The Top 8 Types of Expat in Thailand

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Globetrotter

 

Many expats come to Thailand from their home country and then return home. However, there is a select group of expats that haven’t lived in their home country for a long time – and may not go back. Most have lived in several countries prior to coming to Thailand and always consider themselves as an expat in every country. Being worldly, they easily come and adapt to local cultures, they are rarely fazed by strange local customs — they feel they have seen it all before. 

 

Serial Whiner

 

Some expats just can’t accept that they are in a different country that has different customs, cultures, costs and ways of doing things. They seem to feel that anything different from the western way of doing things is ridiculous. They complain of the cost of anything, even when it costs much less than their home country. Every observation is accompanied with the words – This is Thailand

 

Adventurer

 

Their life is full of wonder and discovery. Everything is new and exciting and they can’t wait to try out new things.  Constantly exploring local culture and learning the local language (although usually badly). For them everything has potential and is worth trying. Nothing is an obstacle, just an opportunity for them to jump into. Often in their twenties, they haven’t lost faith in humanity and can still see the potential in everything. Seen traversing the local clubs, pubs and daytime culture

 

Gone Native

 

The expats’ journey has resulted in love, they have found their girl or guy and now call Thailand their home. These expats can be quickly identified as if you ask them why they chose Thailand they immediately mention ” I met this great girl/guy…..” Usually, the Gone Native Expat has been in Thailand for many years, taught English for a few years and some other popular Expat job that many expats easily qualify for. They will speak at least some Thai and love a lot of things about the country

 

 

The package tourist

 

This expat looks at Thailand through the lens of a large fish bowl. Everything is strange an exotic. Many things look unbelievable as if they are in a movie. They can’t speak any Thai and often complain that the local people don’t speak English. Takes them a while to realise that not everywhere is the same as their home country. Every day they see something shocking, which to the locals is just everyday life

 

English Teacher

 

From different walks of life and experiences, many expats teach English in Thailand. Teaching English is in high demand in Thailand because the English education in Thai schools is often poor quality. Native English speakers can easily get teaching jobs, that pay enough to survive although not thrive  

That’s one of the easiest jobs to come by for foreigners in Thailand. English Teachers get less in Thailand than many other Asian countries but are attracted to Thailand by the laid-back lifestyle, friendly locals and low cost of living.

Exercise Junky

 

Often expats that come to Thailand have brought a spouse or plus one With the Expat in full time work, the plus one finds themselves with too much time on their hands. Of course, this time needs to be filled. At first the spouse takes up exercise as a means to get fit. However, with so much time to be filled, exercise takes over the spouse’s life from early in the morning till late at night.  They are easy to spot in Bangkok, as they are heavily tanned and extremely fit. With goals to meet and best times to beat, the spouse has little time to meet their working husband or wife even when they are off work!

 

 

Retiree

 

A western retirement income can stretch a lot further in Thailand than back in the US, UK etc. Hence tens of thousands of retirees have made Thailand their home. Often here for years, they know the language and have settled into the local culture. Although still hang with similar retiree expats. Not part of the party scene but are here to make the most of the climate and low cost of living 

 

 

 

 

Top 5 Common International Health Insurance mistakes for Expats

/0 Comments/in , /by

When going overseas, expats often end up with either too much health coverage or more often too little. Limited health coverage that doesn’t provide enough cover, could mean you incur significant out-of-pocket medical expenses. There are a number of common mistakes Expats make when choosing health insurance.

