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KClark

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Everything posted by KClark

  1. Best advice on this thread is unless you're already familiar with neighborhood and neighbors, and proximity to conveniences, rent first. Seems like every month or so someone comes on this site complaining about neighbors doing something annoying on a routine basis. Unfortunately, options to mitigate nuisance neighbors are limited here. Of course, there's no guaranteeing one might not move in next door after you've rented and then bought, but that's a better risk than buying first and then finding out. Dogs, flooding (within the moo-ban and along ingress/egress routes), break-ins and satisfaction with convenience (restaurants, grocery stores, shopping malls, building supply) and other quality of life places like healthcare are hard to discern without actually living there for a bit. I'd suggest 6 months minimum. Even better if you find a moo-ban you think you like and can find an owner wanting to sell but willing to rent for a few months first. You might have to make the rent a bit more attractive to get them to bite, but it would be well worth it. The absolute worst outcome is to buy and for whatever reason end up with buyer's remorse. If this is a retirement hooch, you're likely to be there an extended period so you'd be better off to invest in the due diligence up front. If you know what area you intend to settle in, perhaps divulging that would help members to this forum provide more specific recommendations. If you haven't decided, then maybe making that clear and asking for recommendations might help. If you're intent on buying first regardless, then let loose the wife and maw-in-law in the neighborhood to speak with the neighbors before buying. I find most Thais will shoot straight on this. After the generic "How do you like living here?" question, queries on noise, soi dogs, flooding and power outages should be at the top of the list. If there's a nuisance neighbor they'll probably tell you that as well, but probably better to let them tell you that than to ask. You might want to hear the same answers at least twice to put a lot of stock into them anyway. Also, drive around the neighborhood in the morning and evenings, and on a weekend day/night if possible. Many moo-bans will look much different when neighbors are not at work and the otherwise peaceful streets become "hard to negotiate" parking lots. Zoning in Thailand is a bit like a quilt. Finding industry, animal farms or even mosquito-breeding swamps adjacent to moo-bans is not uncommon. Point here is look outside and around your potential moo-ban to avoid any unpleasant discoveries later. If you select a managed moo-ban make sure to speak with management about financial status and any planned special assessments for major repairs. What type of broadband is available? Fiberoptic? If not currently, any plans for the near future. Finally, my experience is most Thais are very reticent to offer big discounts from the asking price. Some discount sure, but for some reason I find most prefer to hold onto a piece of property until they get their price, even if that means it stays empty FOREVER! I guess it's a technique..... If you haven't yet decided on an area, I live in Eastern Star Golf Resort and Country Club, or new name I guess is Eastern Star Park, in Ban Chang (next to Utapao Airport). Been here 6 years and love it. Lot's of farang here to share fishing stories with (retired military and oil and gas guys), lots of convenience and a half-hour to either Pattaya or Rayong for Big C, Makro, Bangkok Hospital, etc. Happy hunting and an early welcome to Thailand. r, Kevin
  2. Thanks for the info, and for bringing your work history and knowledge to this forum. I'm afraid I don't spend that much time in the USA, and even if I did my income would exclude me from any refund of part B. However, when in the US the medicare/tricare combination works really well, according to some buds of mine who have had recent experience with this. Relying solely on tricare while living here is a bit more costly but manageable, and the catastrophic cap aspect is very comforting. Healthcare 'coverage' is just not a concern for my wife and I and for that I'm very grateful. I know there are many who do struggle finding affordable healthcare. I wish it were otherwise.
  3. One last thing--if you haven't yet looked at how Medicare computes how much your Part B premiums will be, you should give that a look. Plenty of info via internet, but pay attention to the Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) part. Essentially, they add most of those deductions (other than standard deduction) you might have taken from your AGI to file your Fed Taxes, and ADD them back in for your MAGI. I know, sucks. That percentage of your Social Security Retirement you don't have to pay taxes on--you guessed it, gets added back in as part of your MAGI. They'll use your tax filing from two years previous, as that's what the IRS gives them. So if you've worked hard, deferred gratification or fun things, saved and invested to build up a nest egg, you'll want to strategize how you bleed it down. $1 over on MAGI and you're into the next higher Part B premium charge (which run from the minimum of $148.50 to the max of $356.40 per month, with 4 interim rates between those bottom and top nbrs.)
  4. However, we are not able to assist you with your inquiry without the following information: - Last Name: - First Name: - Middle Name: - Date of Birth: - Place of Birth: - Last four digits of Social Security Number (SSN): - Address: - Contact Number: I sent them all my relevant data in my initial email to them. Didn't seem to matter as they simply sent me a very short enrollment request back. I think just the mention of name, address, medicare nbr and your intent would be sufficient for first salvo. The form they'll send back ask for: medicare nbr name address phone nbr check the box that says you want part B. That's about it. When they respond they'll acknowledge your request and state "Action was taken to enroll you in Medicare Part B."
  5. Sorry--make that "a few days later" they will acknowledge....................... I live in Thailand and my local address here is what's registered with Soc Sec. I'm retired Army and our insurance program, Tricare, requires we sign up for Part B at age 65 to maintain Tricare coverage. So while I essentially had no choice, I concur with your notion that signing up at 65 regardless is the prudent thing to do. Anyway, sounds like your situation is the same as mine, so the email to FBU MNL should do the trick. Happy hunting.
  6. Actually I've just done this very thing. Send an email to FBU Manila telling them you want an enrollment request form for Medicare Part B. You should receive one in a few days. Fill it out and send it back to them. A few days letter they will acknowledge they have received it. All this is over email as the Soc Sec Office in MNL is closed due to COVID restrictions. It's rather painless. r, KC
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