Medbelle surveyed 50 countries for its 2019 Medicine Price Index, a comparison survey of 13 medications from heart meds to Viagra, Asthma to Anti-depressants and HIV treatments. The average prices of both the brand compound and their generic versions were included in order to have a complete profile of each medication. Lastly, we normalised the dosage size in order to make the price comparable.The results range from a +306.82 % deviation in the United States, to -93.93% in Thailand, highlighting a disparity in what patients pay for the same medicine across the world. Thailand came top with a figure that its medications were 93.93% cheaper than the world average. Kenya, at 93.76% and Malaysia, 90.80%, were also money-savers. The most expensive countries were
1. USA 306.82% more expensive than average
2. Germany 125.64%
3. UAE 122.03%
4. Italy
5. Denmark
6. Qatar
7. Spain
8. Netherlands
9. Israel
10. Iceland 56.01%

First, let’s talk about Importing Personal meds into Thailand: Several months ago I had some medical items sent from my home country. They were held up at customs. On my first visit to the airport customs office I learned that unless I got a note from my doctor, the items would be considered commercial and I would have to pay a very hefty fee. I met with my doctor and went back to customs a couple of days later. I found that my note from him was not valid. It had to be issued by a public hospital doctor, not private. Fortunately, the customs officer took pity on me and let it go without the fee, provided I understood that I would need to present a correct note the next time. I recently ordered another shipment of the same product, and was worrying a bit, so I made an appointment with a doctor I had been to before, to ask for a letter. Since he has privileges at both RAM and a public hospital, and since I was told he would be unavailable for two weeks at the public hospital, I foolishly made the appointment at RAM, thinking he could give me a note from CM. After waiting for an hour I saw him, and learned that I would have to set up another appointment at CM hospital, and be careful to do it in the public section. Three hours after that I had my paper from the doctor. He told me there would be no charge. Lester Johnson, President, Chiang Mai Expats Club

I’m buying cheap meds in Thailand but my needs are pretty lightweight, so I turned to a friend, Greg Miller, who was injured when deep sea diving for the US Navy, and I asked him about his wonderful collection of meds and if they are really as cheap as people claim.  In response, he wrote me this:

When I moved to Thailand from the US I found that buying meds here is much more relaxed. Medicines that are out of the reach of many in America because of price, or not available at all because the FDA restricts their distribution, are readily available to the public in Thailand. It’s not perfect in Thailand, but it’s a lot better than in the States. Here are 16 tips for buying cheap meds in Thailand that will save you time and money:

1. If you’re coming to Thailand from the US you can save a lot of money by stocking up on your meds here. Jjust make sure you have documents when you return. It is also good to have a small supply of the “contingency drugs”, the medicine you are likely to need as things happen in the future. If you can legally buy the meds you need in the US, you can buy them in Thailand easier and much cheaper than back home.
2. You will usually find both the brand name pharmaceuticals you have in the US (running typically about 10% of the cost in the US) and generic brands (could be as low as 1%). That huge price difference can make a major lifestyle difference for many Americans. Some people even save enough to pay for their trip and holiday.
3. If while you are in Thailand you want to meet with a doctor to check out everything and get a legitimate local prescription, it won’t be a major investment as it is back home. I recently met with an excellent English speaking doctor at one of the leading Chiang Mai hospitals for annual heavy-duty check-up, giving me updated prescriptions for my blood pressure and thyroid ailments after giving a whole bunch of tests, and my charge for the doctor was 250Baht ($8.36 USD). And if you have a prescription already written by a US doctor, it becomes extremely simple for a Thai doctor to write a new prescription here.
4. By doing a little internet search on your US medications, you can get the generic or medical name for what you are taking. You should write these down to take to Thailand because they may not be familiar with the brand name used in the US. Often the big pharmas will have a different brand name for the same product for different marketing regions. In the US where they can reap enormous profit margins, they often will have a unique brand name.
5. To repeat: carrying an actual prescription — whether American or Thai — with you prevents a lot of difficulties if the medicines are discovered crossing national borders.
6. Many travelers recommend only buying medicines in the pharmacies in big private hospitals. While this can certainly be a bit assuring, it should be realized that this is the most expensive place to cheap meds in Thailand (the same as in other countries as well). You will save much more if you make your purchase through independent pharmacies. They are all pretty much licensed and have licensed, educated pharmacists who are much more helpful than US pharmacists in their recommendations. Senior Thai pharmacists usually speak ‘medical English’. Most travelers have the wherewithal and savvy not to buy from street sellers, I assume.
7. If you go to a Thai pharmacy and there is no air conditioning and it looks or smells bad, you may want to just make a U turn. Medicines do lose their potency in high heat. Fortunately, poor quality pharmacies are the minority. You have to be a wise consumer in Thailand (in anything you buy). And when you store meds at home, a good place to store them is in the fridge.
8. Birth control pills are available over the counter in Thailand, starting at a cost of a $1 for a month’s supply. You can buy the same brand as back in the US or a generic.
9. Male enhancement drugs can be much less than back home. Cialis Viagra and Levitra are available with no prescription and you will save money. There are also plenty of fakes from China (so examine the package carefully and don’t buy from street merchants or border markets).
10. There are national generics from India and within Thailand. For instance, the Thai equivalent to Viagra, which is called Sidegra, seems to be just as effective (or better) than Viagra and can be purchased in 100mg versions at a fraction of the cost is the US (less than $1 ea.). On a somewhat related note, condoms in Thailand are cheap but most (American) men complain that they tend to be too small.
11. Many anti-depressants, antibiotics, allergy meds, steroids, Valium and other pharmaceuticals that require an expensive doctor appointment back in the US are available over the counter in Thailand (but not always), so don’t be nervous to ask. If a prescription is required, the pharmacists can usually recommend a medical doctor that can take care of this at a minimal cost.
12. Or just pop into a private clinic or hospital. You can have an appointment quickly and cheaply.
13. There are also many medicines not available at all in the US that you can buy in Thailand. This does not mean that these medicines are bad for you. To introduce a new medicine into the US takes many millions of dollars and years of testing, and many companies in the world do not have the resources and inclination to go through the US process Many Chinese herbal medicines fall into this category.
14. Understand that while medicines are easily and cheaply purchased in Thailand, this does not apply to vitamins and supplements. These are generally imported and taxed heavily, so you will find these to be substantially more expensive than in the US. Whenever we go back to the US we stock up on vitamins to bring back to Thailand.
15. Not all meds in Thailand are cheap. There are several OTC meds easily available in the US that are considerably more expensive in Thailand. Simple pain relievers like Aleve and plain aspirin (which legally requires a prescription in Thailand) are expensive. Benadryl seems to be impossible to find in Thailand, and good ol’ Tums are very difficult to find. You also will not find Cortisone cream in Thailand, but Thai pharmacies have a generic brand of hydrocortisone cream that is very expensive. It seems that those medicines in the US that do not have a strong FDA and AMA control, the pricing and availability in the US is much better.
16. Also medicines that in the US might be construed as recreational by some (as in Cannabis) are strictly forbidden in Thailand and have severe penalties in this country and throughout the region. The Drug War was initiated around the world by the US (thanks largely to Dick Nixon), and while sanity is finally starting to be applied in many places in the US, Thailand and other Asian nations have been extremely slow in easing up on this. It is wise to avoid any connection with these drugs in Southeast Asia.