 

1. Buying a cheap domestic policy

 

Some Expats buy a local or domestic purchase health insurance plan, which only covers them in the country they are living in. This means the expat is not covered when travelling abroad. Further many local plans are very basic and fail to cover many conditions

 

2. Failing to buy any Health Insurance 

 

Some expats, particularly those that are young, assume they are healthy and won’t need insurance. Accidents or ill health can fall upon anyone, no matter what your age. When an expat finds themselves in a foreign country without health insurance, costs can be substantial. Hospital and drug bills soon add up and the cost of major surgery, can run into hundreds of thousands of dollars 

 

3.Buying insurance without maternity coverage

 

If there is a chance you may become pregnant within the next 2 years, it’s important to ensure you have maternity insurance. Most insurance policies have a 12-month waiting limit before a maternity benefit claim can be made. Maternity costs can be huge, so ensuring you have maternity cover in advance of pregnancy is essential.

 

4. Not telling the truth on application

 


Be honest and upfront in your application from the beginning, as in the long term it will save you money, and ensure your reputation, is in good standing.  Some expats are tempted to leave out full details of their medical history so that they can lower the price of insurance cover. If you make a claim and the insurance company discovers that you have not been truthful about your medical details, your claim could be invalidated Hiding information from an insurer could be considered fraud. Furthermore, failure to disclose medical details to one medical insurer could stop you getting coverage in the future, even with a different provider. 

 

5. Not purchasing a plan that covers drugs

 

Whether you are currently taking medication or not, having prescription drug coverage is important. Many countries charge high prices for drugs, particularly those required for major illnesses or new drugs. Having outpatient and drug coverage will ensure you don’t bear the cost of potentially extremely expensive prescriptions

 

One way to avoid mistakes in choosing the right health insurance plan, is to work with an insurance broker. At Expat Insurance Scanner we help individuals make the right choices that fit their health and life needs.

 

 

 

Expats‌ ‌attracted‌ ‌to‌ ‌(near)‌ ‌Zero‌ ‌–‌ ‌ COVID‌ ‌Thailand‌

/0 Comments/in , /by

For expats scouring the world for places to base themselves during and after the COVID pandemic, Thailand is a choice at the top of many lists. Before the COVID crisis Thailand was a top 10 world travel destination and must see for anyone vesting southeast Asia. And the country has built up a significant tourist infrastructure, much focussed on foreign tourists. Thailand closed its borders to international visitors on March 25, 2020, and has recorded over 4100 COVID cases and 60 deaths, although now local transmission has been virtually virus eradicated as of December 2020. In late 2020, much of the Thai Tourist industry is in deep trouble, as international visitors previously contributed around two-thirds of tourism income and have been restricted. Now the Thai Government is planning imitates in 2021 to reverse a slump in business and save up to 3.27 million jobs that Thailand Development Research Institute estimates are at risk.

 

Strict COVID procedures to keep the virus out of Thailand.

 

When choosing a place for long term to stay, the current COVID rate of infection is important but so is the likely chance of increase in the rate of infection of COVID 19. Thailand has managed to keep COVI infections close to Zero for several reasons.

 

Government Regulations. The Thai Government which is under the control of a military general has strict regulations to reduce the chance of a COVID recurrence.

  • Mask Wearing Culture – people in Thailand remember the devasting effect on the economy of the SARS virus back in the early 2000s. Now most Thais where masks

 

  • Effective Contact Tracing
  • World Class Health facilities

 

Thailand Special Tourist Visa

 

From October 2020 Thailand will have a special tourist visa program in place, where expats can enter Thailand and stay for a minimum of 90 days, which can be extended to 270 days. 

 At Expat Insurance Scanner we have been helping expats fin COVID-19 insurance policies throughout the pandemic. We help expats understand the entry requirements for them gain entry to Thailand.

According to the Thai Embassy in London, entrance to Thailand can be granted to

 

 

  • Officials of international organizations
  • Work permit holders, those travelling for business
  • Family members of Thai nationals
  • Medical tourists
  • Students enrolled full time at schools or university level
  • Certificate of Residence
  • Long Stay Visa Holders (Non-Immigrant O-A/O-X)
  • Elite card holders
  • Property owners in Thailand
  • Single-entry tourists

 

To enter Thailand Medical and Life insurance is mandatory. The insurance should adhere to the following requirements 

The two components of the insurance are:

Medical expenses: there should be coverage of at least US $100,000 to cover all COVID-19 expenses.

