Cosmetic Surgery, Plastic Surgery in Thailand You Choose A New Nose Or A New Gender In Bangkok "everything goes" From the top of the head to the tip of the toes Bangkok Surgeons can make those subtle or not so subtle changes to your body that you always dreamed about but never dreamed that you could afford.
Bangkok, Thailand and its shiny new clinics have become the new capital for medical tourism, particularly for plastic surgery - and sex change surgery Wether you are looking for larger breasts, smaller breasts, larger buttocks, smaller buttocks, a new nose or even a new gender there is a Thai surgeon whose skills are fo hire.
In a huge ground floor room with panoramic windows, English patients and Saudi nobility sit back in comfortable sofas with Starbucks coffee in their hands. Welcome to ‘Bumrungrad International’, the largest private hospital in south east Asia, nestled right in the heart of Bangkok. Here, you feel a long way from the operating tables. The atmosphere is more akin to a luxury hotel or a shopping centre, with escalators leading straight to a MacDonald’s and a book shop, as well as to boutiques on the second floor.
This is exactly what the management of this new generation hospital intended. The nurses are recruited on appearance as well as their qualifications. Appointments can be made from abroad via email after consulting their detailed website, complete with a photo of your surgeon.
It is thanks to establishments like the Bumrungrad, listed on the stock market, with its 400, 000 foreign patients a year – equal to 40% of its clientele – that Thailand has become a favourite destination in less than a decade.
The combination of ‘sea, sex and scalpel attracts more than a million tourists each year, almost one tourist in ten, and this seems unlikely to change. Tourism in Asia is currently seeing 20-30% growth per year. South America, Singapore, India and Malaysia are finding it hard to compete with their smaller Thai neighbours in terms of the quality of treatments, prices and the local tourism infrastructure, which are widely advertised abroad by a governmental organisation, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
Although most clients involved in this kind of tourism are American, Australian or from Asia and the Middle East, more and more Europeans are turning to the Thai scalpel, frustrated by long waiting lists and the price of operations in their home countries.
The focus of this enthusiasm is plastic surgery. Operations of an aesthetic nature are developing extremely quickly in Thailand in response to growing national and international demand. More and more Europeans are therefore coming to visit Siamese soil for long enough that
She can fix her nose (2, 300 Euros) enlarge or reduce her bust, get rid of her winkles and remove her fat with liposuction. While his other half is getting a waistline worth putting on the cover of Elle
He can take the opportunity to make his baldness a bad memory (1, 400 Euros minimum), remove his tattoos and enlarge his pectorals.
Bumrungrad international’ admits between 300 - 500 patients of this calibre each year, predominantly from Britain, France and Germany. After a few days of recovery, the hospital recommends, among other things, recuperation suites near the beaches of Phuket and Pattaya before returning to Europe.
Medical Travel agencies are onto a good deal, working with local clinics to specialise in all inclusive packages, combining ‘operation + hotel + beach’ for their patients, who are still primarily tourists just like any other. Bumrungrad even has an agreement with Thai airways where patients can exchange air miles for a medical check-up at the hospital.
Of course all of this comes at a high price. A facelift by Dr Pichet, director of the Bangkok plastic surgery clinic, will cost 3, 500 dollars. You can have full lips for the same amount. European patients make up 30% of their clients and are mostly women. However, Dr Pichet has more than one scalpel up his sleeve because he is primarily an SRS specialist, a mysterious abbreviation referring to sex reassignment surgery.
There is no shortage of patients in this group either. '30% of my operations are linked to sex changes, mainly from male to female, and are usually combined with operations to feminise the chest and face,' continues the Doctor. 'A full sex change needs to be approved by a psychologist and must include pre and post operative check-ups. The embassy also has to be informed of their legal change of identity or the patient may be unable to cross the border'
The situation is the same at BNH hospital in Bangkok, which admits about fifty European clients per year for similar operations, with the Italians and the English at the top of the list. Although there is no such thing as risk free plastic surgery, the doctors state that side affects for their procedures are minimal and that their clients are completely satisfied. Judging by the patients’ bright new smiles and the thank you cards sent to their doctors, it is almost convincing.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Monday, April 23, 2007
NORWAY IS SEEKING TO ESTABLISH LINKS WITH THAILAND ON HEALTHCARE SERVICES
Thai trade representative KANTATHI SUPHAMONGKHON (กันตธีร์ ศุภมงคล) has indicated that the Norwegian government plans to establish connections with Thai hospitals, to provide healthcare services for more than 7,000 Norwegian patients who annually seek quality treatment abroad.
He said further that doctor shortages are a major problem for Norway, as well as many other European countries. As a result, Norway’s National Insurance Administration will pay for Norwegian citizens who have their medical treatment overseas, to avoid long waiting lists at home.
