| Medical tourism first began to get popular in the | | | | What is the Risk? |
| 1990's, when people began traveling in large | | | | According to the Institute of Medicine, over |
| numbers to Brazil for cosmetic surgery. But as | | | | 100,000 accidental deaths occur in hospitals every |
| costs have continued to rise, thousands of | | | | year. And that's here in the U.S. Hospitals are a |
| Americans have been traveling overseas for real | | | | dangerous place to be, and you want to spend as |
| medical conditions, such as knee replacements, | | | | little of your life in one as possible. So there are |
| by-pass operations, heart valve replacements, and | | | | risks everywhere, and probably greater risks |
| other serious issues. Many countries are seeing | | | | outside the U.S. |
| medical tourism as a good way to bring in foreign | | | | But the magic of the free-market does give you |
| money. | | | | some protection. There is a lot of money flowing |
| In many cases the quality of medicine available | | | | to countries and international hospitals that |
| overseas is equal to the top hospitals in the U.S. | | | | practice high-quality medicine. If a hospital does |
| Patients are showing up at places like the Apollo | | | | not provide quality service, you can bet its |
| Hospital in Hyderabad, India, part of a 36-hospital | | | | customers will go elsewhere, particularly if they |
| chain founded by a cardiologist from | | | | are choosing among anywhere in the world. |
| Massachusetts General. A heart valve | | | | The influx of foreign patients (and money) is |
| replacement may cost $50,000 to $100,000 in the | | | | enticing more western-trained doctors to return |
| U.S., and only $12,000 in India, including travel | | | | home, so the choices are actually increasing, and |
| costs. | | | | the quality and prices continue to improve. I |
| Escorts Heart Institute and Research Center, in | | | | believe that if you use care in choosing your |
| Delhi, India, is another popular medical tourist | | | | provider and structuring your treatment, the risks |
| destination. It was founded by Dr. Naresh Trehan, | | | | are no greater than having surgery here in the |
| an authority on robotic cardiac surgery formerly | | | | U.S. |
| based at New York University. | | | | How to Research Your Options |
| Blue Cross Blue Shield has just announced that | | | | Keep in mind that most health insurance plans still |
| they will pay for treatment at Bumrungrad | | | | will not cover for treatment outside the U.S., |
| International Hospital, in Bangkok, Thailand for | | | | particularly if you are traveling specifically to |
| individuals from South Carolina. Over 80,000 | | | | receive medical care. So check with your insurer if |
| Americans received treatment there last year. | | | | the cost of the treatment is going to exceed |
| The hospital boasts that over 200 of its doctors | | | | your deductible. |
| are board-certified in the U.S, and will perform a | | | | The Joint Commission on Accreditation of |
| knee replacement operation for 20 percent of | | | | Healthcare Organizations certifies hospitals here in |
| what it would cost in the U.S. | | | | the U.S. Their international division, Joint |
| Who Does This? | | | | Commission International, certifies hospitals |
| Dodie Gilmore is a 60 year-old rodeo barrel-racing | | | | throughout the rest of the world. Make sure the |
| champ from Oklahoma. She runs a 180 acre | | | | facility that you are considering has been certified |
| ranch, but could no longer ride a horse because | | | | by them. |
| she needed a hip replacement. Her health | | | | Then check out your doctor. Confirm that he or |
| insurance plan had an exclusion that wouldn't | | | | she is English speaking, and was trained in the U.S., |
| cover her operation, and she really didn't feel like | | | | U.K., Australia, or Germany. |
| paying the $35,000 it would cost her. Instead she | | | | Finally, consider hiring a consultant to help you |
| and her partner flew to India where she had the | | | | choose the best hospital and surgeon for your |
| surgery at the Max Institute of Orthopedics and | | | | needs. A good service will not only set up the |
| Joint Replacement. | | | | treatment, but can also arrange all travel plans, |
| Her physician was Dr. S.K.S. Marya, who averages | | | | meet you at the airport, and act as your liaison |
| one American hip-replacement patient every | | | | while you are being treated. |
| week. Dodie's total coast, including travel, was | | | | If you spend money from your Health Savings |
| only $11,000. She even managed to take in a tour | | | | Account to pay for international medical care, the |
| of the Taj Mahal. | | | | amount you withdraw is tax-free. Health Savings |
| Forty to Sixty percent of those surveyed say | | | | Account regulations also allow you to cover the |
| they would consider surgery abroad if it could | | | | cost of your travel if the reason you are traveling |
| save them $5,000 or more. Going out of the U.S. | | | | to get medical care is not "for purely personal |
| (perhaps even just to Mexico), could be a | | | | reasons." |
| worthwhile strategy if you have an exclusionary | | | | When choosing how to manage your health, you |
| waiver on your policy, if you'll be having elective | | | | should carefully consider all your options. |
| surgery not covered by your health insurance | | | | International travel is a great option for people |
| policy, or if you have a high deductible plan. | | | | with Health Savings Accounts. |