Life insurance compensation: The insurance should cover expenses relating to death, for a coverage of USD 100,000 to your beneficiary.

 

Currently there is a mandatory state 14-day quarantine is required, for all incoming expats an everyone entering the country. Further the expat needs to provide proof of payment of long-term stay, such as Hotel receipt, rental agreement for condominium etc.

 

Even with these procedure’s Thailand is proving to be a big attraction amongst expats for 2021. Restrictions are likely to get easier an may involve Proof of vaccination in 2021, as more countries get access to approve COVID vaccines. 

 

General information about the virus

 

 

The 5 Best Places for Expats to Live for in Thailand

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Chiang Mai: Mountain Views and a Laid-Back Vibe

Thailand’s second city, Chiang Mai still has a laid-back charm. Coupled with mountain views and a city steeped in culture, Chang Mai is a magnet for expats. Chiang Mai is the old capital of the Lanna Kingdom in Thailand’s North. Expats love exploring the old town inside its ancient city walls, and winding. The old Thai culture and City’s easy-going coffee culture with a friendly vibe prove t0 be highly attractive to expat tourists and residents alike. Its supermarkets with western food, gyms, hospitals with English speaking doctors, and international schools provide an ideal infrastructure for the long-term Expat.

Koh Samui: A Tropical Island Paradise

Thailand’s second-largest island is a slow-paced haven, with beaches and bars, to spice up your stay. Koh Samui is an adventure island full of Expat pursuits such as exploring remote beaches by motorbike or sidling down to the old port, and take in the old-world charm of wooden houses. For an expat that wants the night life but also quiet beautiful escapes, then Koh Samui provides the best of both worlds. Although island life can be isolating and travelling to and from the island is expensive.

Bangkok: Modern, Bustling and Low Cost

Thailand’s capital Bangkok, is a modern metropolis which is loved by some expats and hated by others. With some of the Worlds top rated Hotels, a top Asian Finance centre, one of Asia’s Leading Conference destination, Bangkok will always attract business expats. Fall in love with the vibrancy, cheap and delicious street food, friendly locals or get put off with the all year-round humidity and stickiness. But for many the climate is bearable and westerners continue to be attracted to Bangkok by its American Style shopping malls, cinemas, galleries, libraries, bars, restaurants. Not to mention Bangkok’s World Class hospitals, that are medical tourist destinations in themselves.

Hua Hin: Seaside weekend Retreat

Only 3 hours drive, south of Bangkok, Hua Hin, is a popular destination for Thais and Expats at the weekend. In the 1920s, Thailand’s royal family built a summer palace on Hua Hin’s shore, which led to the Thai capital’s elite following suit, establishing vacation homes on the area’s wide, sandy beaches. Quiet during the weekday, this seaside city comes to life with the influx of Bangkok weekenders. Many old stately houses along the beachfront are now converted into chic restaurants, giving an old-world charm to nights out. A a high proportion of expats in Hua Hin are Scandinavian, particularly as Snowbirds, here just for the winter months, attracted by the Golf, Peaceful surroundings and Royal connection.

Phuket: A Pricey Beach Lifestyle with All the Amenities

Phuket is a modern, well-developed island, with World Class amenities including healthcare. There are Western shopping centers, bars, restaurants and the nightlife is great. Phuket Town, on the east of the island, is a Digital Nomad haven as there are fewer tourists than the coastal areas. But the culture is laid back with a historic Chinatown. But for those expats who prefer a faster night lfie then there is Patong. However, Transport is a problem in Phuket as Taxis are expensive and drivers are renowned for cheating. Some expats hire scooters, but the roads are dangerous and Thailand has a very poor road safety record. Certainly, before squeeze the throttle, make sure you have Expat Health Insurance for Thailand.