Medical costs rising in Thailand

[Dodger]

....... A Thai friend only a couple months ago had to have gall stones removed. The operation was done at the government hospital in Sri Racha. The operation, hospital stay, prescriptions, follow-up appointments - everything - was free of charge.

If more farang understood this the boys (and girls) would have to cross this scam off their top 10 list...555.

[Jun]

Farang can go to these same hospitals, but non-thais are going to be charged. Probably significantly less than private hospitals, but still expensive.

I wonder if that will change when you're paying Thai taxes?

If more farang understood this the boys (and girls) would have to cross this scam off their top 10 list...555.

I need to remember that, but when just 14% of my dates are with Thais, I suppose the odds of using the information are slim.

[Rocket]

the republicans want to end this and I’ll probably have to buy private insurance eventually.

I hope not. If they want to end those kinds of benefits, I hope what they will at least be reasonable about it. They could end anyone newly coming in, but not end them for people who already have these benefits. I can't see how that could sit well for people who would entirely lose benefits they already have, especially those who are getting too old to suddenly have to buy their own insurance or would have to pay unaffordable rates and accept a very high deductible if they can even find a company willing to cover them. People 70 years old and over might find it impossible to find a medical insurance company that would cover them at all.

Well thankyou, I really hope they show mercy and I can keep my overseas insurance, and most of my pension. That’s what they really want to cut.
I always found my union meetings to be stressful, as the union leaders would keep mentioning that the Republicans want to cut this and cut that. Our pension system is based on the highest three years in a row we worked. So they kept saying it would be going to highest five years very soon. Which would bring down the average, hence the pension.

None of that happened as we always had democrats defending us in Congress. But now there is no defense as the Republicans are in complete control. I guess I see their point, as my pension is better than if I were in the private sector.And that’s their mandate now. To destroy the government and let private companies and businesses take control of everything. But I can honestly say I worked really hard during my employment and rarely called in. And the pension kept me there.

Of course then again my best friend worked as a government employee for the defense department and he always joked about how he did nothing all day, which pissed me off. And he had a better pension than me. Unfortunately he enjoyed it for two years only, as he passed from pancreatic cancer only two years after retirement.

[Jun]

I guess I see their point, as my pension is better than if I were in the private sector.And that’s their mandate now. To destroy the government and let private companies and businesses take control of everything. But I can honestly say I worked really hard during my employment and rarely called in. And the pension kept me there.

Of course then again my best friend worked as a government employee for the defense department and he always joked about how he did nothing all day, which pissed me off.

British public sector pensions are also very good.
For years, companies did not account for their future pension liabilities, in various countries. I think that was one of the reasons GM got into trouble. Paying out the pensions was always a problem for a future CEO.

Then they changed the accounting standards so private companies have to include pension liabilities on the balance sheet. So private sector pensions were reigned in.

However, the public sector isn't playing to the same rules.

With my meagre private sector pension, I saved and invested for years to ensure a comfortable retirement.
The main priority now is to stop the taxwoman stealing too much of it to fund public sector waste.

I can't comment on the US, but would like to see something closer to a Republican approach to the British public sector pensions.