| Why does it seem like Starbucks has a store on | | | | International Hospital in Bangkok claims JCI |
| every corner where you live? Because the | | | | accreditation, it's not currently listed on the JCI |
| company knows most of us won't go even one | | | | website. |
| block out of our way to get a cup o' cappuccino. | | | | What's the downside? |
| Why then, are tens of thousands of people | | | | If you do travel abroad for medical care, you |
| choosing to travel half-way around the world for | | | | may have to pay cash for it. Government and |
| surgical procedures? It's called "medical tourism," | | | | basic medical insurance, and sometimes extended |
| and you might find yourself considering it soon as | | | | medical insurance, often does not pay for the |
| well. | | | | medical procedure. Of course if it's an elective |
| What is medical tourism? | | | | procedure (as most cosmetic procedures are), |
| Rapidly becoming a multi-billion dollar industry, | | | | you're on your own anyway. |
| medical tourism is the catch-all phrase describing | | | | Should complications arise, you may not be |
| travel to other countries primarily for medical or | | | | covered by insurance, or be able to seek |
| dental care. Along with elective plastic surgery | | | | adequate compensation through malpractice |
| procedures like face-lifts and implants, medical | | | | lawsuits. Most of the countries offering medical |
| tourists also travel for highly specialized operations | | | | tourism have weak malpractice laws, so you'll |
| like heart surgery, cancer treatment and hip | | | | have little recourse to local courts or medical |
| replacement. Some medical tours include | | | | boards if something goes wrong. Of course, that's |
| pre-operation sightseeing, luxury accommodations | | | | part of the reason why the costs abroad are so |
| and extensive post-op care. | | | | low - physicians don't have to pay exorbitant |
| Why would I consider it? | | | | malpractice insurance premiums. |
| Your reasons for choosing to travel for medical | | | | Little follow-up care may be provided, and travel |
| care depend on where you live. In the US, medical | | | | or vacation activities soon after surgery can |
| costs are skyrocketing, and many elective | | | | increase the risk of complications. For example, |
| procedures aren't covered by insurance. | | | | your post-op scars may darken or become more |
| Procedures abroad may be a fourth or even a | | | | noticeable if you get a sunburn on the beach after |
| tenth of what they might be at home. | | | | your surgery. Long flights home can be |
| In countries with nationalized health such as | | | | uncomfortable at best, and downright dangerous |
| Canada or Great Britain, the waiting times for | | | | for thrombosis or breathing-related problems. |
| treatment may simply be too long, and the cost | | | | Treating side-effects and any post-operative care |
| to see a physician in private practice too high. | | | | will become your responsibility once you get |
| You may also become a medical tourist if you'd | | | | home. |
| like to combine an exotic vacation with a tummy | | | | Are there other health risks? |
| tuck or, on a more serious note, if you're seeking | | | | Exotic destinations are also home to exotic |
| alternative treatments for cancer or other | | | | infectious diseases for which Westerners often |
| diseases. | | | | have no immunity - particularly in a weakened, |
| How much money can I save? | | | | post-op state. Gastrointestinal diseases can slow |
| The short answer is, potentially lots. For example, | | | | the recovery process and more serious diseases |
| a heart valve replacement that would normally | | | | such as malaria, influenza, or TB, can be |
| cost $200,000 in the US would be $10,000 in India | | | | life-threatening. Having said that, because these |
| - including round-trip airfare, and a quick vacation | | | | diseases are more common in other countries, |
| package. Looking for a face-lift? This will raise | | | | doctors are more likely to recognize the |
| your eyebrows instantly: the price tag is $15,000 | | | | symptoms early and get you appropriate |
| in the US, but only $2,600 in Bolivia (And lest you | | | | treatment. |
| think the Bolivians are amateurs at this, more | | | | How do I check out a hospital's credentials? |
| than 70% of middle and upper-class women in | | | | Although it may seem daunting to research |
| Bolivian have had at least one cosmetic | | | | surgical treatment thousands of miles away, it's |
| procedure). | | | | absolutely necessary for your peace of mind and |
| According to a CBS News: 60 Minutes report, one | | | | quality assurance. |
| patient who received coronary artery bypass | | | | The Joint Commission is a US-based non-profit |
| surgery in Thailand said the operation cost him | | | | organization formed in 1951 with a mission to |
| $12,000, as opposed to the $100,000 he | | | | maintain and elevate the standards of healthcare |
| estimated the operation would have cost him at | | | | delivery through evaluation and accreditation of |
| home in the US. | | | | healthcare organizations. These standards define |
| How do I choose a country for my procedure? | | | | the performance expectations, structures, or |
| It depends on what type of procedure you're | | | | processes that must be in place and cover nearly |
| seeking. Some destinations specialize in medical | | | | every aspect of care from admissions and data |
| procedures while others are best known for | | | | collection, to daily patent assessments. Since |
| cosmetic surgery. If the procedure you're seeking | | | | 1999, JCI has also been accrediting hospitals |
| is elective and non-critical, you may be most | | | | internationally and to date has awarded 81 |
| interested in a country with beautiful antiquities or | | | | accreditations. JCI lists accredited hospitals by |
| beaches. | | | | country. |
| Countries actively promoting medical tourism for | | | | How do I plan a trip? |
