@Brandon ***********

ok thanks. I've made a few calls to BOI number. No one seems to answer. Did you use the telephone number they list? Any time of day that they answered more frequently?

Yes many under contract especially the big quality hospitals like Bumrungrad and Bangkok Hospital.

Just call BCBS to get Guarentee of Benefits GOB where they commit to pay hospital. Or sometimes since the hospital works with BCBS all the time the hospital insurance department will call BCBS for the GOB ...but sometimes they drop the ball.

I usually pay for the initial doctor consultation B1500 on my credit card and submit the claim to BCBS overseas portal. Then if you've got a major medical procedure you can get the scheduled date and call BCBS and/or the hospital insurance department 1-3 weeks ahead of time.

@Tony *********

I did it 2 yrs ago. I would call the local office to confirm they still accept it by mail ...or is there another procedure (maybe form been discontinued).

I would call social security. I kept my US address so I did not use the manila social security office.

I sent the form to my local US social security office. The SS 800# staff says the SS computer shows receiving the form within two weeks, but then, despite calls, they billed me for another six months....when my social security payments started they deducted $1k even though I didn't owe for those months. It's still on appeal two years later. SS is a mess.

3

This Pattaya Expat Club vid presentation on tax planning by Thai tax advisor. .

With higher social security kicking in pretty soon and other income I am looking at the LTR Visa as an option.

Totally different products but what is the total LTR vs Type O Visa fee cost comparison over 10 years?

The LTR Visa saves some time getting bank letters and renewing the Type O visa every year.... and the 90 day report is reduced to once a year from what I understand.

Looking at just the basics..

The LTR Visa fee with multiple entry allowed is 50k baht

If you have a Type O Visa renewed every year costs 1900 baht (plus assume you want the multi-entry options similar to the LTR) so add the 3800 baht multi-entry permit cost and the yearly Type O cost equals 5700 baht per year....or 57k baht over 10 years.

Basic costs:

LTR VISA. 50K

Type O + multi-entry 57k

With the LTR Visa you save only a bit... 7k baht over 10 years. If you invested that 50k baht LTR fee over 10 years you might make up for that 7k extra cost of Type O/multi-entry permit renewals over 10 years

But for a pensioner what are the LTR Visa income tax savings if any?

This is a basic comparison and there might be other cost details I am not aware of. Any other input is welcome.

When I ordered the new 4K Firestick from Lazada I got a US version.

This Lazada Firestick did not have Asia/Thailand-specic apps like Disney Hotstar and HBO Go so we have to cast those Asia apps from phones bought in Thailand and that's a bit of a pain.

Is there a way to Lazada order Firesticks that have the Asia-specific apps?....Or maybe they don't make one.

I even had a Health Insurance agent tell me to self insure for the small stuff.

If you are relatively healthy for your age do that and the type O visa maybe. But for the unexpected future big hospital bills like a heart problem maybe have something to cover for the biggest bills.

There are many approaches and ultimately it depends on your comfort level, bank book balance for emergencies

and your health.