Videos About Thai Pharmacies and Buying Cheap Meds in Thailand

And, just in case you’re actually sick and need to talk to a Thai pharmacist, here’s a video that teaches you the basic phrases for buying cheap meds in Thailand! (Though most Thai pharmacists speak English).

For most ailments, there’s no need to see a doctor in Thailand so long as you know a good pharmacist and a good Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner. Here’s the best pharmacy for Buying Cheap Meds in Thailand right in in Chiang Mai, where I live. Its owner, the pharmacist, is Khun Mum, and she really knows her meds! She’s also an excellent diagnostician and her prescriptions almost always fix the problem.

Reading on Buying Cheap Meds in Thailand

• CDC Recommends PrEP for Injection Drug Users – AIDS.gov – The study results were released yesterday by the Thai Ministry of Health and CDC. Based on these findings, CDC recommends that PrEP be considered as one of several prevention options for people in the United States at …
• The EU-Thailand FTA: What Fate For Access To Medicines? – Civil society groups in Thailand and Europe have sounded the alarm over these negotiations in the past months. We fear that access to medicines for people living in Thailand will be one of the things traded away. This will …
• Interim Guidance: Preexposure Prophylaxis for the … – The iPrEx study was conducted in Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, Thailand, South Africa, and the United States. Eligible participants were … Participants were seen every 4 weeks for an interview, HIV testing, risk-reduction and PrEP medication adherence counseling, pill count, and dispensing of pills and condoms. Every 3 months, participants …. If HIV positive, order and document results of resistance testing and establish linkage to HIV care. If HIV negative, establish linkage …
• CDC – Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) – Research … – When someone is exposed to HIV through sex or injection drug use, these medicines can work to keep the virus from establishing a permanent infection. When taken consistently, PrEP has been shown to reduce …. Web Site Icon . Antiretroviral prophylaxis for HIV infection in injecting drug users in Bangkok, Thailand (the Bangkok Tenofovir Study): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial · External Web Site Icon . Lancet 2013;381(9883):2083-90.
• The Great Flood of 2011, Thailand: A Firsthand Account – CDC – Blogs – Public Health Matters Blog – The Great Flood of 2011, Thailand: A Firsthand Account – Sharing our stories on preparing for and responding to public health events. … They need to set up their own taskforces and working groups in order to create an effective warning system and coordinate with one another. They should also have their own emergencies supplies on hand. A big thank you to Dr. Wongjindanon for sharing his experience with us and …

If your drugs are from a ‘controlled’ category, then read this post about Bringing Controlled Pharmaceutical Drugs into Thailand VERY carefully!  If you liked ‘Buying Cheap Meds in Thailand’, you’ll like

• Medical Care in Thailand.
• Medical Insurance in Thailand!
• More on health care and medication in Thailand
• More on treating Dengue Fever in Thailand 

The post Buying Cheap Meds In Thailand 16 Tips appeared first on Thai Retirement Helpers: Retiring in Thailand Made Easy.

The US Embassy Bangkok has issued an advisory: Thailand remains one of the most popular retirement destinations in the world. Great culture; great food; great people. And as US citizens age, Thailand also offers access to excellent health care, provided at world-class private hospitals by internationally trained doctors. But you need to be able to afford it. Sadly, we at the Embassy in Bangkok have seen many instances where US citizens discover, too late, that essential, high-quality health care is out of financial reach and their options are limited. As you contemplate your own preparedness, we urge you to plan for a few key expenses: medical treatment, nursing care, and, if necessary, medical evacuation.  

News Flash: The Thai Ministry for Tourism and Sports says plans to make visitors to Thailand take out insurance have been put on the back burner until 2020 or at a “more appropriate time in the future”. Thailand tourism was facing a difficult time at present what with the sluggish world economy, the high value of the baht and the low value of the Yuan. He said that it was better to wait and that changing things now could cause more trouble than it was worth. He said that requiring tourists to have insurance was a “sensitive” matter that could “scare” tourists off at this time. It was clear with Thailand on track to record visitors in excess of 40 million annually this was not a good time to be bringing in new regulations.

Our Concierge service can arrange your insurance for you in advance if you wish. Just email us a copy of the photo page of your passport when you book with us and we’ll send you quotes from every qualified carrier so you can choose the one that best suits you. We can handle pre-existing conditions and you can set your deductible as high as you wish to keep your premiums affordable.

The requirement should not be seen as a “hurdle” to visitors to Thailand, the source said on Monday. Under the proposal, the Office of the Insurance Commission would draft details on insurance policies and insurance distribution channels, including the installation of automatic vending machines at international airports and border checkpoints. The Tourism and Sports Ministry first proposed requiring foreign visitors to have travel insurance last year, explaining it did not have enough staff to supervise the safety and welfare of the growing number of tourists. Hospitals have until now often been left carrying the cost of medical treatment of tourists injured during their stay in Thailand and who have no means to pay their bills. This will actually be a big relief to most people and, if everyone buys it, the price should be only a few dollars. I’ll have more on this as soon as it’s finalized.

If You’re Living Here, Concierge Group Health Insurance in Thailand is probably the best deal around: Providing we can round up enough clients, you’ll get a 20% discount when you join and at each annual renewal. If we get even more members signed up we’ll ask for an even bigger discount and/or request additional benefits. As usual, premiums are calculated by age BUT, providing you join before 75, you’ll be able to keep your coverage indefinitely. You can join at any time of the year because policies are not prorated.

• As with all health insurance policies in Thailand, pre-existing conditions may be excluded, it just depends on your condition, which can easily be determined on a case-by-case basis when you apply.
• There is a medical questionnaire as part of the application where you declare any pre-existing conditions and for this we recommend using our guy to complete the form. Not only does he speak flawless Thai (helpful when your hospital has a question or you’re incapacitated) but he’s a Brit who’s dealt with the British insurer daily since 2006 (helpful if they question your claim!). Drop us a line at the address below and we’ll get you started. Here are details of the coverage of health insurance in Thailand:

Just Need Travel Insurance?

Just click the button and download a complete guide to every insurer! You’ll find one you like! [ddownload id=”6206″ text=”Thailand’s Travel & Medical Insurers”]

Here’s my health insurance in Thailand story

My Thailand medical insurance adventure began when I injured my hand last week doing something stupid. It hurt like crazy and swelled up as though there was a golf ball under my skin.

