Category Archives: Top Tips (all)

A quick guide to medical tourism

Posted on January 9, 2013 | Comments Off on A quick guide to medical tourism

About 1.6 million Americans will travel overseas this year for medical procedures ranging from facelifts to heart bypass surgeries, according to the Medical Tourism Association (medicaltourismassociation.com). Some go because they don’t have coverage in the United States, or their plans don’t cover certain procedures. Others, including celebrities such as the late Steve Jobs and Farrah Fawcett, traveled abroad to get access to treatments that did not exist in the states. Lower costs and high-quality care in other countries can make such trips tempting. But medical standards vary widely around the world, and decisions on surgery should not be made on cost alone. Estimated prices are from the Medical Tourism Association unless otherwise mentioned, and include only the cost of surgery. Bloomberg

Heart bypass surgery

If you need a heart bypass and can’t afford domestic prices, Jonathan Edelheit, CEO of the Medical Tourism Association, says India offers high-quality cardiology care and has many U.S.-trained doctors. He says many Americans go to the Wockhardt Hospitals throughout India. The Apollo Hospitals, which also have branches in various cities in India, are popular and are accredited by the Joint Commission International, the international arm of the Joint Commission, which accredits U.S. hospitals.

Cost of surgery

$144,000: United States

$5,200: India

Cost Closer to home

$25,000: Costa Rica

Gastric bypass

The surgery has helped the likes of Al Roker, above, lose more than 100 pounds. Not all U.S. insurance companies cover such surgeries, so if you’re a good candidate for the procedure, one avenue to explore is Mexico. One option: Hospital Galenia in Cancun, which is approved by the Joint Commission International.

Cost of surgery

$32,972: United States

$10,950: Mexico

Cost Closer to home

$12,500: Costa Rica

Orthopedic surgeries

Celebrities such as Regis Philbin and Jane Fonda, above, have had hip replacements in the United States. But Israel is a popular overseas destination. The cost is about half while the care is considered high quality.

Cost of surgery

$50,000: United States

$25,000: Israel

Cost Closer to home

$12,500: Costa Rica

Dental implants

The cost of getting your teeth as white as Vice President Joe Biden’s, above, may justify a trip to Europe. According to Deepak Datta, president of Medical Tourism Corp., Hungary has become a top destination because oral surgeons there are highly skilled.

Cost for one implant

$2,800: United States

$1,035: Hungary (Fedasz Dental Clinic, Budapest)

Cost Closer to home

$1,800: Mexico

Plastic surgery

Costa Rica, Colombia and Brazil offer prices as much as 70 percent cheaper than in the United States. The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery has certified about 1,900 surgeons in 90 countries who meet its standards. One possible location for cosmetic care: Hospital Universitario Fundacion Santa Fe de Bogota, in Colombia.

Cost of Facelift

$15,000: United States

$5,000: Colombia

Cost of Breast implants

$10,000: U.S.

$2,500: Colombia

In vitro fertilization

Rarely covered by medical insurance in the United States, Israel beckons. According to IsraMedica’s Katz, Israel’s success rate is 36 percent, compared with as high as 20 percent in other countries. Plus, the cost is about 70 percent less than in the states. One of the busiest clinics in the world is JCI-approved Assuta Hospital in Tel Aviv.

Cost of one cycle

$12,400: United States

$6,000: Israel (IsraMedica)

$5,000: Panama (Passport Medical)

Cost Closer to home

$3,950: Mexico

Spinal fusion

Traveling to India for spinal surgery sounds painful in and of itself. Once you get there, though, you’ll find experts for problems of the spine such as broken vertebrae, spinal deformity and lower back pain. The Wockhardt Brain and Spine Hospital in Mumbai is one option to consider.

Cost of surgery

$100,000: United States

$6,500: India

Cost Closer to home

$11,500: Costa Rica

Lasik eye surgery

While Canada used to be a popular destination for Lasik, the price difference is no longer that great. In Prague, the Lexum Eye Clinic uses equipment approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Many surgeons were trained in the United States. The cost is about half of that in the states.

