General Reports

[QUOTE=Bunky;2504791]Probably very few. But that's not how health insurance works. Usually the coverage extends to all professional medical treatment that's "reasonably necessary" or some similar definition. There are an infinite number of maladies that can require professional medical treatment. And COVID shows that new sicknesses are being discovered every day. There is no way the insurer could list them all in the insurance contract. To the contrary, the contracts typically contain a list of "exclusions" to make it clear what is *not* covered. For example, experimental treatment, cosmetic treatments and treatments from people who aren't professional health care providers. (There are also requirements to get advance approval for certain expensive treatments and tests, but let's set those aside.)

As Mr. Up cogently notes, the fact that COVID is not specifically mentioned in health insurance documents gives Thai consular officials an easy way to force visa applicants to buy insurance from a Thai company through the official online portal. Sounds like some determined applicants have been able to get their health insurer to supplement the standard documents with a written statement emphasizing that they are, in fact, covered if they come down with COVID while in Thailand. At that point, it seems to me, it's up to the consular officer to decide whether the COVID insurance requirement is met. Those officers who interpret the requirement in a way that protects the Thai health care system from sick falang who run up big bills they can't pay will probably call it good. Those officers who interpret the requirement in a way that lines the pockets of Thai insurance companies selling expensive single-purpose policies to rich falang will probably take a different view.[/QUOTE]One thing Insurance here in Thailand isn't like in the West it is what I consider Ala Carte the same insurance you would buy for a dog exists here for humans! " similar definition " if it isn't mentioned one can construe it can also be covered but I learn from experience here what are you going to do " nothing " " fight " go to a rights lawyer class action like in the West? Insurance companies here know the chances are slim and none the reason if you ever read the fine print on a policy it is clear they want the money and not to cover you at all. My Thai son policy 1. 5 million compared to what I use to have with the same company included lots of things that wouldn't cover for me just based on from I was from. His policy no mentioned of Virus when I call is covered just like the flu normal but now all of a sudden for foreigners policies it isn't and you need to get extra coverage? It is a joke call it what you want but many things here are just laced with discrimination and prejudice it has been in their thinking for centuries and it isn't going to change not in my lifetime.

Can you imagine having insurance in the USA Being diagnosed with Lyme Disease and they tell you " oh it isn't covered " they would be doing the policyholder a favor $$ just like when I'm home I make sure to take public transit hoping it messes me over before I even get on my departure flight the City would be calling and telling me " don't leave we are sending you a check ".

Personally if I am applying for an OA Visa or even traveling to Thailand I would be purchasing the Thai insurance approved to satisfy Immigration rules. After you're in then work around getting insurance from your home country. The last thing I would want is to think I had everything lined up only to be turned back at Immigration because an IO doesn't understand what exactly is required. You may be 100% certain you have met all the requirements but the wrong IO will make you purchase the next available flight home and once you get home you likely have to look for a place to rent as you have rented your house for a year. Health insurance is not a big ticket item in the the scheme of things. Why chance it?

Get it right and look it up yourself!

It is reported that Pfizer with German partner BioNTech, has made the first Emergency request to put out the Vaccine with the FDA, Moderna the second leader will be following suit. Both vaccines are rated effective 994% effective, the final review of data of testing started in July will be done by mid-December if approved the vaccine will be provided to the front line and senior home care facilities already authorized is CVS and Walgreens the USA And it will be free. Both companies have also applied to other countries like Canada, Australia, Britain, Japan, and the list is growing for their approval, I believe and more hopeful than any visa program Thailand government comes out with if successful to slow it down and application requested with Thailand is approved and Thailand like to follow and this is what they have been waiting for while coming with all these visa ideas to make it look like they are actually doing something? We might have something to celebrate about?

[QUOTE=LittleBigMan;2503943]It has been a while where I read it but I believe the USA Also dump billions into helping Pfizer it wasn't just in the production. I also feel any imports from China should have additions added to compensate the countries around the world for their pandemic! Like most world events they never step up and put in their fair share![/QUOTE]Pfizer has not accepted money from US but they have signed an agreement to provide vaccine when it becomes available.

[QUOTE=LittleBigMan;2504915]Get it right and look it up yourself!

It is reported that Pfizer with German partner BioNTech, has made the first Emergency request to put out the Vaccine with the FDA, Moderna the second leader will be following suit. Both vaccines are rated effective 994% effective, the final review of data of testing started in July will be done by mid-December if approved the vaccine will be provided to the front line and senior home care facilities already authorized is CVS and Walgreens the USA And it will be free. Both companies have also applied to other countries like Canada, Australia, Britain, Japan, and the list is growing for their approval, I believe and more hopeful than any visa program Thailand government comes out with if successful to slow it down and application requested with Thailand is approved and Thailand like to follow and this is what they have been waiting for while coming with all these visa ideas to make it look like they are actually doing something? We might have something to celebrate about?[/QUOTE]It has been reported that CVS and Walgreens have no idea how the distribution process would work and that needs to be solved.

