Bangkok Reports

[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.

[Tomasb]

Yes, I agree with your numbers for monthly living expenses in Bangkok. The amount of 55 k bt per month is a reasonable amount per my estimation as well. My housing is a bit more than yours as I find a studio too confining and opt for one bedrooms, which costs more like 25 bt - 30 k bt with air, cable and other amenities.

I usually aim to break even on my winter stays in Bangkok. I rent out my home in the US through Air BNB, or other short term rental services, and net out about $500 US after my mortgage, my social Sec is about $1,500 per month, and I have a modest pension of $1,400. The latter amount is my mongering Budget though rarely reach that amount. If I was younger, I would probably exceed it for what it's worth.

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.

[Sunlover2]

Also adverse currency fluctuations can be lethal. Figure any currency can rise or fall 25% to 30% against the Baht in a 10 year time span.

Excellent point and an important planning consideration. I have read that many British ex-pats qualified for a retirement visa on a fixed pension income, and when the GBP-THB exchange rate significantly moved against them their income no longer met the qualifications. That is cutting it way too close on multiple levels.

What I would do to address that possibility is to deposit the 800 k THB in a Thai bank account and be done with it. Think of it as a security deposit (which it really is) for living long term in Thailand.

Then I would keep 6-12 months of living expenses in THB in a liquid form (locking in today's rates) and replenish it by the amount spent each month in order to dollar cost average into the future exchange rates movements. That would help mitigate the short to medium term currency risk.

SL.

[Banana Boi]

My thoughts are if you have enough cash to retire then do it sooner than later. Why wait? I have seen far too many people work until 60+ and by the time they decide to retire they aren't healthy enough to enjoy many things. All the money in the world but no use for it.

Medical and insurance costs, dollar value, inflation, costs of girls, etc are real. Look at the rise of the baht in recent years pre-COVID. It's risen 20% in 5 years against some currencies.

Natty, will take you more than a couple of years living in Thailand to decrease the number of girls you see. Sure you may not do a girl every single night but you may have days where you hit a G club, Soi 6, gogo, and disco and find 4 different girls. You are correct that you may find the same girls and bars repetitive but that's when you hop on a cheap Air Asia flight to many other options a few hours away. The main difference between tourists and expats is that things come for free for expats way more often than you may think. I personally try not to take advantage of this but I know guys who solely seek freebies. I don't respect that but that's just my opinion. Barfines are also a thing of the past as an expat if you want. See girls on their days off, after work, etc.

[EihTooms]

I unexpectly retired at 55 for a number of reasons. I expected to work until 60 no one told me directly but by 50 I was debt free. Personally I know only Pattaya I don't have a clue what you can get in Bangkok in terms of accommodations. I'm not telling anyone what they need or to give up but I do understand that everyone is different and have a certain life style. I can live in a small box as long as it is clean and have the convienances so 25,000 plus expense stand out to me.

Example I had a friend who visited started to visit Thailand particular Bangkok twenty years ago regularly one day he said he is retiring and moving to Thailand (Bangkok) the kind of guy stubborn think he knows everything got a sizable pension he purchased a condo off Ekamai 2. 5 million baht. Kind of guy that can't let his old possession go so he brought everything lived a life like he was rich and famous although Chinese American he ate mostly Western food after a year he started to get bored his entired mongering life styled changed then the fighting started in Bangkok with Red and Yellow he got locked down and said fuck it. Drove himself crazy said everything he purchased here in Thailand furniture etc had to be brought back to the USA I thinking to myself " are you crazy " that being said if you aren't a pack rat need to have all your own furniture I think even in Bangkok as for accommodation you can get by spending much less?

One of the things I've learn if you are retiring that is often missed is health insurance and if you are retiring and they are offering consider yourself very lucky! Living in Bangkok you have so many options private even public far better than what is offer in Pattaya. I retired knowing full well I wasn't getting any whether I continue to work or not. I've had insurance my whole life now I was going without it I took it for granted things here in Thailand would be the same medically and I had a rude wakeup as to what it cost and how much the coverage. I know a lot of expat retired here have great insurance back home don't even bother to take advantage of it or even take care of themselves with a checkups they live for today and forget about tomorrow. Insurance is pretty much impossible to get here after the age of 60 years if you are willing to pay expect in the range of 60-120,000 baht a year if you can get it if not start to put money away for a rainy day. People think they can go on forever but even if you are fucking 3 times a day everyday no matter how much you take care of yourself or juice yourself up we all are one tick away from disaster!

