Bangkok Reports

[AssLover945]

Asking for a friend, who has a fetish for these.

He is now based in Bkk and was asking me where to find such sexy costumes.

Pics attached for reference only.

I remember long time back I had wandered off behind a big mall and they had a whole section of shops selling such kinky costumes.

There were like rows and rows of shops with display dolls wrapped up for all to see.

I forget now which place it was.

Can anyone help me with the mall I am talking about?

[Danny Duck]

Not sure why but come to think of it the reason it was on sale and how I got the idea was the former owner did just that! The place will go to my son and maybe to my granddaugther for income.

You got any moderately priced rentals in Nana area. I'm your ideal type of renter. Light luggage and stay 3 or 4 months. Not a drunk or partier and always pay.

[LittleBigMan]

Curious if an ambulance comes to get you on an emergency basis are you allowed to specify which hospital you want them to take you to or are they just going to take you to the nearest hospital? Assuming your emergency is not a life or death situation.

You can find hospital pricing for many Thai hospitals online. I remember checking before I made the decision to move to Thailand.

This year the government made it official that public and private hospitals can charge different prices to foreigners. Not sure about Bangkok but in Pattaya name too long to write it is basically an EMS service majority of them come in a pickup truck. If the injury is serious they can't transport then an ambalance is called. If you can speak you can tell them where to take you several years ago due to a case in Pattaya, an American teacher was riding his motorbike down Beach Road, a truck basically ran him over he was unconscious he wasn't carrying any type of identification. Being farang they took him to Bangkok / Pattaya once there they realized he was in serious condition still unconscious losing a lot of blood they were unable to determine due to no wallet unable to determine if he had insurance or even able to pay so they decided to call Chon Buri Hospital 35 KM down the road government hospital put him in the back of a pickup on the way he died.

It was a huge story a big uproar in the Expat community of course BPH played it down saying they didn't have the blood made excuses a boycott was started not sure what happened but rumor the family sue the hospital since although no wallet he had his cell phone it was determine all they had to do was call one of the contact number and problem solved.

From that incident it was suggested that expat create a credit card copy of their passport and carry it in their possession, place a copy of insurance under their seat motorbike or glove compartment of car basically in case of accident who to contact and where to take them if they are unconscious.

[Banana Boi]

My own go to outfits are Bangkok Christian hospital on Silom or St Louis's on Sathorn, less frills but both are fine hospitals and appreciably cheaper.

Curious if an ambulance comes to get you on an emergency basis are you allowed to specify which hospital you want them to take you to or are they just going to take you to the nearest hospital? Assuming your emergency is not a life or death situation.

You can find hospital pricing for many Thai hospitals online. I remember checking before I made the decision to move to Thailand.

[LittleBigMan]

Did you choose the 8th floor deliberately in anticipation of that moment? 555. If so, maybe realtors can start offering that distinction as an amenity feature.

Not sure why but come to think of it the reason it was on sale and how I got the idea was the former owner did just that! The place will go to my son and maybe to my granddaugther for income.

[Tomasb]

Did you choose the 8th floor deliberately in anticipation of that moment? 555. If so, maybe realtors can start offering that distinction as an amenity feature.

To each his own but sq 70 meter I can and have lived in a 28 sq meter bungalow with a small cooking and sitting area outside, with exercise area and pool with free strong wifi. 70 meters I don't need that much room to get a running start off the balconey if things get bad or tough.

I pick up a Condo in Jomtien nothing fancy 8 stories ten years ago for 800,000 baht made sure it was a end unit did some modification guess it is around 28 Sq like a studio I upgraded some stuff and place it for rent cutting my price by 2000 baht, 5500 a month compare to others in the building but I was looking for a specific renter long term like me travels and lives light. Although it is under my wife name I have a life estate to the property if something happens to her down the road I plan to move in and when it is time and I have a major health problem I'm just going to jump and call it a day.

[Franciscass]

Yes, LittleBig Man. When I had my short twelve hour stay in
Bumrangrad this past January I had a feeling that they were looking for every excuse possible to get me to stay longer. However, my insurance company reimbursed me after I submitted my receipts so think they were just eyeing my credit card to pay for any extras or for a longer stay. Quite rapacious, actually.

As far as rent costs and paying 27k bt for a place. I paid this amount for a 70 meter apt. in central Bangkok but as we all know, it is considerably cheaper to live in Pattaya. From rental costs to mongering, everything is much less in Pattaya.

If your insurance covers you irrespective of cost then availing of the 5 star services of the more expensive hospitals makes sense.

