Living in one of the big 4 Isan cities. You are right - I will be on medications and ongoing treatments for life - and it will be far too costly to keep paying what they charge me here. I was already taking medications for an ongoing issue that will cost 10% of what I pay here, plus all the things I will be taking (and tests etc.) will be massively lower in costs. Not only are public hospitals free in Aust but medications are heavily subsidised (for Pensioners). I have been to the local Thai hospitals in Isan (family members) and I was not at all impressed. The truth is that Thais are extremely tough people and they recover quickly (or go home and die). They have immunities and a constitution that leaves us Expats for dead - they rarely get sick until late in life. The Thai Govt system is made for them and it is extremely over-loaded and busy. I had always anticipated that I would remain be healthy (that existing issue is with the skin) until about 75-80 - and about then we would go back - but life always interferes with our plans Taxation in Thailand is an unknown - but it is only a worry - perhaps it will be all good - I hope so, for everyone's sake and the blokes I know who are staying here (although a few have gone to Vietnam). What I am suggesting though, is that Expats take a look at what they will do if Thailand does not make the income and earnings received overseas by Expats exempt from being taxed here. The quality and costs of medical services is the main reason but the tax is also a posiitve. Plus I am EXTREMELY happy that I will never again have to deal with the Thai Immigration Police and all their BS. We will be coming back to visit the family etc. but I will never again have to deal with that 90 day reporting and annual extensions and address changes and the bank lock downs and all the constant changes and new stupid rules. How Thailand treats me is an absolute disgrace, when compared to how Australia treats my Thai wife, or how I would have been treated in Philippines, Malaysia or Indonesia (Bali) if I had chosen there to retire all those years ago. I will miss the ordinary Thai people - overall they are wonderful people - who IMO are being exploited by the wealthy Thainese families that run this country.
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