I know many think once they are on Medicare if sick they will fiy home but what happens if you can't that is the big question many expat think about here that I know. I go with the principal just because you are retired don't mean you don't continue to save or invest for tomorrow things change?

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.

[LittleBigMan]

I unexpectly retired at 55 for a number of reasons. I expected to work until 60 no one told me directly but by 50 I was debt free. Personally I know only Pattaya I don't have a clue what you can get in Bangkok in terms of accommodations. I'm not telling anyone what they need or to give up but I do understand that everyone is different and have a certain life style. I can live in a small box as long as it is clean and have the convienances so 25,000 plus expense stand out to me.

Example I had a friend who visited started to visit Thailand particular Bangkok twenty years ago regularly one day he said he is retiring and moving to Thailand (Bangkok) the kind of guy stubborn think he knows everything got a sizable pension he purchased a condo off Ekamai 2. 5 million baht. Kind of guy that can't let his old possession go so he brought everything lived a life like he was rich and famous although Chinese American he ate mostly Western food after a year he started to get bored his entired mongering life styled changed then the fighting started in Bangkok with Red and Yellow he got locked down and said fuck it. Drove himself crazy said everything he purchased here in Thailand furniture etc had to be brought back to the USA I thinking to myself " are you crazy " that being said if you aren't a pack rat need to have all your own furniture I think even in Bangkok as for accommodation you can get by spending much less?

One of the things I've learn if you are retiring that is often missed is health insurance and if you are retiring and they are offering consider yourself very lucky! Living in Bangkok you have so many options private even public far better than what is offer in Pattaya. I retired knowing full well I wasn't getting any whether I continue to work or not. I've had insurance my whole life now I was going without it I took it for granted things here in Thailand would be the same medically and I had a rude wakeup as to what it cost and how much the coverage. I know a lot of expat retired here have great insurance back home don't even bother to take advantage of it or even take care of themselves with a checkups they live for today and forget about tomorrow. Insurance is pretty much impossible to get here after the age of 60 years if you are willing to pay expect in the range of 60-120,000 baht a year if you can get it if not start to put money away for a rainy day. People think they can go on forever but even if you are fucking 3 times a day everyday no matter how much you take care of yourself or juice yourself up we all are one tick away from disaster!

I know many think once they are on Medicare if sick they will fiy home but what happens if you can't that is the big question many expat think about here that I know. I go with the principal just because you are retired don't mean you don't continue to save or invest for tomorrow things change?

[Franciscass]

Biggest variable if you retire here are health costs.

Never need hospitalization, die suddenly at 90 preferably from trying for that second pop with the 20 year and you can live well on 100 k a month. I know a number of heads in Pattaya who actually manage on their social security checks.

Get sick, need procedures, days possibly weeks in hospital and lengthy follow up therapy without insurance you can quickly have 6 and 7 figure balances on your MasterCard.

Key is having insurance where as we know premiums are dependent on age, coverage, deductibles and the small matter of whether you have preexisting conditions.

Not at all cheap if in your seventies. Hospital costs have gone up more than most other items I'm aware of during my 20 plus years here. In contrast occupancy costs not if buying but if renting have moved very little. Increases in food, depends where you eat, you can still enjoy a plate in Villa for less than a 100 baht, Increases in entertainment, go go's yes but oilies little changed, still about 2 k for an hour.

Changes in exchange rates can be significant, the '97 crash sent the $ to 50 from 25, now back to 31. Sterling from over 80 post crisis to 40 now. Going forward the trend would suggest a strengthening of all Asian currencies I. E. Less baht for your home currency. Lots of chatter around a weakening dollar.

Ok so WTF am I saying. In my opinion Thailand is the best country in the world to retire in, the people the food and the girls, just don't get sick unless you are covered by insurance or have your own resources.

[Member #4698]

"Perpetude?" Is that anything like pulchritude? Cause I know Natty loves his pulchritude.

You know it. I love pulchritude in perpetude. Endless beauty.

[Bunky]

Even Superman cannot do 11 girls / week in perpetude and not get tired of it.

"Perpetude?" Is that anything like pulchritude? Cause I know Natty loves his pulchritude.

[Member #4698]

I've recently been planning my retirement and these discussions definitely help.