If however there are limits or you are paying yourself Bumrungrad, Samitivej and BNH and some others great hospitals all will cost more.

My own go to outfits are Bangkok Christian hospital on Silom or St Louis's on Sathorn, less frills but both are fine hospitals and appreciably cheaper.

[HorseTrader]

Another question: Do you guys buy travel insurance when you go to Bangkok? Is Bumrumgrad Hospital as costly as US hospitals?

I foolishly bought it one time without really reading the policy. It was sold by my airline as an add-on to my ticket price. About $110 for a 30 day trip. Didn't read the policy until I was half way to Asia, at which time I realized I bought a policy that was clearly a bad deal for me. Since then I don't even read the offers.

[LittleBigMan]

Yes, LittleBig Man. When I had my short twelve hour stay in
Bumrangrad this past January I had a feeling that they were looking for every excuse possible to get me to stay longer. However, my insurance company reimbursed me after I submitted my receipts so think they were just eyeing my credit card to pay for any extras or for a longer stay. Quite rapacious, actually.

As far as rent costs and paying 27k bt for a place. I paid this amount for a 70 meter apt. in central Bangkok but as we all know, it is considerably cheaper to live in Pattaya. From rental costs to mongering, everything is much less in Pattaya.

To each his own but sq 70 meter I can and have lived in a 28 sq meter bungalow with a small cooking and sitting area outside, with exercise area and pool with free strong wifi. 70 meters I don't need that much room to get a running start off the balconey if things get bad or tough.

I pick up a Condo in Jomtien nothing fancy 8 stories ten years ago for 800,000 baht made sure it was a end unit did some modification guess it is around 28 Sq like a studio I upgraded some stuff and place it for rent cutting my price by 2000 baht, 5500 a month compare to others in the building but I was looking for a specific renter long term like me travels and lives light. Although it is under my wife name I have a life estate to the property if something happens to her down the road I plan to move in and when it is time and I have a major health problem I'm just going to jump and call it a day.

[Tomasb]

Yes, LittleBig Man. When I had my short twelve hour stay in
Bumrangrad this past January I had a feeling that they were looking for every excuse possible to get me to stay longer. However, my insurance company reimbursed me after I submitted my receipts so think they were just eyeing my credit card to pay for any extras or for a longer stay. Quite rapacious, actually.

As far as rent costs and paying 27k bt for a place. I paid this amount for a 70 meter apt. in central Bangkok but as we all know, it is considerably cheaper to live in Pattaya. From rental costs to mongering, everything is much less in Pattaya.

[LittleBigMan]

I have lived in 4 different apartments in popular tourist/expat areas of Bangkok over the past 7-8 years requiring an apartment search each time. My most recent move was during normal times about a year ago. I would say a clean, small box type place you referred to, what we called a studio apartment in the USA, very livable, nothing fancy, mostly furnished, in a safe, clean, well managed building with a kitchen, pool, fitness center and located easy walking distance from the red light bars and shops on lower Sukhumvit can be had for 15,000 baht per month, give or take 2,000 baht on either side of that.

I am talking about during normal times.

Add a generous average monthly electric bill with air conditioning in the 2,000 baht range, another couple of thousand baht per month to cover phone charges, internet, soap, deodorant, shampoo, detergent, etc, public transportation minus taxi runs, even annual retirement visa renewal costs.

I am 67, non smoker, no alarming pre existing conditions, generally good health and my monthly premium for 1,000,000 baht hospital in-patient and out-patient health insurance coverage is about 5800 baht. But that coverage exceeds the minimum required amount for my retirement visa. If I reduced it to the minimum required amount my premium would probably be about 4500 baht per month. Pacific Cross, the insurance provider company, states in writing that I can renew my coverage until age 95, after which they will renew on a case by case basis. Future premium costs are unknown to me.

I feel you can treat yourself to a normal amount of western menu food and drink comfortably for 1,000 baht per day on average. But that is western style food and normal drinking only for yourself. If you are picking up the tab for others or lifting a glass or bottle every 30 minutes throughout the day and into the evening it is going to be a lot more than 1,000 baht per day. Cooking breakfast or a quick lunch for yourself in your apartment, eating local Thai fare and so on can reduce the costs considerably.

So, before expenses for pussy and factoring in only comfortable but not lavish or upscale impressive living conditions for yourself, my calculations tell me 55,000 baht per month covers just about everything you need. Barring the unexpected health issue or sudden need to purchase the latest iPhone or 85" flatscreen tv.