Cost of surgery (both eyes)

$4,400: United States

$2,360: Czech Republic (Market Scope)

Cost Closer to home

$1,995: Mexico

See the complete Bloomberg report at tinyurl.com/cv3khjn.

source: http://www.tampabay.com / Tampa Bay Times / Home> News> Bloomberg / Monday, January 07th, 2013

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Posted in Medical Tourism/Health Tourism, Others, Reports,Features, Statistics, Top Tips (all)

5 Tips to Choose a Medical Tourism Facility

Posted on October 17, 2012 | Comments Off on 5 Tips to Choose a Medical Tourism Facility

Medical tourism is a new way of doing tourism that is growing everyday. More and more people are doing medical tourism; the benefits are quite obvious, at the same time you are taking care of yourself (of your health) you are visiting a different country, a different culture.

Medical care will vary from country to country, for example, some countries are known for having an excellent medical care on a particular area; other countries are known for having supreme medical care (and outstanding results) in another area. People engage in medical tourism because they want outstanding results and they seek the finest medical care services. However, some persons just arrive to a medical facility and unfortunately it can’t meet their expectations. That is why you have to choose the medical tourism facility wisely.

  • 1 – International Standards

Both the American College of Surgeons and the American Medical Association have set strict criteria in the matter of medical tourism. If you want to select a medical tourism facility, it is advisable you select one that follows the international standards for medical tourism. The international standards are strict rules, guidelines and ethics all the hospitals of medical tourism must follow.

  • 2 –Worldwide Affiliation

The affiliations of a Hospital can tell a lot about it. Make sure that medical tourism hospital is affiliated with recognized and accredited entities (Harvard Medical School, Cleveland Clinic, John Hopkins, etc.) if that hospital has these type of associations that will be a plus.

  • 3 –Feedback

It is very, very important to check feedback from past users of the medical tourism facility where you want to do medical tourism. Make questions, check with past users, check successful treatments (but do not forget to check unsuccessful treatments as well). By doing this you will be capable of gaining a better insight about that medical tourism facility and you will also make sure you are not going to a hospital which do not follows your criteria.

  • 4 –Certification

If a hospital for medical tourism is not certificated by the Joint Commission International it means that if you decide to visit that hospital to perform some kind of treatment, the risk of seeing your high expectations dropping is very high. All the quality hospitals for medical tourism have to be certified by international organizations like the Joint Commission International.

  • 5 –Check the Health Care Professionals

It is not just about the facility, it is also about the professionals working on it.If you are a patient  from America it is natural you want to be treated by health care professionals that can speak you language. You are going to other country to do medical tourism, you are going to a foreign hospital but this does not mean that you can’t be treated by professionals from America, UK or Canada. If you feel more comfortable with American professionals, you can easily check if that hospital has American health care professionals available to treat you.

By following these simple although effective tips you will make sure you choose the right medical tourism facility and that your high expectations will be met.

Daniel is passionate writer who loves to medical tourism  and medical treatment related tips. He would like to invite you to find out more guides about medical treatment in Lithuania at www.medtrips.eu

source: http://www.getholistichealth.com/ Home> Overall Health / by Daniel Barett / October 09th, 2012

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Posted in Health /Medical Treatment For Overseas Treatment, Medical Tourism/Health Tourism, Reports,Features, Statistics, Top Tips (all), Travelling For Surgery Abroad / Medical Surgery Overseas

Medical Tourism Tips: What a Medical Tourist Should Know and Do

Posted on August 23, 2011 | Comments Off on Medical Tourism Tips: What a Medical Tourist Should Know and Do

It’s easy to hop on a plane and catch the next flight to your surgical destination . But before you do so, there are a number of things you should know and do to make your medical tourism trip safe and successful. Here is a list that will assist you in planning…

DO PROPER RESEARCH

Research is the first step to successful medical travel. Make sure that you do your research on the following:

1. The procedure: Find out about the procedure and compare your expectations with what’s achievable by the surgery. Also inquire about follow-up care needed, time required for recovery, physical therapy, etc.

2. The hospital: When selecting the international hospital that’s right for your needs, you should consider the hospital’s accreditation, awards and recognitions, facility and equipments, statistics like success rates, etc.

