How can Medical Tourism Help You?

Submitted by Tim Nichols on Thu, 2010-12-30 10:54

Medical Tourism is a Life Saver Medical tourism or traveling for health has been very popular in Europe for many years but only in recent years it has started attracting attention in the United States due to significantly lower costs for treatments/procedures and comparable or even higher quality healthcare. It is a great alternative to the conventional healthcare for people without medical insurance as well as for all who need a medical procedure that is not covered by the insurance.

The cost savings for medical procedure are undoubtedly the greatest advantage of medical tourism. It offers virtually all types of healthcare including orthopedics, dental tourism, cosmetic treatments, alternative treatments, executive physicals, etc., while the costs can be as low as 1/5 of the price you would pay in the United States or even lower, depending on the procedure needed and the chosen destination.

An Example of Medical Tourism Saving over $30,000

A hairdresser from Anchorage, Alaska, Cindy Lindquist was told by her local dentist that she needs a full mouth restoration that will cost her about $40,000 to $50,000 or have her teeth pulled out and dentures out in for $12,000. She decided to fly to Costa Rica to have a full mouth restoration and payed a little over $13,000 for the procedure and all travel expenses including accommodation for 9 days and plane ticket. Read about her experience in "How safe is Dental Tourism? ".

Other Advantages to Medical Tourism

Medical tourism offers many advantages other than costs savings. It is an excellent alternative for people who are put on long waiting lists as well as for those who believe that they may receive better treatment abroad. Some countries are reputable for quality dental works, some for orthopedics and the others for alternative treatments. Paying less for treatment does not necessarily mean that you are receiving poor quality treatment or materials though it is important to be aware that quality and safety vary greatly from one healthcare facility to another. For that reason it is highly recommendable to make sure that the chosen health facility meets the quality and safety standards before asking for price.

How Much Does the Destination Matter?

Choice of destination is not the most important object of medical tourism but on the other hand, many people choose medical tourism because it enables them to combine healthcare and leisure. After all, why not taking advantage of the opportunity to explore the chosen destination, especially if traveling to the other side of the world. In addition, many health facilities that offer their services to medical tourists are located at attractive destinations which enhance your experience of traveling abroad as well as enable you to get the necessary rest after the treatment. In most cases, the costs for the treatment/procedure and travel expenses are still lower than the price you would pay in your home country for treatment alone which clearly proves the story of Miss Cindy Lindquist.

What about the Risks?

Medical tourism offers numerous advantages over the conventional healthcare which also explains why it is becoming increasingly popular all over the world. However, it has its disadvantages and pitfalls as well. You'll find lots of other stories on our International Healthcare Blog, and here in the community.

Resources

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Comments

I had a friend who had to

Submitted by J3nnY.CP4p on Thu, 2012-03-01 21:55.

I had a friend who had to rely on a CPAP mask to regulate her breathing as she slept at night. However, she decided to go overseas to have a surgery procedure to correct her nasal passage which enabled her to breathe better. She saved a tonne of money because the local operation would have cost her a lot more.

Quality is priority

Submitted by BlueBierd on Tue, 2012-02-07 20:00.

greensmoke
Probably one of the most important factors when choosing a medical tourism destination is the quality of the medical service in that other destination. Since the reason for the travel is to get good treatment, it should be the priority, with leisure coming in second. However, if the destination is able to contribute to the healing process, by means of good air or tranquil locales, then by all means make the destination a priority too.

I know that many people

Submitted by JohnMD on Tue, 2012-02-07 00:58.

I know that many people have been travelling to South korea for cosmetic surgery because it is slightly cheaper than in most western countries and the doctors are good as well. I think before making the trip, it is best to do a thorough research so as to avoid wasting time and money on a wasted trip.

Medical Tourism hasn’t

Submitted by darlene675 on Mon, 2012-01-30 06:33.

Medical Tourism hasn’t reached Asia yet. This is the first time that I heard of this stuff and I kinda like the idea of Medical Tourism. Though this have been mentioned in millionaire mind intensive seminar Toronto, still, it’s not getting any attention in many parts of the country.

Traveling for health is an

Submitted by JimMcMaster on Mon, 2011-12-12 10:36.

Traveling for health is an interesting concept that I am only vaguely familiar with. In concept, it sounds like a great idea. While I would be a little nervous to travel certain places for healthcare, I’m sure it can be safe if you conduct proper research beforehand. I’m also interested in seeing what kind of travel medical insurance is available for something like this. I look forward to reading more stories similar to Ms. Lindquist’s.