Under no circumstances will I take a c19 vaccine. If that means no more travel, so be it. Friends whose opinion I value are of the same mind. Others just March blindly along, like unthinking sheep. There are countless posts here on "the vaccine. " There is no silver bullet and posting uninformed messages on obscure web sites like this does not change it.

I sent messages to Thai hookers on various sites. Their replies are much more informed and relevant than repetitive, uninformed, syntax-free posts on "the vaccine".

[QUOTE=Nounce;2504938]Pfizer has not accepted money from US but they have signed an agreement to provide vaccine when it becomes available.

It has been reported that CVS and Walgreens have no idea how the distribution process would work and that needs to be solved.[/QUOTE]I guess it is how you what to look at it? From what I read you are right but the USA Has made a contract for 1. 95 Billion to them for 100 million doses I guess that contract would keep Pfizer ability to obtain loans to continue to develop the vaccine. Then you got the CDC given the assignment of outlining the distribution and CVS and Walgreen has already applied for the distribution and been approved that approval of course requires them to follow the outlines of the CDC for distribution.

[QUOTE=BananaBoi;2504912]. Health insurance is not a big ticket item in the the scheme of things. Why chance it?[/QUOTE]Actually BB it can be, depending on age and how long it's for.

[QUOTE=LittleBigMan;2504957]I guess it is how you what to look at it? From what I read you are right but the USA Has made a contract for 1. 95 Billion to them for 100 million doses I guess that contract would keep Pfizer ability to obtain loans to continue to develop the vaccine. Then you got the CDC given the assignment of outlining the distribution and CVS and Walgreen has already applied for the distribution and been approved that approval of course requires them to follow the outlines of the CDC for distribution.[/QUOTE]Pfizer 's partner BioNTech is based in Germany. It is German government financed several hundreds of millions for the vaccine development. Pfizer CEO has said they do not want to accept the US government money so there is not string attached and the scientists can do their work without being influenced by the US government.

Things always proceed faster in thought, but much slower in execution. What you read is only a thought or a plan that lacks detail. Wall streets analyst who tried to find the detail on how the distribution to the pharmacy level will be done can't find anybody who knows.

[QUOTE=BananaBoi;2473465]If prices for girls were THE SAME everywhere which cities / countries would you be visiting the most to hobby? Based on girl's looks, service, attitude and the overall ease of hobbying.

I personally haven't included many cities like Prague / Budapest / London / Montreal / Toronto, etc with escorts only because imo not being able to see the girl before she appears at the door is not ease of hobbying.

Mine would be:

1. Dusseldorf / Frankfurt / Berlin.
2. Las Vegas
3. Switzerland
4. Tokyo / Osaka.
5. Bangkok / Pattaya.[/QUOTE]

An interesting question since prices around the world are converging.
In general I would list these countries. Just ordered into three groups, not ordered within the groups (too complicated).

BEST.
Thailand (looks, attitude, ease).
Japan (looks, ease) ?
Macao (looks, ease).
Philippines (attitude, ease).
Indonesia (looks, attitude).
Emirates (looks, ease) ?
Germany, Switzerland (looks, ease).
Mexico (looks).
Brazil (looks, attitude, ease).

SECOND.
Hong Kong (looks, ease).
Malaysia (looks).
Cambodia (looks, ease).
Myanmar (looks).
Spain (ease).
Dominicana (looks, ease) ?
Colombia (looks, ease).
Kenya (looks) ?

THIRD.
Vietnam (looks) ?
Emirates (looks, ease) ?
Costa Rica (ease).
Panama (ease) ?
Argentina.
Ethiopia.
Australia (ease).

I'm surprised there aren't more reports from Greece, in particular Athens. There are two rather famous (or perhaps that should be infamous streets in Central Athens Odoz Fyllis and Odoz Kolonou. To locals, Odoz Fyllis is affectionally known as 20 euro Street and Odoz Kolonou as 10 euro Street. Yup, in Odoz Fyllis you can get a BJ and full sex for a mere 20 euros and in Odoz Kolonou it can be as low as only 10 euros.

Now you might think that for a mere 10 euros, the lady whose services you were buying would be a double-bagger or even a triple bagger. And in many cases you'd be right. But there are also some very attractive ladies willing to do a CBJ and then a CGFE for just 10 euros to 20 euros.

Just as a comparison, a plate with small pork souvlaki skewers, some chips and a bit of salad in a basic restaurant / taverna also costs about €10 euros. Add in some house wine and it's probably nearer 20 euros.

So in Greece you can now get a quick full service (no more than 10 minutes) for the price of a kebab plus trimmings.

This sounds pretty bad. But, in fact, the situation is even worse. You see, these ladies are not freelancers working for themselves. They work in brothels probably run by Russian, Bulgarian and Albanian gangs. (I'm not sure the Greeks are sufficiently organized or hard-working to even run a brothel properly). This means that from every 10 euros a customer hands over, the girl is probably only getting around 5 euros if she's working voluntarily and probably less than that if she's been trafficked from some Eastern European paradise. At busier times, there are usually small queues of men in each brothel waiting for their turn. So I imagine each reasonable-looking girl is probably turning at least 20 and possibly closer to 30 tricks a day.