Hoping that the pain would pass, I prescribed painkillers for myself by going to the nearest pharmacy, pointing to my swollen hand, and miming agony. The pharmacist, like most Thai pharmacists, spoke English and prescribed two medications, one to reduce the swelling and the other to knock out the pain: 12 each of Sumidin and Brustan, for which I paid a total of 120 Bt ($4.00).

They worked well but the hand remained weak and unusable. So I checked in to Chiang Mai University’s Medical Center. The receptionist directed me to the 13th. floor where a charming orthopedic surgeon examined the hand tenderly. “I don’t think it’s broken but let’s take an X-Ray to be certain,” he said and dispatched me with a nurse who took me down 10 floors to Radiology. She chatted charmingly with me all the way down and back. By the time we returned the orthopedic surgeon had my X-Ray up on his monitor (no film). He pointed out some old damage to my cartilage and told me that the wrist would have to be immobilized for 2-4 weeks in a wrist brace. Here’s how it worked out when I went to the desk to pay, 90 minutes after I arrived:

• Drugs 120 Bt. $4.00
3
• Diagnostic X-Rays, 340 Bt. $11.30
• Diagnosis 60 Bt $2.00
• Doctor fee outpatient care 300 Bt. $10.00
• CD-ROM of X-Ray Images No Charge $ 0.00
• TOTAL 820 bt $27.30

Most governments discourage overseas payment of pensions and all refuse to extend medical coverage to their expat citizens. But Thailand’s Swedish expat community is leading the charge to change this. Swedish expats in Hua Hin and Phuket wrote Gabriel Wikström, Swedish Minister for Health, expressing their discontent about Swedish national health insurance not covering health services in Thailand. Svenskar in Udon (Swedes living in Udon) has now followed suit. Udon Thani Swedish expat Sven Arne Hedell said his fellow Swedes are are all retired, all live in Northeast Thailand and have all paid the Swedish SINK-Skatt, a flat 20% income tax (compared to the common 60%) Swedes can apply for if they want to live abroad. It entitles them to Swedish health care – but only in Sweden and only for emergencies. Their idea is to get emergency care coverage extended abroad, on the basis that’s it’s much cheaper for Sweden than, say, a skin cancer patient flying back for treatment in Sweden, as they currently do. The same reasoning goes for expats from the USA, the UK and Australia. Perhaps we should join forces and get our rich country governments to extend their coverage to overseas citizens’ emergencies.? Talk about a win-win.

If you’re interested in the Thailand medical scene and are considering seeking treatment here, watch this (Russian-produced) video about Chiang Mai Ram Hospital. The visuals say it all:

Insurance

Make sure you understand how medical insurance works in the Kingdom by reading this book. In the meantime, if you’re ill or seriously injured and don’t have travel insurance just go to the nearest government hospital. It is the policy of every public hospital to take care of anyone needing medical care – Thais, tourists, expats, migrant workers alike. Public hospitals don’t do house calls, so call 1669 for an ambulance to transport you to hospital. The service is free. If any payment is required for additional services the public hospital staff will inform you. For example, if you call an ambulance and the hospital decides that the call was not an emergency prepare to be charged. Charges are modest and you can pay with a credit card.

Regardless of whether you use a public or private ambulance, provide as much information – your location, address and medical state – as possible so that the staff are ready for you. On our first day with them we take our Concierge clients to their nearest private hospital and get the phone number for their ambulance service, then enter the number in their mobile phone. Then we give them our 24-hour Thai/English emergency service number for good measure.

Accident insurance may be about to become universal – and free – for visitors to Thailand. The Ministry of Public Health has announced that anyone – Thai or foreign – injured in a traffic accident will be afforded medical care in government hospitals henceforth. So far, reports have been mixed: several hospitals have refused to provide care (beyond basic stabilization) to injured farangs because no mechanism has yet been established to reimburse them. The trend is favorable for us expats because the government has made progress towards compulsorily insuring Foreign Visitors to Thailand. This week Thailand’s Minister of Public Health got agreement in principle to require all foreign tourists to buy health insurance before they arrive in the country. As things stand, the Thai government gets stuck with the bill for uninsured visitors who get sick, injured, or die while they’re in the country.

Following the Thai principle of ‘foreigner pays’, this will be addressed by requiring proof of insurance as part of clearing Immigration at all ports of entry. The Thai government, which has a good, free, national insurance program for citizens, will also work with neighboring countries to set up similar schemes. This will allow some form of coverage for migrant workers, too, millions of whom are attracted by Thailand’s booming economy and its 1% unemployment rate. While this development does not immediately affect expatriates, it opens a crack the door to their potential, paid participation in the national insurance program – something that several of us have been advocating for years.

Instant Thailand Travel Insurance Online

You can now buy Thailand Travel Insurance Online. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) worked out a deal with Thailand’s top medical insurers (Muang Thai, Chao Phaya, Siam City and Krungthai Panich Insurance) and now offer “instant travel insurance exclusively for foreign tourists” visiting Thailand. It’s online, convenient, and provides instant coverage. After you make your online payment, the insurance policy arrives in your inbox immediately. Premiums start at 650 Baht and the highest sum insured is 1,000,000 Baht ($33,000 USD). Coverage includes

• accident
• trip cancellation
• loss or damage of baggage/personal belongings
• accommodation fees in case the airport is being closed
• 24-hour emergency assistance by Allianz Global Assistance

Click Here to Buy Thailand Travel Insurance On Line

Click Here to Download the Claim Form

Click Here to Download the Book

Instant Thailand Travel Insurance Coverage

Click here to go to Muang Thai Travel Insurance Site..

Travel Insurance Conditions

• Coverage for each trip shall start when the Insured passes the inbound immigration (ID or Passport check point) and carry on until the Insured leaves the outbound immigration ID or Passport check point) in Thailand.
• 24-hours coverage during the trip
• Person age between 1-70 years is insurable
• No medical examination required
• The choice of individual trip cover plan or annual cover plan is yours.
• Cover up to 60 days any one trip both in individual trip cover plan and annual cover plan.

Medical and Travel Assistance Services

• Pre-trip information such as inoculation, weather, exchange rate.
• Telephone medical advice
• Medical service provider referral
• Emergency medical evacuation/repatriation and/or repatriation of mortal remains
• Guarantee of medical expenses incurred during hospitalization
• Lost of luggage/passport assistance
• Embassy referral

*Service provided by Allianz Global Assistance (AGA) Allianz Global Assistance (Tel. +66 2 342 3255)

Making a Claim

From the policy: A valid insurance policy protects you against a range of possible misfortunes as outlined in your policy wording. If you suffer a claim event during your period of cover, please contact us as soon as possible by calling us on tel:66023423255+66 (0) 2342 3255. If you are hospitalized, please contact us as quickly as possible so that we may approve any medical costs incurred and provide the hospital with a payment guarantee. You must give us any information we ask for to support your claim, such as police reports, valuations, medical reports, original receipts or proof of ownership. We will settle your claims in Thai Baht. The rate of currency exchange that will apply is the rate at the time you incurred the expense. For your convenience and whether possible, we will pay hospital bills directly with the hospital. If you can claim from anyone else, we will only make up the difference. If you can make a claim against someone in relation to a loss or expense covered under your policy and you do not get paid the full amount of your claim, we will make up the difference. You must claim from them first. If you have any queries, please read our Travel Claims FAQs. You may also contact Claims Department at:

• Telephone: +66 (0) 2342 3255
• Facsimile: +66 (0) 2305 8523
• E-mail: claim@allianz-assistance.co.th

Who is Eligible?