Now, assuming your income stream is the minimum required 65,000 baht per month for an O-A Non Immigrant long stay retirement visa, that gives you 10,000 baht per month left over to cover the cost of 10 Short Times with 10 Sukhumvit/Soi 4 street girls or 4 Short Times with 4 Thermae girls or 2 Short Times with 2 go-go girls plus LDs, etc before you'll need to tap into additional income for your fun and pleasure.

I'm not trying to criticize or suggest other live in quarters like a box I guess I'm just out of touch with prices in Bangkok guess I'm spoil with the prices in Pattaya. Not being cheap or out of my budget if that is what I want to spend but 27,000 baht just glares at me?

I don't eat a lot of western meals basically at the start of the morning two cups of black coffee fuels most of my day. When alone I can get pretty much by on 5 baht of rice, 40 baht of steam vegetable, a grava green apply and top that off with a ice cream bar. My budget for GoGo is pretty much unlimited although I rarely partake just like to enjoy the view and relax at night.

When it comes to insurance from my experience it is one of the biggest rip off! When I first came here at 55 years old I purchased a 1. 5 million policy with an Expat club of course their biggest thing is " Pre-existing conditions " I had none but I noticed the policy went up 4 thousand a year told to get out since I was in good health and never use it since Expats in groups use it a lot reason the premium jumps so much. Through the years I been with companies like LMG, Bubba, CSV, AXA, all the fine print is pretty much the same " pre-exiting " policies ranging from 1 million to 1. 5 if not more as I got older the premium went up by the time I got to 60 I was paying 50,000 baht a year for 1. 5.

One day I found another expat policy with AXA 1 million for 29,000 baht great two years later AXA decided to discontinue the expat offer of 1 million 1. 5 if you wanted to stay with AXA they now wanted the same money 32,000 baht but they were now reducing their coverage to maximum 700,000 talking about a fuck job!

Underwriter said no problem we got a new company Pacific Cross, going to cover you 1 million 1. 5 million same coverage I had from AXA but now the premium was going to be as you noted 65,000 baht a year but also a catch take a full physical 8000 baht at a private hospital like Bangkok / Pattaya have the dinner fill out the form if everything is okay They will cover you. The only want people who pose no risk to their bottom line now if you are conditions they will still gladly accept you for the same price but it isn't covered. The line policy really jumps one you get into 65-70 range do to complaints the last year they put in place deductibles the more you take the less the policy becomes example: If you are something like 70 years of age if you take a 25,000 deductible your policy drops like 25%.

As noted when I did talk to the agent she told me they will carry you to 90 plus but when you do the mat how the prices goes up based on your age if you do make it to 90 what is your policy premium going to be 130-200,000? From my own experience I simple don't trust any of these companies you don't have the consumer rights you have in the USA For example. Ten years ago, I had a policy for my wife two years when she came down with cancer they decline the coverage making up some lie. Reason that the problem runs in her family and that she knew about it. I had to really contain myself and not load up on a full metal jacket. Ten years I was buying insurance from various companies never once have I had to use it two years ago I finally had enough of these guys and decided to ship a million baht over to cover my medical expenses.

I have first hand incidents from private hospital like Bangkok Pattaya, my brother was paying cash up front to this place never had a problem they knew his insurance in the U.S. was making coverage back to him, had him in the computer "VIP" his wife has a C-section cost 80-100,000 when a local Thai was paying 45,000, one of his kids needed an simple surgery just as they were going to roll her in they sent a representative to stop her to surgery and ask for a deposit of 100,000 baht, if I didn't restrain him not sure where this guy would still be alive. A good friend visiting had insurance back home got sick here they actually set up a direct billing he was diagnoised he needed a new pace maker he was taken care of VIP style for a week waiting for some response from U.S. as to whether they will pay for the pacemaker the hospital wanted 2 million baht, a week later still nothing we contacted the insurance back home find out no one has even made a request they were milking the stay at 15-20 baht a day some of it in ICU, saying he wasn't fit to travel back hom once we got the word back the insurance wouldn't pay for the surgery the price dropped to 800,000 baht. Once we started to dispute of the cost all of a sudden he was healthy enough to travel he went home back at Stanford it wasn't his Pace Maker but his kidney found out a 1st year med student could have made the right call. Instruction from family was to stop payment to Bangkok Pattaya.

Medicare? Because I first applied for Medicare since I was living here I decided for my area in California to get on a HMO, for all my supplement needs so far so good at zero monthly cost, whenever I know I'm coming into town I contact my Doctor get all my schedule test while in town it will even cover in Thailand but it is consider out of network which is 50% of the schedule cost if you do use it you will need to just say you were on vacation and shit happens. From my experience if you are putting in constant claims in Thailand it will sooner or later raise a red flag that you are staying there 6 months or longer.