[QUOTE=Nounce;2504966]Pfizer 's partner BioNTech is based in Germany. It is German government financed several hundreds of millions for the vaccine development. Pfizer CEO has said they do not want to accept the US government money so there is not string attached and the scientists can do their work without being influenced by the US government.

Things always proceed faster in thought, but much slower in execution. What you read is only a thought or a plan that lacks detail. Wall streets analyst who tried to find the detail on how the distribution to the pharmacy level will be done can't find anybody who knows.[/QUOTE]All they got to do is comtact the CDC they were chosen because of their experience with dealing with the Sars. As I noted CDC has already put out the guidelines as to the handling temerature requirements and handling shipment would basically shipped in pizza side boxes with a number of viles that once open must be used in a specfic time provide something like six shots therefore Pharmacy should make appointment arrangement accordingly. The vaccine that requires much lower temperature storage currently only City Heallth Department and large hospital have which as I noted much of that information comes from family member who are in the health professions at a large city health department and west coast VA facility who I been in contact. EverythingI noted is of public why it can't be found?

[QUOTE=JohnTraveller;2504970]An interesting question since prices around the world are converging.
In general I would list these countries. Just ordered into three groups, not ordered within the groups (too complicated).

BEST.
Thailand (looks, attitude, ease).
Japan (looks, ease) ?
Macao (looks, ease).
Philippines (attitude, ease).
Indonesia (looks, attitude).
Emirates (looks, ease) ?
Germany, Switzerland (looks, ease).
Mexico (looks).
Brazil (looks, attitude, ease).

SECOND.
Hong Kong (looks, ease).
Malaysia (looks).
Cambodia (looks, ease).
Myanmar (looks).
Spain (ease).
Dominicana (looks, ease) ?
Colombia (looks, ease).
Kenya (looks) ?

THIRD.
Vietnam (looks) ?
Emirates (looks, ease) ?
Costa Rica (ease).
Panama (ease) ?
Argentina.
Ethiopia.
Australia (ease).[/QUOTE]Interesting. I'm going to state my best in each of your categories. The best in looks is Germany. The best in attitude is Brazil. The best in ease is Thailand. The overall best mongering spot in the world is one of these three.

[QUOTE=LittleBigMan;2504986]All they got to do is comtact the CDC they were chosen because of their experience with dealing with the Sars. As I noted CDC has already put out the guidelines as to the handling temerature requirements and handling shipment would basically shipped in pizza side boxes with a number of viles that once open must be used in a specfic time provide something like six shots therefore Pharmacy should make appointment arrangement accordingly. The vaccine that requires much lower temperature storage currently only City Heallth Department and large hospital have which as I noted much of that information comes from family member who are in the health professions at a large city health department and west coast VA facility who I been in contact. EverythingI noted is of public why it can't be found?[/QUOTE]It will be great if it is as easy as you described, and I hope you are right.

[QUOTE=Nounce;2505134]It will be great if it is as easy as you described, and I hope you are right.[/QUOTE]I never said it would be easy! But I'm not in the camp that believes that no one has an idea what to do or it must be " solved " prior to its distribution. These companies are all tied into the open market which is mostly Nasdaq, you follow them and one can see in the last year their stock rise and fall based on the news that comes out from their CEO as to their progress. The backing or purchasing power of 190 Billion from the USA Allows a company to use that rise to fuel their research as we know none of these companies are going to develop something that doesn't increase their bottom line. Does the USA Have a direct say in Pfizer to force them to put out a product that isn't safe not even Trump or Warp speech can! You also look indirectly into all the hands needed to make it happen down to the box or containers that will be used to transport and store the vaccine. I remember my former supervisor after 9/11 who went to established TSA on the West coast feeding information that they were in the process of inking a deal for bomb detection equipment under the terminal lots of inside trading nothing so big the SEC could prosecute.

Solved it has been nearly a year no perfect solution to everything they will roll it out based on what they have and fix what is necessary on the way that is how I'm looking at it. Every country will have to figure it out as for Thailand I cross my fingers that the rate starts to lower so we can start to get back to what we all do best which is come and go as we please once that happens I hope that kiss ass Biden continue to put the squeeze on China.

I know we're not supposed to post these loosening of the requirements to get back into Thailand news items here without qualifying that it should not be believed until it has been verified by first hand testimony.

But it does look like the bank requirement will be reduced from USD $17,000 to $700/$1500. That's a huge reduction (if it happens). In my judgement, those reduced amounts would not exactly be deal killers for many Western tourists. And the 14 day quarantine on arrival might be reduced to 10 days. True, a 10 day quarantine on arrival will still cost something without a lot of value for the money in it other than getting very, very well adjusted to the time change before hitting the bars, malls and temples.

[URL]https://www.traveldailymedia.com/thailand-drops-hefty-bank-requirement-for-tourist-visas/[/URL]

So far there are no rumors or reports of a reduction of the minimum USD $100,000 insurance policy requirement, including coverage for Covid-19. But it seems to me that is something an adult world traveler ought to have anyway.

No mention yet of only passport holders from certain countries qualifying for these visas while others are not.