3. The surgeon: Check the certifications, training and repute of the surgeon who will be treating you.

4. The destination country: You should base your country selection on: quality, distance and cost.

KEEP YOUR LOCAL DOCTOR INFORMED

Always work with your local doctor and inform him about your decision to travel overseas for treatment. You may need his assistance prior to the surgery for furnishing the health records required by the international hospital and post surgery for any follow-up checks that may be required.

HAVE ALL YOUR IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS IN ORDER

Bring the following documents with you. For each document, make copies and leave one set of copies at a safe place at home.

1. Medical records: Medical records like X-Rays, MRI’s, health histories, photographs, immunization records, prescriptions, and any other health records relevant to the surgery. Remember to carry all these medical reports and any medicines in your carry-on luggage.

2. Passport and visa: You will need a passport for yourself and your travel companion (if any). Depending upon the country you are traveling to, you may or may not need a visa. Check with your destination country’s embassy for the same.

3. Credit cards, debit cards and travelers checks: Bring some local currency, travelers checks and one or two major credit cards and debit cards.

4. Driver’s license: Carry your driver’s license and make sure it will remain valid while you’re traveling.

KEEP IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION HANDY

Keep the following contact information handy:

1. Emergency contacts like relatives and friends

2. Destination embassy

3. Hospital

4. Hotel

5. Local surgeon / doctor

6. Employer

BE PREPARED TO STAY LONGER/SHORTER THAN EXPECTED

You should allow ample time for recovery after your surgery before you travel back home. So be prepared to stay longer as advised by your doctor. In some other cases you may not need to stay for as long as was expected.

WORK WITH A MEDICAL TOURISM COMPANY

Last but not the least, work with a medical tourism provider like Healthbase (http://www.healthbase.com). They are specialized facilitators that connect you with the hospital of your choice while providing all or some other valuable services like detailed information about various procedures, detailed hospital profiles and surgeon profiles, medical records transfer, free surgery quote, pre- and post-consultation with the overseas hospital, feedback and testimonials from previous patients, medical and dental loan financing, passport and visa, airport pick-up and drop-off, hospital escort, tickets, travel insurance, hotel booking, tourism services in the destination country, etc.

Due research and planning are vital to happy, safe and successful medical travel. Therefore, you must follow the above medical travel tips and do your homework before boarding the plane.

You can learn more about the growing trend of medical tourism, international healthcare facilities facilities and surgeons and the details of the medical tourism process by logging on to http://www.healthbase.com. Healthbase.com is a medical tourism facilitator committed to providing low-cost high quality medical travel services to the global medical consumer.

About the Author: The author works for Healthbase which is a medical tourism facilitator connecting patients to leading hospitals around the world for low cost high quality surgical care in various categories including bariatric, orthopedic, cardiac, spinal, dental, cosmetic, laparoscopic, etc. To learn more, call 1-888-691-4584, email info.hb @ healthbase.com, or visit http://www.healthbase.com.

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Posted in Health /Medical Treatment For Overseas Treatment, Healthcare Service Providers, Medical Tourism/Health Tourism, Top Tips (all), Travelling For Surgery Abroad / Medical Surgery Overseas

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How to choose a right destination for medical tourism

Posted on August 4, 2011 | Comments Off on How to choose a right destination for medical tourism

International health travelers planning medical travel abroad have to decide where to go for health care. There is a big deal of medical directories, different associations, societies and et cetera registered all over the world which are competing in helping to find the best place for treatment oversees and promoting particular countries, hospitals and providers.

 

The problem is that such helpers have as a rule no legal obligations, and approaches used are not always convincible, appropriate and efficient.

 

It remains a big challenge for medical traveler to find a trusted source for reliable online health information about the right destination for medical care including evidence-based medical information, quality reports, certification or accreditation, mortality data, infection rates, performance data and to protect himself from misleading health information.

 

Recognizing that European citizens are avid consumers of health related information on the Internet and recognizing that the difficulties by evaluating of medical information available, the European Council at Feira on June 19-20 2000 supported an initiative within eEurope 2002 and as a result Quality Criteria for Health Related Websites were developed in widespread consultation with representatives of private and public eHealth websites and information providers, other industrial representatives, public officials, and representatives of government departments, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations.

