Consumers
trying to combat the rising cost of health care are increasingly going abroad
to have medical procedures—but experts warn, buyer beware.
“Just like any industry, you are going to
have good companies and not so good companies,” says Renée-Marie Stephano,
president of the Medical Tourism Association. “The problem is there is no
regulation for medical tourism facilitators. There are companies that may put
together a network of providers not based on best practices.”
From spine surgery to cancer treatments,
medical tourism is becoming more popular--especially among uninsured patients.
“People can save 10% to 50% or 60% for
particular medical procedures,” according to Stephano.
But patients shouldn’t let the savings cloud
their judgment—they need to do thorough research on the facility, doctor and
procedure before making any decisions.
“People should definitely do their homework
and should discuss with their primary care physician whether they are
physically able to travel overseas.”
For years people have traveled outside of the
U.S. for all types of cosmetic and elective surgeries, like facelifts or nose
jobs and then combine it with a vacation while they heal. More recently,
however, the trend has evolved to include more serious treatments for things
like knee and hip replacements, cardiac procedures and neurosurgery.
According to the Medical Tourism Association,
countries including India, Thailand and Singapore have emerged as leaders in
catering to medical tourists while countries in Asia, Latin American and Europe
are starting to catch up.
People are drawn to these destinations
largely because the price of the procedures is drastically cheaper than in the
U.S. For example, the Medical Tourism Association estimates a knee replacement
will cost $40,000 in the U.S. That same
procedure will cost $11,000 in Costa Rica and $8,000 in India. Gastric bypass surgery comes with a price tag
of $35,000 in the U.S. but only $11,500 in Mexico, according to the
association.
Experts remind patients that medical care is
not an exact science so there’s risk of complications, the danger of traveling
with a condition, the safety and security risk of an overseas city and the risk
that the care won’t be adequate or up to U.S. standards.
“Consumers need to know in the long run it
may end up costing more depending on the complications,” says American Society
of Plastic Surgeons President Dr. Gregory Evans. “They need to do research more
than price.”
Planning a trip for medical reasons has the
same options for a recreational vacation: You can either plan, research and
book the trip yourself, or use a medical tourism facilitator.
Experts advise patients that choose a medical
tourism facilitator to read reviews and do research to make sure they choose a
qualified professional.
Stephano says to go with a facilitator that
provides options and doesn’t refer one specific hospital or doctor. What’s
more, she says a consumer shouldn’t blindly accept what the facilitator says
about the doctor. Ask for evidence the hospital is accredited and that the
doctor is board certified. Check with the Better Business Bureau to ensure
there are no judgments against the company and look online for any reviews of
the medical tourism facilitator before paying any money.
According to James Goldberg, author of The
American Medical Money Machine, more travel agencies are getting into the
medical tourism business and establishing relationships with foreign hospitals
as a way to offset the declines in vacation travel. These companies bill
themselves as experts, but he says they have little experience or authority to
know what constitutes a good hospital.
“Anybody who gets a recommendation from a
travel agent should be very wary of it,” says Goldberg. “Consumers need to
communicate with the hospital and be able to speak to the doctor and get proof
of their qualifications.”
Regardless of whether consumers finds a
hospital on their own or through a facilitator, Goldberg stresses they need to research the medical education of the
surgeon, number of surgeries/procedures complete and the outcome rate. “It’s
necessary for patients to be wise buyers of these services. They have to do
their homework,” says Goldberg.
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