@Paul *******

I understand very well your desire to live in Thailand versus the USA. If you have a 2 bedroom apartment with pool in Thailand you are obviously not on the poverty line. I am in a similar position as a 70 year old here who also has to make a decision to forsake the safety of a free healthcare system to take my chances with a system for which I would have to pay. It's not the 'dying prematurely' bit that worries me. It's having a stroke or heart attack in a foreign country and spending a huge chunk of my capital on hospital and medical care, while having no local personal support. Dying quickly whether prematurely or not would be the preferred outcome.

@Janin *****

Although the AIA one for over 70s has a low premium of slightly more than $2000 a year, the trade off is in the high excess which precludes insurance use for anything other than the most serious health incidents. And of course the problem has to be one that cannot be linked to a known condition.

@Paul *******

I understand your point, but the sort of people unable to afford to live in the states are going to be truly battling if a heart attack or stroke suddenly stikes in Thailand.

@Ed *******

I was quoting what I was told by an insurance broker active online as a poster. Very high excesses are compensated by a low yearly premium of around $US2000. If you find something better please PM.

@Ed *******

Over 70s hardly have the insurance companies lining up for their patronage.

You're a brave man making this move at 74. Can only assume you're in great health for your age to forsake a country with free health insurance for one in which at best a health insurance policy will require an excess minimum of $3000+ and exclude any pre-existing conditions. Good luck to you.

@Michael *************

It's stories like this that dissuade me from using Wise even though I have registered for it. I use bahtsmart from Australia at a slightly lower rate. One transfer review like this would send me into a frenzy.

@Cliff ********

Wouldn't stop me trying to get a refund from the airline. Who cares if you piss that airline off anyway? You'd never try and use it again after this experience. You can't let everyone drive over you in life.

@Frankie-Anthony *********

I just get taxis that are willing to use the meter which is just about everyone. I tip if there is superheavy traffic or flooding.

@Sam ****

I registered for Wise but was turned off using it by the number of comments I read about people having their accounts frozen. I use Bahtsmart for smaller transactions Australia to Thailand. Not as good a rate but the money arrives within an hour and there is no prospect of being locked out of your account. One day I will try Wise when a delay or non arrival of funds is not an issue.