You can contact Allianz Insurance  by email: claim@allianz-assistance.co.th or call +66 (0) 2342 3255. They will send you a claim form and advise you of any document required to action your claim and submit it accordingly together with all documents.

What if it’s an emergency?

Contact Allianz Global Assistance and their team will help you with your emergency. These numbers appear on your Certificate of Insurance and also on Allianz’s  Contact Us page.

How do I do if I’m injured overseas and need to evacuate?

You have to notify directly to Allianz Global Assistance, emergency medical assistance service provider, their staff will arrange for emergency medical evacuation or repatriation to your home country.

What kind of documentation is required to process my claim?

You have to notify and send the original documents such as medical receipts, receipts, medical certificate and police’s report. You can find full details in your insurance policy.

Can I buy more than one policy for the same trip?

No, you can only be covered by ONE policy for the same trip.

Video About Medical Insurance in Thailand: The Book

Click Here to Download the Book.

Click here to find out about buying cheap meds in Thailand.

Homeowners’ Insurance in Thailand

Homeowners and renters can purchase this insurance.
Owners will find that a bank only requires them to insure the amount outstanding on the mortgage. Purchasing additional insurance to cover the rest of your house and belongings is worthwhile if you suffer a catastrophic loss.
Even if you rent a house, you are exposing yourself to a risk of loss. If the house is damaged or destroyed. You will have to compensate the owner for his loss.
Fire, windstorm, earthquake, water damage, land slide, bushfire…etc.
Most policies include some burglary cover and additional cover is available.
Electrical injury to appliances.
Personal liability cover against third party claims in your house.

Repairs to burglar’s point of entry.
Allowance for temporary accommodation while your house is being repaired.
Fire insurance alone costs 0.15% premium for the insured value of the house.
Burglary insurance for additional high-value items, costs 1.5% of the sum insured.

Here’s the AXA Insurance site that explains the rates and coverage. And here’s the AIG Insurance site for home coverage..

And if you’d like to read more on the subject (which I strongly recommend) look no further than here:

• THAILAND: Medical travel industry warns of complacency in medical … – Thailand is still the leading global medical tourism destination by numbers but the travel trade is concerned that low prices and high numbers may not be the.
• What is Medical Malpractice | Thailand Law – These are the basic you need to understand about medical malpractice in Thailand. Always speak to a lawyer in Thailand when considering medical malpractice.
• Thailand promote agricultural and medical sector at BIO 2013 … – Thailand has set a target of 3 million medical tourists by the year 2015. Currently, it stands at about 2 million. The annual growth rate of Thailand’s medical sector is 14% with growth in both major surgical procedures and standard medical care.
• Thailand & Medical Tourism | Farang ( ฝรั่ง) In Bangkok – The aforementioned facts can be vividly reflected in the Thailand Medical Hub Export 2012 which recently held in early September. The event depicted the reaffirmation of Thailand and The Ministry of Public Health to show …
• Raising the Standard of Thailand’s Medical Hub | Thailand News – Raising the Standard of Thailand’s Medical Hub. May 11, 2013 · by Areva. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Thursday presided over a meeting to discuss the Medical Hub policy, with an aim to integrate medical services of the Education …
• Thailand Medical Tourism Expects Higher Foreign Patient Turnout … – Thailand medical tourism becomes a choice destination among expats looking to get treatment. It gains a positive impression among foreigners. In addition, the kingdom is said to take advantage of the enforcement come …
• Medical Travel Blog: If You Want to See the Benefits of Medical … – … Sex Reassignment Surgery (1); Singapore Medical Tourism (11); South Korea Medical Tourism (6); Spa Tourism (1); Taiwan Medical Tourism (2); Thailand Medical Tourism (16); Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) (1) …
• LOVELY LITTLE HOSPITAL IN BANGKOK. « Thailand Medical … – About Medical Professional services and standards in Thailand. This is a lovely little hospital and very high standard in Bangkok. Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.
• 12/6/10 Day 1 in Thailand – Road to Nan | CFC Thailand Medical … – This was our first full day in Thailand. 7:00am CFC Team Devotional. We began our day with devotional. 7:30am Breakfast at hotel then check-out. We stayed at Chateau Chiangmae. 8:30am Meet interpreters and board vans …
• Thailand’s Health Care System | Health in Thailand – In our meeting with Dr. Suwat he taught us about Thailand’s health care system. First he went over the structure of the system, specifically the four main levels of care. The bottom level is the primary health care level.

Just need medical care? Click here

The post Health Insurance in Thailand appeared first on Thai Retirement Helpers: Retiring in Thailand Made Easy.

Vern Lovic, Thailand’s snake expert, wrote me this explanation of his new book, Keep Snakes Out!: Probably no other animal that is frequently found in a home scares people as much as snakes! Here in Thailand, we have a serious snake problem. Recently my friend confronted a king cobra climbing his front door. It’s really no joke here…

For ten years I have been answering questions by email, phone, and social media about how to keep snakes out of homes, businesses, schools and nurseries, and out of yards and away from other property.

For years I offered this free service – but finally, as the requests have peaked to around 1,000 per year, I just cannot keep up  any longer with this and keep performing snake rescues at people’s homes. So, I’m writing this book to help me reclaim my life back. This book will help me free up a dozen hours a week or more. I’ll answer your questions about the best things you can do to keep snakes in nature – away from you, your yard, and property. I’ll put everything I know here – and you take it from there.

Here in Thailand we have around 220 snake species. That’s a LOT OF SNAKES that can find their way into homes, yards, schools, vehicles, and tree houses. Start with this book to eliminate as much as possible any means for a snake to get close to your home. Head over to ThailandSnakes.com to read more about snakes in Thailand that you need to avoid. We have a couple of other ebooks – one free – you might want to get a copy of. Stay safe! – Vern

Snakes, like most animals, are emotional creatures. The emotion we humans usually see is anger. It’s the most visible of all species’ emotions and we tend to elicit snakes’ anger by doing stupid things. If you want to see an angry snake, check out the video below. If you humiliate a non-venomous snake – by, for example, using it to frighten people and make them scream – then put the snake back down on the ground, it will often stay there for a long time, clearly displaying its resentment.

Thailand has 200 snake species of which 60 are venomous. There are venomous (not poisonous) snakes everywhere here.  Recently I watched a racer swim across the river then haul herself out of the water onto a lily pad to warm up and dry off. She was beautiful. Thai snakes, like most, are terrified of humans. Thai snakes have a protector and friend: expat Vern Lovic who lives in Southern Thailand – is an interpreter between snakes and humans (that’s Vern’s picture of the beautiful red tailed racer, above) and runs a great Thai snakes website.