These criteria consist of 6 major points and should be applied in addition to relevant Community law:

 

Transparency and Honesty Authority Privacy and data protection Updating of information Accountability Accessibility

 

Health On the Net Foundation from Swiss /www.hon.ch/, one of most respected not-for-profit portals to medical information on the Internet, established its code of ethical conduct which is based on Quality Criteria for Health Related Websites of the European Council.

 

We recognize the HONcode as a minimal requirement for any health related websites and websites dealing with medical tourism as well. Any patient looking for medical care abroad is advised to check the present of the the HONcode on the website of provider or facilitator of health services. It is the start but not enough for choosing a right destination.

 

That is why the Institute for Cross-Border Health Care (Homepage: www.meditravel-plus.com) established guidelines with the aim to help international health travelers to choose a right destination for medical travel and to assist individuals in making more informed health and healthcare decisions. These guidelines can be consistently used by international health travelers planning medical travel abroad.

 

Institute for Cross-Border Health Care guidelines on general principles of destination evaluation for medical care:

 

1. Not rely on advertising but critically analyze and check statistics, medical data bases and not at the least use your own common sense. 

 

2. Be aware of the fact that some destinations have not only price advantages but of course some disadvantages as well. The quality of overseas hospitals and providers remains the most important and controversial issue.

 

3. Be sure that a destination where you are going to medical treatment is able to fulfill and satisfy all requirements needed according to US and EU standards to health care.

 

4. Pay attention at the provision of healthcare, life expectancy and maternal mortality ratio according to Mortality Country Fact Sheet of WHO (World Health Organization) within the country advertising itself as an attractive destination for medical travel. 

 

5. Be aware of possibility of outbreak of pandemic as a result of poor hygiene conditions over the inhabitants

 

6. Consult health care data of a country in question and try to understand, whether or not it is worthy to go there and whether the services of the local medical provider could be trusted of. For more information it could be useful for medical tourists to visit the website of WHO: www.who.int/countries, which is available now in 6 international languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, Spanish.

 

7. Pay attention at the fact which total expenditure on health as % of Gross Domestic Product a destination country has and try to learn whether the destination country is able to provide health care for its own citizens, including doctors and medical stuff of the hospitals. 

 

8. Try to learn whether legal procedures, law medical standards comply with US and European law

 

9. Be informed of responsibility for clinical oversight with the country of treatment and check legal status of providers

 

10. Be certain that the transfer of your medical records to and from facilities outside your home country is consistent with USA and EU guidelines and local follow-up care could be coordinated

 

11. Be informed of your rights and legal recourse, complaint proceduresin the case of undesirable outcomes prior to agreeing to travel outside your country for medical care

 

12. Be certain that you could resort to the legal process and obtain remedies in case of complication and should anything go wrong. So you can avoid an increased risk and uncalculated spending

 

13. Inform yourself about general agenda as domestic security, terrorism and political instability  

 

14. Inform yourself about the prevalence of the corruption in Public and Other Institutions, which could infect local hospitals and health care in general. For more information about Bribe payer index and Global Corruption Barometer, please consult the website of Transparency International:www.transparency.org. The information about corruption is available in 7 international languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

 

15. Inform yourself about circulation of faked medication. Particularly in the developing world some countries praised in advertising as medical travel destinations are supposed and proved to be the centers of faked medication production.

 

16. Try to understand that a variety of different factors could result that the price you pay for affordable and chip surgery would be in the end very big. And it is not only about the money. In our globalized world it is difficult sometimes to compete well with chip prices. But chip medical services could always be not good nor has a good quality.

 

17. Be aware about differences in nutritional habits, religious practices, family interactions and other customs

 

18. Be informed aware of standards of clinical excellence, pre and post operative care, levels of English spoken and medical training, cultural and language barriers

 

 

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Posted in Health /Medical Treatment For Overseas Treatment, Healthcare Service Providers, Medical Tourism/Health Tourism, Top Tips (all), Travelling For Surgery Abroad / Medical Surgery Overseas

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What You Need to Know about Emerging Trends in Medical Tourism

Posted on July 14, 2011 | Comments Off on What You Need to Know about Emerging Trends in Medical Tourism

Copyright (c) 2008 Medical-Tourism-Guide.com

Medical tourism is commonly described as the practice of obtaining medical services in a foreign destination. Although this niche market is now being capitalized on and becoming better known, the practice of traveling abroad for services is not new.