I don't think I'll need to bone every single day when I retire in a few years (ETA 4 years). So with some self restraint, I can probably retire with about $3500-$4000/ mo (117 k-133 k baht). That's about 27 k on rent, 33 k on food and 56 k-73 k on entertainment. I think I can get about 2 LT per week plus a one or two nuru / FS massages per week. And regular massage every day.

It does kind of suck having to exercise self restraint during retirement in a country like Thailand. But I think I'd prefer that to working 5-10 more years.

Let me clarify what I was trying to convey in my post. I was forecasting expenditures with a 2 to 3 month horizon in mind and still in a traveler's frame of mind. I think living in Thailand, the PI or Cambodia is a totally different. Although I have not made the move yet, I would expect that when I do, at some point maybe 3 months in country, 6 months in country or a year or two in country, I would transition from a traveler (10 or 11 girls / week) to ex-pat resident (5 or 6 girls / week. Maybe not, but even Superman cannot do 11 girls / week in perpetude and not get tired of it.

Another alleviating factor that I mentioned in my previous post was that in establishing cozy relations with several favorite girls, costs per girl / date would decline. The key is that as a traveler I like to hit the Go Go's almost every night and I am willing to pay barfines, girly drinks, and what not, but as a resident I might only hit up the Go Go's once or twice a week, maybe even less just to see if any NEW is around since all my favorite Go Go friends would be able to visit my condo in their off hours. Drop ins not allowed.

So, my expense forecast is high, higher than I hope it will be in real life when I put it into effect.

3. 5 to 4 k USD is fine. But don't forget to account for inflation over the years and decades.

This is a real important point. To many ex-pats planned poorly and did not take inflation / cost of living adjustments into account. Also adverse currency fluctuations can be lethal. Figure any currency can rise or fall 25% to 30% against the Baht in a 10 year time span.

My point is I would not delay too long a retirement date because you never know how your health may interfere with your retirement years.

Also, I should add that now since I am over 70, I don't have quite the drive or ambition to be banging SYT's 24/7 and quite happy taking my time to pick and choose my partners come what may.

Another excellent point. Take your retirement as early as you can unless you are one of the lucky ones who really love their work. As for age & sex drive: everyone is different. When I was 35 I never thought I would be doing the quantity and quality I am doing now. I guess it is a reward for my righteous lifestyle. But seriously, find what is right for you and enjoy.

[Tomasb]

To the poster who is considering postponing his retirement a few years might want to consider this additional factor. I mentioned in my report that I have spent the last 4 of 6 winters in Thailand — Bangkok specifically. The reason I did not spend all 6 winters there consecutively is because in 2016 after returning to my home country, I was diagnosed with cancer and had to undergo treatment. I was 68 years old at the time, in good physical condition, and quite healthy with no underlying health or lifestyle issue (moderate drinker, no smoking etc.).

Nevertheless, I spent the next two years undergoing treatment including chemo, radiation, several operations, and PT for all the issues that chemo caused. But, I am now cancer free and returned to Bangkok for the last two winters.

My point is I would not delay too long a retirement date because you never know how your health may interfere with your retirement years.

Also, I should add that now since I am over 70, I don't have quite the drive or ambition to be banging SYT's 24/7 and quite happy taking my time to pick and choose my partners come what may. This philosophy has made it quite easy to live within my budget. Looking back on my post, I also forgot to mention that I have had some success with massage girls from so called 'legit' MP's. Many are more than happy to meet you after hours as long as you are discrete in asking for their Cell numbers etc. I generally try to find a massage place that has cute masseuses and pick a girl as my regular Go to and develop a relationship from there.

[Goatscrot]

I've recently been planning my retirement and these discussions definitely help.

I don't think I'll need to bone every single day when I retire in a few years (ETA 4 years). So with some self restraint, I can probably retire with about $3500-$4000/ mo (117 k-133 k baht). That's about 27 k on rent, 33 k on food and 56 k-73 k on entertainment. I think I can get about 2 LT per week plus a one or two nuru / FS massages per week. And regular massage every day.

That retirement income is before social security, 401 k, and pension. So the older I get, the more income. The alternative is to push back retirement 5-10 more years and live like Natty. But I believe in enjoying life and women as early as possible. I still might be able to enjoy life like Natty in 10 years when pension kicks in, and more in another 10 when SS /401 k kick in.

It does kind of suck having to exercise self restraint during retirement in a country like Thailand. But I think I'd prefer that to working 5-10 more years.

3. 5 to 4 k USD is fine. But don't forget to account for inflation over the years and decades.