rule that if you have been living abroad, that when going back to live in the US you are ineligible for Medicare until you have been resident in the US for 5 years. Is that true?

Completely untrue.

You are eligible for Medicare even while still living overseas. You cannot use it in an overseas facility, but you can live overseas and enroll in Medicare, and also use Medicare during visits to the US. As I do every single year.

Possibly you are thinking of a different country? For example there are some rules about NHS eligibility for Brits living abroad.

16 hours ago, Furioso said:

My neighbor is 60 and retired from U.S. military he says when he turns 65 he has to join Medicare Part B in order to keep his Tricare for Life medical plan(80% coverage). He says Part B will probably be close to $300 a month in 2030.

That is correct. At 65 Medicare becomes your primary insurance and Tricare becomes your secondary.

Tricare for Life requires that you have Medicare Part B, regardless of whether you live overseas with no intention of returning.

TRICARE is the U.S. military HMO. TRICARE For Life is the retired U.S. military program. If you want to keep your TRICARE For Life then you must pay Part B MEDICARE. This is deducted monthly from your Social Security benefit.

You pretty much have to pay up and get the Plan B even though you won't be able to use it in Thailand. Can't use Plan A in Thailand either. However, in the event you have to return to the USA you will then have access to both Plan A&B if you stay enrolled in both.

A few notes about whether to continue Medicare Part B after 65:

I did not move here as a permanent expat until November 2020 (in the middle of Covid), my wife moved here as a returning Thai national and naturalized U.S. citizen in November 2019. At that time our HMO (Kaiser in Northern California) was over $1,000 per month. We both dropped Kaiser when relocating, but before that I had my second spinal fusion operation in fifteen years - my Medicare co-pay was less than $100 (for a walker?).

Today I maintain my Part B as backup insurance and my 're-insurance' policy to back up my travel insurance when visiting and to insure that no matter what shape I am in I can obtain immediate Medicare Advantage coverage (if I enroll within the the first 30-days). As I am in my mid-70s if my wife passed away I would return to the U.S. rather than attempt to live by myself here (substantial income and the Roth IRA that I was intending to pass on to my wife after my death, so I would probably relocate somewhere on the West Coast where I am most at home. Only if I become unable (stroke/Alzheimer's) to return would I drop my Part B (and Long Term Care Insurance) and make arrangements here for end of life.

If you have a U.S. residence you can sign up for the lowest cost Medicare Supplement (Medi-Gap) that allows immediate care anywhere in the U.S. upon return. At 65 there are no pre-existing exclusion, so if you have recurring back or knew or heart conditions you are covered.

https://www.medicare.gov/medigap-supplemental-insurance-plans/#/m/?year=2026&lang=en

Medicare Advantage (most PPOs and HMOs) will drop you if you are out of their service area for more than 6-months.

If you are planning to live in both the U.S. and Thailand this link will get you started in your search for a plan - avoid 'sponsored' links in Google.

https://www.medicare.gov/plan-compare/#/?year=2026&lang=en

Signing up for Medicare Advantage upon return is guaranteed, but Medi-Gap is possible, but subject to underwriting so you would need to see what the back office says before you sign up as the premium, deductibles, and exclusions may make Medicare Advantage preferrable.