During a two-week tour of Scandinavia, Mr. KANTATHI, head of a 40-member Thai trade delegation to Norway, was proposed by a senior Norwegian official to establish more cooperation between Norway and Thai hospitals, in order to serve the needs of the Norwegian patients.
Mr. KANTATHI confirmed that Norway has a high-quality public healthcare system, but patients, who need non-emergency treatment, including orthopaedic surgery, often have to wait a long time.
Andaman News TV11 Phuket
He said further that doctor shortages are a major problem for Norway, as well as many other European countries. As a result, Norway’s National Insurance Administration will pay for Norwegian citizens who have their medical treatment overseas, to avoid long waiting lists at home.
During a two-week tour of Scandinavia, Mr. KANTATHI, head of a 40-member Thai trade delegation to Norway, was proposed by a senior Norwegian official to establish more cooperation between Norway and Thai hospitals, in order to serve the needs of the Norwegian patients.
Mr. KANTATHI confirmed that Norway has a high-quality public healthcare system, but patients, who need non-emergency treatment, including orthopaedic surgery, often have to wait a long time.
Andaman News TV11 Phuket
Thailand Tourism Minister & TAT Governor discuss Medical Tourism in Phuket
On Monday 8 January, the Bangkok Hospital Phuket, held a meeting with the visiting Tourism and Sports Minister, Dr Suvit Yodmani, and new Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor, Pornsiri Mano-harn, about how to firmly establish Phuket as a Health Tourism hub of South East Asia.
The increasing cost of medical treatment has driven many western patients towards developing countries to look for more alternative options, so the Bangkok group of 15 hospitals in Thailand, including the Bangkok Hospital Phuket, being part of the biggest health care provider in South East Asia, is well qualified to offer various special treatments and care for foreign patients, and give an insight to the government and tourism industry on the need to better promote the new trends of “Health Tourism”, especially in Phuket.
Dr. Kongkiat Kespechara, Hospital Director, of Bangkok Hospital, Phuket, gave a presentation illustrating the point that Phuket has a ratio of 1 doctor for every 1,694 people much better than countrywide ratio of 7,270 people, and 1 Phuket dentist for 7,048 people, compared to 26,165.
He said the Phuket doctors and dentists are internationally trained, while Thai & Phuket health costs are among the lowest in Asia. The annual revenue from health tourists is rising from 247million baht in 2002, to an estimated 1700million baht in 2010, so the benefits to the local tourism are obvious.
Their research shows that there are 4 factors that make Thailand a desirable place for international medical services: the quality of medical personnel, advance of technology, international standard and its service.
The most popular treatments consists of dental care, cosmetic-Plastic surgery, heart surgery, back and spine pain relief, and physical check ups.
Dr. Krittavith Lertutsahakul, CEO of Bangkok Hospital group, told us how important they view the health tourism segment here.
The new Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor, Pornsiri Mano-harn, told us how she thinks the government can help promote health tourism in Phuket.
Health care in Phuket has been well accepted by tourists as it has equal standards compared to aboard and is even cheaper. Phuket should be a win-win situation for both health tourists and hospitals.
Andaman News TV11 Phuket
The increasing cost of medical treatment has driven many western patients towards developing countries to look for more alternative options, so the Bangkok group of 15 hospitals in Thailand, including the Bangkok Hospital Phuket, being part of the biggest health care provider in South East Asia, is well qualified to offer various special treatments and care for foreign patients, and give an insight to the government and tourism industry on the need to better promote the new trends of “Health Tourism”, especially in Phuket.
Dr. Kongkiat Kespechara, Hospital Director, of Bangkok Hospital, Phuket, gave a presentation illustrating the point that Phuket has a ratio of 1 doctor for every 1,694 people much better than countrywide ratio of 7,270 people, and 1 Phuket dentist for 7,048 people, compared to 26,165.
He said the Phuket doctors and dentists are internationally trained, while Thai & Phuket health costs are among the lowest in Asia. The annual revenue from health tourists is rising from 247million baht in 2002, to an estimated 1700million baht in 2010, so the benefits to the local tourism are obvious.
Their research shows that there are 4 factors that make Thailand a desirable place for international medical services: the quality of medical personnel, advance of technology, international standard and its service.
The most popular treatments consists of dental care, cosmetic-Plastic surgery, heart surgery, back and spine pain relief, and physical check ups.
Dr. Krittavith Lertutsahakul, CEO of Bangkok Hospital group, told us how important they view the health tourism segment here.
The new Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor, Pornsiri Mano-harn, told us how she thinks the government can help promote health tourism in Phuket.
Health care in Phuket has been well accepted by tourists as it has equal standards compared to aboard and is even cheaper. Phuket should be a win-win situation for both health tourists and hospitals.