As for private they are clean that is the impression but once they see you are a farang have insurance that is when they will milk you to no end, test this test, stay extra night, get more attention if you stay ICU, every Doctor on the staff will come see you that is 600 baht extra for them. When I came to Thailand use Bumrungrad it was world known not expensive but today it is nothing more than business the vision is if it is clean and nice therefore it equats to be the best.

[Tomasb]

I have United Health care Plan G also. I pay $135 per month at age 71 and it provides 80% coverage overseas with a $250 deductible. The premium price is dependent on your address and the cost of living index in the state where you live. My home state has 4 regions and I picked the least expensive region and organized a post office box and used a friend's home address in that region so I could be billed at the least expensive rate of the four regions. In my actual region, the monthly cost would have been $175 so a decent savings by doing this.

I had to stay one night (or 12 hours) at Bumrangrad Hospital this winter due to a sudden illness. It's actually quite expensive and though I still felt sick when I left, I decided to check out because of the cost. I arrived in ER around 6 am and left at 6 pm. If I stayed longer than that I would have received a higher bill. A doctor visited me twice while in semi private room, which is the norm and is part of the room cost. I also had to see a GI specialist a few times, which was also covered, and took an expensive $300 test to look for rare tropical disease infections. These were also covered by the plan.

But I was reimbursed for most of my charges by United as specified in the coverage parameters. Just remember to keep your receipts and also your travel itinerary. I think you are covered for 90 days while overseas traveling from date of arrival so that is why they want your airline travel itinerary. Since I arrived on Dec 25 and was in the hospital by Jan 3rd, I was well within their time requirements. The bill also has to be submitted within a certain (Considerable) period of time though I can't remember how much time you are allowed. Of course, drug coverages outside the hospital visit is out of pocket.

The monthly fee is largely based on where you live and your age. I pay $168/ mo at age 69 in California. Plan G is usually the way to go vs. Plan F. As mentioned Plan F is being phased out by many companies. I appreciate hearing how the supplement helps when in Thailand. My Plan G has the emergency medical benefit but I like hearing how it actually works.

Another question: Do you guys buy travel insurance when you go to Bangkok? Is Bumrumgrad Hospital as costly as US hospitals?

[Allover]

It sounds like you selected Plan F, which I also bought through United Health Care. Your $135 per month is much lower than mine, which may be attributed to where you live. Regardless, people can renew Plan F, but it will no longer be available to new subscribers. There may be other plans that offer overseas coverage.

The monthly fee is largely based on where you live and your age. I pay $168/ mo at age 69 in California. Plan G is usually the way to go vs. Plan F. As mentioned Plan F is being phased out by many companies. I appreciate hearing how the supplement helps when in Thailand. My Plan G has the emergency medical benefit but I like hearing how it actually works.

Another question: Do you guys buy travel insurance when you go to Bangkok? Is Bumrumgrad Hospital as costly as US hospitals?

[Beijing4987]

My local insurance company that sells me the Medicare supplement helped me get reimbursed for treatment in China, minus a deductible. I was told the Medicare supplement has a $50,000 lifetime cap. I buy additional insurance by the day, priced according to deductable and total payout. A typical 60 day visit with $ 1,000,000 coverage costs $300.

[HorseTrader]

As far as health insurance, I have medicare, which, of course, is useless overseas but covers 80% of health care costs in the US. However, I also have a supplemental policy, which covers the remaining 20% in the US and costs me about $135 US a month. I also discovered that my particular supplemental policy with United Health care has a program that covers 80% of health care and hospitalization costs overseas with a $250 deductible. I know this works because I was hospitalized for a brief illness at a well known hospital in Bangkok this winter for a one night stay. And as someone else commented, if you want top care, it will cost you more than you might expect in some parts of Thailand. However, my supplemental policy did step up and pay these costs just remember to keep your receipts, air ticket itinerary, etc.

It sounds like you selected Plan F, which I also bought through United Health Care. Your $135 per month is much lower than mine, which may be attributed to where you live. Regardless, people can renew Plan F, but it will no longer be available to new subscribers. There may be other plans that offer overseas coverage.

I also had some Thai medical expenses in 2017. The policy required me to pay the Thailand hospital and later I was to be reimbursed. Due to improper language on my hospital receipts, getting the reimbursement from United Health Care turned into a pain in the ass. After 2 attempts at getting the proper documentation from the Thai hospital to United Health Care, I just gave up. In my case the reimbursement would have only been about $100 and it wasn't worth further effort on my part. Had it been more money, I would have pushed further and probably have gotten some reimbursement.