| With health care costs skyrocketing, many people | | | | careers, or they have worked in the US, or they |
| are looking elsewhere for treatment options. And | | | | are participating very actively in the international |
| it's no wonder: just a week's stay in the hospital | | | | medical community. So, yes, the doctors are quite |
| WITHOUT ANY PROCEDURES can cost you | | | | competent - and they're up on the latest medical |
| $15,000 or more[1]. | | | | technologies and treatment. In some cases, they |
| Where do they go? To places like India, Thailand, | | | | are even leading their respective fields. |
| Panama, and Argentina. These countries have | | | | Finally, when all is said and done and your |
| strongly emerging economies, and have | | | | treatment is completed, you can visit the |
| correspondingly made significant investment in | | | | faraway places that most only dream of or read |
| their medical capabilities. That translates to quality | | | | about - hospital facilities typically have connections |
| care - second to none - at reasonable cost. And, | | | | with tour companies at discount rates to fill or at |
| they're places where the economies are still | | | | least pique your wanderlust. It's a great |
| emerging, which has a significant impact on costs. | | | | side-benefit! |
| These services have fallen under the rubric, | | | | So, is medical tourism right for you? Medical |
| "Medical Tourism" - the notion of combining the | | | | treatment overseas may be just the ticket |
| service of medical treatments with an opportunity | | | | you're looking for - if you don't have health |
| to expand one's travel horizons. | | | | insurance or your insurance has determined that a |
| And why not? In India (currently the best bang | | | | wanted procedure is 'elective', or there are other |
| for buck in medical treatment), laparascopic, | | | | impediments to your getting the treatment you |
| prostate, hernia repair, gastric banding, dental | | | | want, it can be very much worth your while to |
| implantation, and other treatments can go for a | | | | investigate your "Medical Tourism" options. |
| tenth to a fifth what they'd cost in the US. And | | | | As always, you should investigate your options |
| treatment is quick - once you've made | | | | and requirements as they apply to your situation. |
| arrangements, you don't have to wait in | | | | (One place to do this is by participating in a forum |
| interminable lines. Finances are just as easy. In | | | | we have set up for just such a purpose - see the |
| most cases, a comprehensive quote is given | | | | link in the resource box. The forum is free to all, |
| before you even purchase your airline tickets. | | | | you just need to join to participate.) Treatment |
| Billing is easy, too - just a matter of presenting a | | | | overseas adds one more choice to your set of |
| credit card for the final bill, often determined by | | | | options - an option that can greatly reduce costs, |
| an up-front quote. | | | | and give you the opportunity to explore another |
| What about the doctors? Are they competent? | | | | part of the world, while you're at it! |
| Very. In fact, the doctors you will see were very | | | | [1] Source: personal experience. |
| likely trained in the US at some point in their | | | | |