Moving to Thailand, any help appreciated!

[synthia]

When I was in a private hospital in Singapore, the nurses and aides apologized if they didn't get to my be within about 30 seconds of my pressing the buzzer. Meds, meals, everything was always on time.

I agree that even in Thailand, it would be better to have insurance than to pay for major expenses out of pocket. For instance, a knee replacement may be a bargain by American standards, but thousands of dollars is still a lot of money. And for people coming from countries with a national health system, your bargain doctor's visit that cost only $30 will seem like a fortune.

[Winkie]

Have lived in Thailand for about 9 years now.

I have my family here with me, and have always had good quality medical insurance. Whilst the cost of the insurance is also not cheap, I am very glad that it is there. Have never yet had a yearly medical expense that came anywhere close to the cost of the insurance, and hope I never will. But I still consider top quality insurance an absolute necessity.

Medivac, I think, is a very useful benefit, as is repatriation of remains (why pass the cost of your death onto others?)

Hospitals in Bangkok are more than First Class, without a doubt. service is excellent, professional, caring and very affordable most of the times. But have you had a medical emergency in a remote location?

Our kids are at school in Bangkok, annually the school trips (5-7 Days, remote location) are always supported by a nursing team and ambulance that travel with them, and a parmedic helicopter service is booked and reserved if needed.

[Ted88888]

Originally Posted by Winkie

Medivac, I think, is a very useful benefit, as is repatriation of remains (why pass the cost of your death onto others?).

It depends on each person's future plans and goals.

For me, I intend to die here and be cremated and chucked out in the Andaman Sea. As does my farang wife of 20-odd years. The very last thing I would want would be to go back to the lousy medical care and bad attitudes of the medical system "back home".

Even if you wish to be buried in your home country you could still be cremated here and sending the package home would be FAR less expensive.

But, I know people have strong ideas about how they want to deal with such things. To each his own.

[synthia]

If you do want med-evac insurance, be sure to check the terms. Most policies will evacuate you to the nearest hospital that the insurance company believes will give you adequate care. In a serious emergency you won't be sent any further than Bangkok. When people who have insurance in nearby countries are med-evaced out, they are sent to Chiang Mai, Bangkok, or Singapore. So if you really want to go home, be sure that's what the insurance provides.

[Nodsmir]

This is mainly for Oddball(Colin) or Wolfmsc, because you two have lived in Thailand for many years now. I am not sure what country you two are from, but if you have a retirement check coming in each month from say the U.S., would you have to still pay taxes and file a tax return with the U.S., or how does that work?

[synthia]

The US taxes its citizens on their world wide income. Not only are you required to file and pay US taxes on income from the US, but you must declare any income you have from any source outside the country and, with some exemptions applied, pay US taxes on that. If you work outside the country, and meet certain criteria, and fill out the appropriate form, you get an exemption for the first $80,000 of earned income. However, I don't think that applies to interest income, or rental income. I could be wrong there, so someone tell me if I've got it wrong.

The point is, there is nowhere in the world you can go and get out of filing and paying taxes on your income.

[leoman20]

tell me more of the trouble you had colin

[wolfmisc]

Originally Posted by Nodsmir

This is mainly for Oddball(Colin) or Wolfmsc, because you two have lived in Thailand for many years now. I am not sure what country you two are from, but if you have a retirement check coming in each month from say the U.S., would you have to still pay taxes and file a tax return with the U.S., or how does that work?

Hi Nodsmir,
I`m a German and my retirement check goes to a bank account in Germany. From there I transfer the money every 3 or 4 months to my Thai account.In Germany you are free of any taxes as a retiree.