It’s just as well snakes have a friend: I have snakes in my front yard. My neighbor has twice had cobras in her outdoor kitchen, one expat told me he has a family of kraits living in his storage shed. Vern adds that vipers love bushes and trees near water and walkways. In other words, there are enough snakes in Thailand that it’s worth learning about them. Vern has made this easy by providing a free guide to Thailand’s snakes. Just click here and download it.

If you’re keen to get to know our local snakes, Vern makes that easy. He’s running a Snakes of Thailand field trip mid-year. To join the field trip, click here. Here’s that video of an angry snake:

https://youtu.be/qn5dEtAzb3E

And here’s a video of a remarkable escape:

https://wp.me/p4lpu0-1twDog escapes from python in Thailand

The post Snakes in Thailand appeared first on Thai Retirement Helpers: Retiring in Thailand Made Easy.

I know about twenty Soi dogs in Thailand (so named because they hang out in alleys, or sois). They’re not well cared for  and, if this story moves you, sign the petition to improve their lives. If you’re in Chiang Mai you can volunteer or adopt a dog from Care for Dogs. They do heroic work caring for lost dogs who need homes.

I walk two miles around my neighborhood at dawn each morning. The streets are quiet and empty except for dogs. Soi dogs in Thailand are an independent lot. As far as they are concerned they have as much right as any Thai to walk or lie on the road and they expect humans – especially drivers – to respect that. Thais generally do, though there are enough limping, three-legged, and even two-legged dogs around to suggest that their rights are not always respected. though they do a fine job of barking at strangers, they have limits. If it is too early in the morning–before 5 am–or late in the evening– after 11 pm–they prefer to sleep. (Thai cats are well aware of this, as are the pigeons who know the cats will vanish when the dogs appear). Thai dogs will not bother you if it is raining, or chase you if the grass might wet their paws, or if it is too hot, or too cold, or if you are accompanied by a dog bigger than them.

Many people are on a budget, and are looking for a cheap dog fence. That is certainly understandable. However when it comes to the well-being of your pets, why take a chance on a cheaply-made product? Most dog owners see their dog as a member of their family. Doesn’t your family member deserves the best dog fence? Why take a risk when it comes to your dog’s health? While considering a fence in general consider the potential negative consequences of using an electric stimulation device on your pet.

People who’ve never gotten to know dogs find Soi dogs in Thailand frightening and I suspect that they’re responsible for most of the negative stories about them. If you like dogs you won’t have a problem with them. They’re more assertive than house dogs, since dogs are territorial animals and the soi is their territory and they have to hustle for scraps every day. Happily, Thais love dogs – though they rarely pet them, which Thai dogs are OK with – and I’ve never seen an emaciated one.

They’re numerous because Thais don’t commonly spay or neuter dogs. One reason that there aren’t too many dogs is a big market for dog meat in northern Vietnam. Dog-catching has been privatized by dog catchers who smuggle thousands of them across the border every month.

Like everything in Thailand, there’s a dog hierarchy, too. At the top are companion dogs: well-groomed, well-fed, often purebreds that are allowed to socialize with street dogs for a few minutes each morning under their owners’ watchful eyes. These are the friendliest dogs I meet each morning. They approach me fearlessly and enjoy being petted and talked to.

Below the companion dogs are guard dogs: serious looking and larger than the companions. They run loose in the yard and, in return for a protected space and regular meals, bark at passersby and, presumably, bite intruders. Below them are ‘gate dogs’ who  have adopted a house, live in the street by the gate as auxiliary guards. They stick so closely to ‘their’ gate that I assume that house owners feed them on a ‘no obligations’ basis. Both householder and dog retain their independence while deriving benefit from the relationship.

Next down are real soi dogs who live entirely in the street. They live in strictly hierarchical packs for mutual protection are most vulnerable to dog catchers since they’ve nowhere to hide. It is these guys who accompany me on my morning walks and whose social arrangements keep me entertained. When I arrive in their alley they congregate around me, apparently simply happy to be acknowledged by a human. At first they all wanted to be petted but, over the months, the novelty of petting has worn off. Now our greetings are largely verbal: warm words from me; yipping and tailwagging from them. Then we set off for a block or two so they can show off their human friend to the guard- and house-dogs. Then, with their status raised, they peel off and start exploring the exciting new smells that the morning brings. They’re as individual as any human and I find their interactions a constant source of interest and amusement.

Below soi dogs are the wretched of the earth: the strays. These poor creatures have neither turf nor a pack to protect them. Something has displaced them and they literally have nowhere to call their own. They slink around, ears pinned back, with anxiously wrinkled brows desperately looking for food and temporary shelter. Packs of soi dogs pursue them and, if they catch them, attack them viciously. Here’s a video I made of my local dog pack. Sometimes they accompany me for a few blocks; sometimes they ignore me:

The Vinegar Cure

The worst dogs I’ve encountered are the racists (surprised?). They ignore Thais but hate foreigners and feel it their patriotic duty to attack them. There’s one guard dog on my morning route and I would walk quietly past his house, enduring his bloodcurdling snarls and barks. One day his gate was left open and he came after me. I escaped unharmed but my morning was ruined. Happily, Thailand is the home of the water pistol. Thais consume more water pistols per capita than any nation on earth because, in Thailand’s climate, they’re fun, s’nuk. After choosing a compact, high capacity weapon (60¢ at the supermarket – always on sale) I loaded it with diluted vinegar. The next morning I heard the same racist threats but I had my equalizer ready. A few squirts (avoiding his eyes) followed by the sound of baffled, indignant whimpering. He seemed as much upset by our switch in status as anything! He was no longer the aggressor and he obviously hated smelling of vinegar which, to his doggy nose, must have been intense.

I repeated the treatment on Soi dogs in Thailand the next morning and that was the end of it. He still barks at me, of course, but his bark lacks conviction. The racist insults and threats of dismemberment have ceased. We encountered each other out in the street last week and, after a few halfhearted barks he backed defiantly into his open gate.

Prevention

1. Let sleeping and eating dogs alone.
2. Don’t approach dogs you don’t know. You’re probably entering their territory and dogs are territorial.
3. Don’t go near dog hangouts at night, like temple grounds, abandoned buildings, building sites, car parks and empty spaces.  Darkness is their friend, not yours.
4. Carry an equalizer. A rape alarm works fine. Umbrellas and pieces of bamboo are fine. Often picking up a rock is enough to discourage them.
5. Don’t run. It excites their hunting instinct. Walk purposefully as you draw yourself up to your full height
6. Fold your arms or raise them slowly above your head. This keeps vulnerable hands away from sharp teeth.
7. Don’t smile or squeal. Your smile resembles aggressive teeth-baring and squealing sounds like a wounded animal. Command them in low, strong tones.
8. Be wary of turning your back on them. Don’t hang about.  Commotions attracts other dogs. Walk on, possibly backwards.