| medical procedures include India, Singapore, | | | | So far the Roaming Gnome doesn't offer |
| Thailand, Cuba, Hong Kong, Hungary, Israel, | | | | suggestions for medical tourism, but there are |
| Jordan, Lithuania, Malaysia, and the Philippines. | | | | plenty of websites that can assist you with your |
| For plastic surgery, the hotspots are Argentina, | | | | plans. Google "medical tourism" and you'll find |
| Bolivia, Costa Rica, Mexico and Turkey. South | | | | about 15 million entries. Some companies are |
| Africa specializes not just in medical tourism, but | | | | foreign-based, with offices and representatives in |
| "medical safaris" - lions, elephants AND a nose job. | | | | the US or Canada, while others are US or |
| However, the country with the most expertise in | | | | Canadian companies working with representatives |
| plastic surgery may be Brazil, as more plastic and | | | | abroad. Not all companies organize travel to all |
| cosmetic surgery procedures are performed in | | | | destinations - you'll need to do a bit of research |
| this country annually than in the whole of the | | | | to find the best fit. |
| European Union. | | | | In any case, once you find a company to help |
| India, Thailand and Singapore have been most | | | | you plan your trip, the process could go |
| aggressive in building their medical tourism | | | | something like this: |
| business to date: | | | | 1. Fill out an application with your details and |
| INDIA | | | | medical needs. |
| The sub-continent is so committed to generating | | | | 2. Talk with a US-based case manager to select |
| revenue from medical tourists, the country's | | | | the hospital, doctor(s) and get a cost estimate. |
| National Health Policy actually declares that | | | | 3. Pay a deposit - avoid companies that want to |
| treatment of foreign patients is legally an "export" | | | | charge you 100% upfront. |
| and deemed "eligible for all fiscal incentives | | | | 4. Have a phone conference with your chosen |
| extended to export earnings." It's estimated that | | | | doctor and on-site case manager. |
| medical tourism to India is growing by 30% a | | | | 5. Fly to your destination for your procedure, |
| year. | | | | where you'll be met by your on-site case |
| India boasts 5 hospitals accredited by US-based | | | | manager. |
| Joint Commission International, and a global | | | | 6. Meet with your physician for a pre-op |
| reputation for superior hip resurfacing and heart | | | | consultation. |
| surgery. It may be somewhat anecdotal, one | | | | 7. Have your surgery and recover sufficiently for |
| Indian hospital, Escorts Heart Institute and | | | | your post-op vacation or return journey (for |
| Research Centers located in Delhi and Faridabad, | | | | some procedures, it may be more practical to |
| claims to perform nearly 15,000 heart operations | | | | have the "tourist" part of your trip first. |
| every year with a post-surgery mortality rate of | | | | How does insurance figure in? |
| only 0.8 percent - less than half of most major | | | | For the most part in the US, health insurance |
| hospitals in the United States. Most medical | | | | companies will not cover non-elective procedures |
| treatment costs start at about a tenth of the | | | | overseas - and certainly not elective. In other |
| price of comparable treatment in the US. | | | | words, you would be responsible for 100% of |
| However, for US travelers, extremely long travel | | | | your own medical costs. |
| times can be a deterrent. | | | | In the future however, employers may offer |
| SINGAPORE | | | | overseas medical treatment as an option to their |
| As Asia's leading medical hub, Singapore has a | | | | covered employees, according to Dr. Arnold |
| reputation for excellent quality, safety and | | | | Milstein, of Mercer Human Resource Consulting, |
| trustworthiness, along with advanced research | | | | who has been retained by five Fortune 500 |
| and technology. In 2006, Singapore hosted the | | | | companies to determine whether outsourcing |
| first international Medical Travel Conference with | | | | healthcare can be a viable option. |
| participants from 21 countries coming together to | | | | It's also possible to obtain medical insurance while |
| discuss the issues and challenges facing the | | | | traveling, but it will only cover you in the event of |
| medical travel industry. Nine hospitals in this small | | | | an emergency occurring on that trip. Whether or |
| country are accredited by JCI. | | | | not you would be covered during an emergency |
| THAILAND | | | | that occurs as a consequence of other medical |
| With its beautiful terrain, intoxicating culture and | | | | treatment you were receiving is another question. |
| stunning beaches, Thailand has been a popular | | | | I would suspect the answer is no. |
| destination for American medical tourists. English is | | | | So should I do it? |
| widely spoken, and a high number of physicians | | | | If you're seeking a relatively common elective |
| are trained in the West. Bangkok's Bumrundgrad | | | | cosmetic procedure, certainly shopping abroad |
| hospital alone has more than 200 surgeons who | | | | should figure into your decision process. If you |
| are board-certified in the United States. Hospitals | | | | have no or limited medical coverage, and need |
| in the country offer services specifically for the | | | | some serious treatment, traveling abroad may be |
| international med-tourist. For example, the | | | | the only option you can afford. In any case, make |
| International Medical Centre in Bangkok offers | | | | certain you've spoken in depth with your home |
| services in 26 languages, recognizes cultural and | | | | physician, fully understand the medical risk, and |
| religious dietary restrictions and has a special wing | | | | thoroughly research the physician and facility you |
| for Japanese patients. Although Bumrungrad | | | | intend to visit. |