Switzerland, in particular, has long since been attracting the rich and famous to its beautiful surroundings, for innovative procedures and a relaxing vacation. There are many sources that site Switzerland as the pioneer of medical tourism.

Medical tourism is not just for the rich and famous anymore, and Switzerland is not the only destination. About ten years ago, countries in Asia realized that the opportunity exists to fill the unmet needs of millions worldwide.

For nearly a decade, the concept of medical tourism has been misunderstood and received bad media coverage in developed countries. Today not only has that trend reversed, but medical tourism is being embraced as a viable option for people in need of affordable medical care. Well known newspapers and television networks are doing pieces medical tourism as a whole and are spotlighting individuals who have taken advantage of the cost saving option.

What is driving the expansion of the medical tourism industry? Countries such as India have been quick to recognize that the Western world is not providing timely medical care to its citizens. In both the United States and Canada, it is not uncommon to wait for more than 4 months to be seen after a referral is made. Then, there is more waiting time while tests are scheduled. Additional time passes waiting for the test results. If the result is that there is a need for a procedure, it could be several more weeks before surgery is scheduled. Non emergency medical attention may be extended for up to two years. There is basically no wait time in foreign countries such as India and Thailand.

Another driving force is the outrageous and ever rising costs of medical insurance. It is not uncommon for a family to be quoted ,000 or more for monthly insurance premiums, which only covers a portion of the bill, AFTER the ,000 annual deductible is met! That equates to ,000 in out of pocket payments before the insurance coverage kicks in. The average worker cannot afford ,000 and in many instances, that figure far supercedes the annual income! In the United States, there are 43.3 million uninsured people.

What happens then, to the average person who is uninsured and in need of a heart bypass? If not aware of the option of medical tourism, the uninsured worker will face the choice of going without the surgery, or of withdrawing his life savings, or taking out a loan in order to pay for the surgery.

The same worker can obtain the surgery in another country for ,000 vs. ,000 in the US. He can get a knee replacement for ,000 vs. ,000! Although still a large amount of money, it is much more attainable abroad than in the home country.

Those in the medical tourism industry recognize that time is a precious commodity. Another aspect to the trends of medical tourism is to market to those who have little vacation or sick leave available to them. Multitasking is not new in the business world, and countries desiring to attract the medical tourist are appealing to those who would like to have an exotic and affordable vacation, but may feel they need to forgo it, in light of the upcoming surgery in the spring. Many countries are marketing their accredited, resort type facilities, and the amenities of the surrounding countryside to those in need of medical services.

We are truly living in a global medical community that knows no borders. With the Internet readily at the fingertips of anyone desiring to use it, information about various facilities, services, and destinations can be searched out. An emerging trend is for the facility to offer “inclusive” packages. That is right! You and a companion can now surf the internet and find an exotic location to have your serious surgeries, or one of a more cosmetic nature. On site travel agents are standing by, offering a package that includes discounted airfare, ground transportation, all meals and accommodations in a resort type facility, with internationally trained doctors and medical staff who will be extremely attentive before, during and after your procedure. The price will undoubtedly be about 1/6 of the cost of just the medical procedure in a developed country.

The bottom line is that medical tourism is here to stay. India has a goal of becoming the number one destination in the world. Other countries are setting similar goals. As they begin to compete with each other, vying for our business, services and options are increasing while the costs remain low. Most countries are seeing a growth of 20-30% in medical tourism, as medical services in the Western countries are being outsourced.

Jay Siva is the author of the best seller book “The Complete Guide to Medical Tourism“. He reveals vital information on how to successfully plan your medical trip abroad, find discount airfare, American-trained doctors, and internationally- accredited hospitals. You ‘ll find out such things as how to pick your treatment destination, what you can expect to pay for specific surgical procedures and so much more.

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Posted in Health /Medical Treatment For Overseas Treatment, Medical Treatment/Health Treatment Subject By Speciality, Reports,Features, Statistics, Top Tips (all), Travelling For Surgery Abroad / Medical Surgery Overseas

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