There are tons of Soi dogs in Thailand, but Deputy Dog is a favorite. This golden labrador is a well-known character around Chiang Rai, the beautiful town 5 hours drive north of Chiang Mai. Richard Berry, who combines an idyllic Chiang Rai life with manufacturing the ultra-natural English Organics cosmetics (you can eat them – literally) snapped a few shots with his cellphone.

On a Lighter Note

There are tons of dogs in Thailand, but Deputy Dog is a favorite. This golden labrador is a well-known character around Chiang Rai, the beautiful town 5 hours drive north of Chiang Mai. Richard Berry, who combines an idyllic Chiang Rai life with manufacturing the ultra-natural English Organics cosmetics (you can eat them – literally) snapped a few shots with his cellphone. There’s no story behind this as far as Richard has been able to discover. This is simply how the dog likes to sit while waiting for his master to finish shopping. Here’s how deputy dog looks when he sees his master approaching:

Monks Kindness to Dogs

Thai temples are a traditional refuge for stray and hungry dogs and the monks beg for food for them every morning as they walk the streets, barefoot. Here’s what happens at feeding time:

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I recently asked Nancy Lindley, who has guided several families through the process of obtaining intensive Alzheimer’s care for their relatives here. This was her response:

“I have walked several expats here through the process of terminal Alzheimer’s care for an elder in Thailand. Be warned that this is not easy. Custodial care at home is OK (I’ve known several resident expats who have done exactly what you’re proposing.   Sometimes it works out OK, often it doesn’t) but anything medical runs into the following problems:

1. Cost: at age 65+ it’s impossible to get insurance.
2. Thailand is 50 years behind current, best practices in palliative care.
3. If someone is hospitalized they may have difficulty getting their wishes honored regarding life support and so forth and will definitely have difficulty getting hospice level care at home. The people I have assisted all had to do it themselves. It was not easy and they could not obtain the preferred drugs. Of course on the other hand are the incalculable benefits of someone being with their caring family rather than in an institution.

Cover these four bases before you consider Alzheimers Care in Thailand:

1. Self insure for major medical costs by setting aside 2–5 million baht (preferably closer to 5). Even if they don’t need any extraordinary measures (see below) there are plenty of events that can cause pain and bad quality of life that are treatable but costly.
2. Have a frank discussion with them regarding her wishes in terms of heroic measures/end of life care and if appropriate have her draw up a Thai living will. Get Thai legal assistance because only Thai wills are recognized in Thailand.
3. Shop around for a GP who understands the “living will” concept and is prepared to honor it. This may take some doing; it’s a new idea in Thailand.
4. Avoid having them hospitalized as much as possible and get them discharged as quickly as possible if hospitalization is unavoidable. Even with a living will, you may have trouble getting wishes honored by a hospital. Additionally, the hospital’s Thai speaking environment will be confusing and traumatic for them.

The Basics of Home Alzheimer’s Care in Thailand

It’s Important that you

1. Have a good relationship with your loved one,
2. Both agree that it’s a good idea to come to Thailand, and
3. Have a good Thai connection who is

• top-notch
• well-respected locally: Not necessarily the actual caregiver, but who can
  • recruit,
  • train,  and
  • manage your caregivers.
• comfortable getting around the village and
• able to tell you where to go for help.

4. Have a good local hospital with

• some English-speaking doctors and nurses and
• a doctor who will make house calls
• a good Thai co-ordinator can line up tradesmen.
• Equipment like hoists, walk-in tubs, etc (imported and very expensive).

Thais usually use muscle power in caring for the elderly. If a patient is large, potential caregivers will be reluctant to get involved.

People think you can hire “some little Thai girl” for the same wages as a 7-11 clerk to do this job.  Sorry, that just isn’t the case, not if you want to have peace of mind that the caregiver is going to show up to work on time, we able to communicate with your loved one and be sensitive to her needs.  The average 7-11 clerk type of carer is going to sit around and watch Thai soap operas while your loved one lies in bed all day, without being turned to prevent bedsores, offered water, or given any food beyond what the caregiver fixed herself for lunch.

Here in Chiang Mai we call on a core of ladies we call upon for end-of-life care who typically earn 1000 baht for a 12 hr shift.  That’s 60,000 baht or $2,000/month, for 2 caregivers, and you still have to cover their days off.  Here’s a letter I received from a local expat about their experience with intensive care. It will give you some perspective on our local conditions:

Four years ago my Thai wife and I relocated to Bangkok from the US with our handicapped son (now 12 years old). He is confined to a wheelchair, has a trach and feeding tube, cannot talk, and requires 24 hour attention. The home health care services in the US are quite poor and unreliable, and we have found it much easier here to find and train local people to take care of our son. During the day (7am-7pm) we have a local woman taking care of him — she had no prior healthcare experience and my wife trained her in how to do everything necessary with our son. At night (7pm-7am) we have a group of local nurses and nurse’s aides who rotate in taking care of him. We bought a hoist from Modernform Health & Care, which also sells other medical equipment like hospital beds, wheelchairs, etc. Their website is www.modernformhealthcare.co.th, and phone is 02-722-8033-5. We also bought a Toyota van and installed a wheelchair lift through Siam Nissin, whose website is www.siamnissin.com, telephone 02-454-1340.

Since Lanna Care is busy serving local expats the all-volunteer staff does not have time to respond to enquiries about Alzheimer’s care in Thailand, please use the Contact form on this page to ask any questions about Alzheimer’s – or other intensive care – in Thailand and we’ll do our best to respond. Until then, watch this video about Alzheimer’s care in Thailand. It’s in German but it’s better to ignore the narration and concentrate on the body language: a much more important factor in elder care at Heartwood Seniors..

Alzheimers Care in Bangkok

Gemma Purnell is Bangkok’s leading authority on all expat matters. I asked her to advise Russell, a client, and here’s what she wrote:

Dear Russell,

Your information was passed to me by Godfree Roberts regarding bringing your 90 year old Mother to Thailand.

I will skip over the visa and travel requirements, I expect as a resident of Bangkok that you are aware of these. She would be eligible for a retirement visa providing that she can show 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account or 65,000 THB in monthly income.

You will be able to sign a power of attorney to deal with her affairs including her bank account and her visa, although this is not straight forward and would require a lawyer it can be done.

The best and most economical international health care can be found at Phyathai 2 hospital in Bangkok where the head of the Platinum Suite is well known for her caring approach with elderly foreign patients and speaks English to almost native speaker level.

This would be a sound option for ongoing and inpatient medical care.

For outpatient care in the home, I would recommend hiring a Philippina nurse who I should be able to help you source. However ensuring that the candidates suit your particular needs before hiring them will be your own responsibility.

Philippinas are generally more well versed in western care than Thais and often have a better command of the English language. They will also be more economical to hire and I would expect an experienced live in Philipina nurse to cost you no more 20,000 – 25,000 baht per month.

You may be able to hire a Thai nurse, however finding someone with the suitable language skills, experience in geriatric care and willingness to work outside the benefits of the Thai system would be more difficult.

I hope that I have provided the information that you were looking for and if you have any further questions please don’t hesitate to contact me back at this email address.

Kind Regards,
Gemma

More reading on Alzheimers care in Thailand

• Some Tips for Filing a VA Disability Claim | VAntage Point – But you will need a VA doctor to attest that the condition is service connected or falls under US code 38.1117 and I can say because I have been working on mine since 1992 that they care less what a real doctor has to say. My current ….. As we have an increasingly aging Vet community (if they are that fortunate) that are more likely than not to have service connected dementias and/or Alzheimers; this is very much of a concern to us–the entire Veteran family. Again …
• The War My Parents Never Wanted | VAntage Point – The Alzheimer’s; losing our home; watching my mom struggle without her husband. . .but he just shrugged. I realized reassurance wasn’t what mattered. I leaned over, kissed my dad … Family is healing, and you being around helps make sure he will get good care, that is a proven thing. Love him, and do not blame yourself for decisions you made. I am glad …. May 18, 2011 at 9:09 pm. Oh my god, where did this guy come from? Hey, hope Thailand is treating you well!
• Ohio Department of Aging | Information – When Phyllis was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2007, John became her caregiver until she died in 2013. Still singing, this “Happy Dabbler,” as he refers to himself, is a wonderful … She works with Adult Protective Services, the Youngstown Rescue Mission, Help Hotline Crisis Center, Area Agency on Aging 11, Inc. and home care providers to fill the gaps between available services in the community. She is one of the founding members of the Mahoning Adult Protection …

If you’re interested in helping Alzheimers patients with their diet, why not consider turmeric. Find the details about turmeric’s benefits for Alzheimers here.

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Alzheimers assisted living in Thailand is comparable to what can provide at home and more affordable than a $12,000/month Swiss special care facility, according to one of our clients.

A Swiss gentleman, responsible for his afflicted father, approached us requesting a custom workshop designed to find an Alzheimer’s special care facility in Thailand. Caring for family members with Alzheimer’s is as big a problem for Europeans as it is for Americans: our Swiss client told us that he was facing bills of $12,000/month for his dad. We got his father  settled – in a facility superior to the one in Switzerland – for  $2,600/mo.

The  drawback is Thailand’s distance. If you can deal with this then the choice is clear: Thailand is far less expensive for  both patient and carer. Alzheimers assisted living in Thailand has five advantages:

1. Lower cost
2. Better nursing
3. Better medical care
4. Better cultural environment
5. More humane and cheerful facilities.

Care Costs Less

• Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has pledged to raise the daily minimum wage to Bt300 ($10) per day nationwide. So Alzheimers assisted living in Thailand costs 25% of the USA/UK/Europe/Australia.
• Land is plentiful and construction materials are cheap. Labor costs are low. Thais construct care facilities of extremely high quality yet quite inexpensively.
• Cost of living in Thailand is low for both the patient and carer. You can rent a nice studio apartment nearby for $250/month.

Nursing is Better

In the West patient care standards have fallen as the importance of profits has risen. Today’s harried nurses, working in deliberately understaffed facilities, have little time to devote to the bedside chats that were once an integral part of the caring process. In Thailand, overstaffing is the rule – everywhere. Staff in my favorite riverside coffee shop always outnumber customers. When the girls see me pull into the parking lot they have the WiFi switched on, a cushion on my favorite chair, my music playing, and my daily order (iced organic arabica cafe latte frappe with little ice) waiting on my table with, naturally, something to nibble, and a glass of iced water. The cost, 59 Baht ($1.99), is considered high here, but I refuse to complain. The same is true in Alzheimer’s assisted living facilities: after a recent accident I spent hours in the emergency ward. Four nurses fussed over me, covering my with a (warmed!) blanket as I lay on the gurney, bringing glasses of iced water and stroking my injured leg while chatting in charming, fractured English. They were in no hurry and, after a while, I was in no hurry to leave. The bill? 500 Baht ($17)

Better Medical Care

It seems strange to claim that medical care in Thailand could be better than in the countries where Western medical care originated, but it is. Not because of the physicians’ training – which is often identical, down to attending the same medical schools – but because of time and attitude. Thai physicians do not expect to get rich. They expect to take care of people  for the rest of their lives, and cure them. They devote themselves to that with the single-mindedness we expect in the Orient.

Thai Cultural Environment

Thailand, though officially Buddhist, has a Confucian family- and social-culture which maintains a tradition of genuine respect for older people. The elderly are almost always lovingly cared for within the family by the daughter for as long as possible. The entire family makes great sacrifices to support this home elder care, because not to do so would bring unbearable shame upon them. In Thai care facilities, seniors with Alzheimer are treated with love and dignity because that is how every Thai, without exception, has been brought up to treat older people.

Beautiful Facilities

He left intact the original building shown in the picture above because of its historical value, but the nursing facilities are 21st. century and because a Thai businessperson who constructed an ugly or cheap facility would lose respect (face: ไปแขงกแพ ขายขหนาเปลา ๆ bpai kàeng gôr páe kăai kêe ่้ ้่ nâa bplào-bplào) amongst his peers in Thai society, as would his family. Thais prefer to construct prestigious edifices with graceful colonnades and beautiful plantings, thereby gaining respect amongst their associates. Of course, there is also compelling market pressure to construct attractive facilities: customers prefer them.

General Nursing Home Care

Nursing home care in Thailand costs less than half the rate for Alzheimer’s care: it starts at $1,000/month for a good, professional facility.

If Alzheimer’s assisted living is a consideration for you, watch this short video about choosing care for your family member. It’s from the Alzheimer’s Association of America:

General Readings on Alzheimers Assisted Living

• Everyday Products That Can Contribute To Alzheimer’s Disease … – Jun 10, 2011 · … aluminum, alzheimer’s, assisted living, assisted living facilities, dementia, home care chicago. Comments (0) Trackbacks (0 … Powered by WordPress…
• Home Care for Alzheimer’s and Dementia | Minnesota HomeCare … – Jan 09, 2012 · Notify me of follow-up comments via … alzheimer’s assisted living Brain Injury CDC CMS coding dementia elderly events falls Friday … Powered by …
• DESERT MANOR IN YUCCA VALLEY SPECIALIZES IN … – Jul 01, 2011 · Comments RSS Trackback; Information. Date : July 1, 2011; Categories : Alzheimer’s, Assisted Living, … Powered by WordPress.com …
• Arizona Resource for Families Dealing with Alzheimer’s … – Apr 22, 2011 · Notify me of follow-up comments via email. Calendar. April 2011; M T W T F S S « Mar : May … Powered by WordPress.com %d bloggers like this: …
• The Cost of Alzheimer’s | Assisted Living Advantage – Sep 21, 2010 · Notify me of follow-up comments via email. Calendar. September 2010; M T W T F S S « Aug : Oct … Powered by WordPress.com %d bloggers like this: …

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15-Year-Old Dies in Phuket Vegetarian Festival Shoot-Out.

Shoot-outs between teenagers are part of the landscape in Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya. They’re belong to a very old

tradition and are implicitly tolerated because, despite the mayhem they cause, they help preserve Thailand’s ancient warrior culture. Because Thailand has the best rice-growing land in the world it has been the target of many invasions from larger, envious neighbors over the centuries. In a dangerous environment like ours, you don’t want the boys to become sissies, do you? That’s why Thais generally take a ‘boys will be boys’ attitude to these incidents. Though Thailand’s homicide rate is slightly higher than the USA’s (5.0 vs. 4.5 per thousand citizens), the light touch policing makes for a much more relaxed environment. Police suppression is not nearly as evident in Thailand is it is in most Western countries. That’s one reason I like living here.

This headline is the first I’ve seen that balances Thailand’s pacifist Buddhist culture (the vegetarian festival – Thais love their abundant, exotic veggies) with the old warrior culture. Bravo!

Thailand’s headlines of the week are brought to you courtesy of the ever-inventive Thai people, who don’t like to make the same mistakes twice: they prefer to try new, exotic ones, bless ’em.

https://youtu.be/MQMSuFyTdJk

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David writes: “If you have bank a/c or Govt. approved retirement fund in Australia with a surrender value of at least Bt 800,000 in $A you can get a retirement visa  at the Thai Embassy in Canberra.

I have had a Thai Retirement Visa issued in Aus and have never had a bank account in Thailand and it’s good for 2 years…the 1st year you get a multi-entry retirement visa and you can come and go as often as you like. Each time you return your visa will get a stamped with an extension for a year.

So if you leave Thailand 3rd time or more or less (as I do) and you return the day before the retirement visa expires you will receive at the airport an extension to stay for a further 364 day (yes TIT a year in Thailand is really only 364 days). You cannot get an extension on top of an extension. You will have to apply again in your home country and do it all over again.

You need a real police report, a medical from a doctor and lots of photocopies all signed by a JP or CD, plus in Aus $275 and your passport all sent to the Embassy in your country. In about 10 days you will have your retirement visa all in order.

Ehen you arrive in Thailand YOU CAN JUST GO THROUGH THAI IMMIGRATION …you can also do it using you Aussie pension and evidence that your pension plus money from another pension fund to equal Bt65,000 p/m. I believe this will work OK but it may take over 12 months to prove this is so.

All the details of how to go about this are clearly explained on the Thai Embassy web site under “Retirement Visa”…yes you do not have to have a bank a/c or any money in Thailand to get a Thai Retirement Visa.

If I put the Bt800.000 in a Thai Bank a/c for a limited time to get a retirement visa very little interest is paid (none). The Bt800,000 if left in my retirement fund in Aus with interest and inflation value increases of about 3.5 per year amounts to about Bt80,000 per year. This indicates I would be loosing at least Bt80,000 per year interest on my fund for the year or about Bt1600 per week….you could buy 3 Honda Click second-hand motorbikes in good condition with Bt80,000 by keeping your money at home in your retirement fund. Mayby 4 Hondas?

This method of getting your Thai Retirement Visa in your home county at the Thai Embassy has been available for about 20 years, For me, it has been 7 years. Again, I’ve have never had a bank a/c in Thailand and have only ever obtained my Thai Retirement Visa at the Thai Embassy in Canberra Australia… Oh yes, the Thai Embassy is happy to accept that money in my bank managed or Govt approved retirement fund with a surrender to the value of at least Bt800,000 is treated it the same as money in the bank. You will require an original printout of a statement from that fund (not a photocopy) with the funds official stamp on it (hard to make up with Photoshop)

BTW: If you need health insurance, contact me about our group policy.

My Aussie financial advisor is James Brennan, who works for one of Australia’s oldest financial institutions, AMP. James has lived and worked in eight countries so he knows what he’s talking about. Here are some words of wisdom from James and helpful tips for australians moving to Thailand:

1. Pensions – there is no problem in being paid a pension overseas, and retiring in Thailand from Australia is no exception, but there are plenty of hurdles to cross. So tip one is not just to become familiar with the rules but to get to know the whole way Centrelink works. Who knows, you may be back sooner than you think? Or maybe you will opt for shorter periods of time in and out of Australia in which case becoming familiar with “working life” rules which can reduce your pension without your knowing it. [Note from me: Make sure that your superannuation pension stays tax-free while you are overseas. If you have a self-managed super fund, it will need to be restructured to ensure it remains a complying fund for Australian tax. If your super is with an industry fund or a big retail fund, the pensions you pay from it will be free from Australian tax. You can receive the age pension in Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam or Bali just as you can in Australia. Some 80,000 Australians already receive their age pensions overseas. But there are some tricks to be aware of. For example, you need to be eligible for, and already receiving, the age pension before you relocate].

2. Medicare – periods of over 2 years out of Oz will see you removed from the system. No automatic re-acceptance applies and the same is true of Health and other concessional cards.  [Note from me: Medicare is principally a health system for Australians who live in Australia. Non-residents are theoretically not entitled to Medicare on visits home to Australia but there is some flexibility for temporary absences, usually of up to two years. Once you have lived outside Australia for more than five years there is no flexibility – you are not entitled to Medicare on visits home. Take out an international health insurance policy. It is worth the expense. International health insurance can be expensive, but there are a number of different levels of cover from catastrophe insurance to the gold standard policy and prices vary widely. Tell your insurer the truth about any pre-existing illnesses. Failure to do so can lead to a denial of claims. Check if your proposed insurance company is recognised by major healthcare providers in your new country of residence].

3. Major life transition ahead – this is the time to get your physical, legal and financial health not only checked, but recorded. Medicare allows you to keep medical records online. A will stored with your accountant or lawyer here plus a copy taken with you. It’s not the jurisdictional validity which is the key, it’s that you have thought through the issues which ensure that the right beneficiary gets the right amount at the right time.

4. On a lighter note, street food myths – perhaps it is the prospective euphoria of escaping from our nanny state but the rules of hygiene, food handling, storage, perishability ignore national boundaries. Maybe it’s because everything is so well regulated in food in Australia that our nannied stomachs become even more sensitive to disturbance.

5. Questions? Email James at james.brennan@ampfp.com.au.

A Note About Your Australian Home: Many people rent out their home in Australia then rent property in Thailand. This gives them the option of returning while keeping a foot in the Australian property market. You can rent out your principal residence for up to six years without affecting the tax-free capital gains when you eventually sell.

And Your Oz Taxes: Do your tax planning before you leave Oz. A key factor is whether you’re going to be a resident or non-resident for Australian tax purposes. Enjoy planning to retire to Thailand from Australia.

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