Andaman News TV11 Phuket
Medical tourism, health tourism seminar by Prince of Songkhla University, Phuket Thailand
Last week a health tourism seminar was held by the Prince of Songkhla University or PSU’s Phuket campus, with the support of the Sumitomo Foundation of Japan, for around 50 participants at the Metropole Hotel in Phuket.
The discussion aimed to gather stakeholders from different industries in particular from the travel business & health care providers to further develop and promote medical tourism in Thailand.
Thailand has emerged as a leader in the health tourism industry and also the most popular
destination for holiday travelers seeking medical attention. They pointed out the growth of health tourism in Thailand is stimulated by several factors such as the high cost of healthcare in developed countries, increasing demand due to the aging of population, problems meeting this demand in developed countries, the emergence of the third world countries that combine well-educated medical staff with costs well below those in developed countries, the trend of increasing international travel, and development of cheap and fast communication channels.
Assistant Executive Director, for the Product Promotion Division of the Tourism Authority of
Thailand, Mrs Yearayong Chairut, stressed the advantages that make Thai health tourism better than others: "I would say that there are three advantages that make us better than others. First is quality of doctors that are specialists in particular field. Second is price which is considered cheaper than aboard. Third is queuing as patients don’t have to wait for long to see a good doctor like in some countries; when the patient makes an appointment, he can come on the next day.”
This was confirmed by the Assistant Hospital Director of Bangkok Hospital Phuket, Prakin Ruktae-ngam, who revealed the targets of the health tourism market and reaffirmed the quality of the Thai doctors.
Meanwhile the Hospital Director Dr. Kongkiat Kespechara, explained about the present situation or trend of health tourism in Phuket. "The most popular is dental care because in their country they can’t reimburse with their social security and if they go and do it themselves the price is very high so they come to use our facilities to correct their dental problem, second is about the plastic surgery because a lot of foreigners are overweight, or they feel they are not good looking so they like to make it better!"
The seminar on Friday in Phuket also provided knowledge about a frame work of linkages between the tourism and health sectors. In the medical tourism industry, there are several health packages combining medical and travel treatment with fun and relaxing activities, which is easy to arrange in the Andaman region.
The seminar concluded that by the end of the year 2010 the total number of foreign patients in
Thailand is expected to reach two million, so the Andaman region should also receive a positive bill of health from medical health tourism.
Andaman News TV11 Phuket
The discussion aimed to gather stakeholders from different industries in particular from the travel business & health care providers to further develop and promote medical tourism in Thailand.
Thailand has emerged as a leader in the health tourism industry and also the most popular
destination for holiday travelers seeking medical attention. They pointed out the growth of health tourism in Thailand is stimulated by several factors such as the high cost of healthcare in developed countries, increasing demand due to the aging of population, problems meeting this demand in developed countries, the emergence of the third world countries that combine well-educated medical staff with costs well below those in developed countries, the trend of increasing international travel, and development of cheap and fast communication channels.
Assistant Executive Director, for the Product Promotion Division of the Tourism Authority of
Thailand, Mrs Yearayong Chairut, stressed the advantages that make Thai health tourism better than others: "I would say that there are three advantages that make us better than others. First is quality of doctors that are specialists in particular field. Second is price which is considered cheaper than aboard. Third is queuing as patients don’t have to wait for long to see a good doctor like in some countries; when the patient makes an appointment, he can come on the next day.”
This was confirmed by the Assistant Hospital Director of Bangkok Hospital Phuket, Prakin Ruktae-ngam, who revealed the targets of the health tourism market and reaffirmed the quality of the Thai doctors.
Meanwhile the Hospital Director Dr. Kongkiat Kespechara, explained about the present situation or trend of health tourism in Phuket. "The most popular is dental care because in their country they can’t reimburse with their social security and if they go and do it themselves the price is very high so they come to use our facilities to correct their dental problem, second is about the plastic surgery because a lot of foreigners are overweight, or they feel they are not good looking so they like to make it better!"
The seminar on Friday in Phuket also provided knowledge about a frame work of linkages between the tourism and health sectors. In the medical tourism industry, there are several health packages combining medical and travel treatment with fun and relaxing activities, which is easy to arrange in the Andaman region.
The seminar concluded that by the end of the year 2010 the total number of foreign patients in
Thailand is expected to reach two million, so the Andaman region should also receive a positive bill of health from medical health tourism.
Andaman News TV11 Phuket
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Dental tourists escape Aussie fees
Dentists have conceded costs in Australia are contributing to an exodus to Thailand and other countries offering dental treatment at half the price.
The Australian Dental Association yesterday warned "buyer beware" in the wake of the dental tourism trend. But the ADA said that, apart from anecdotal tales of botched surgery overseas, there was insufficient evidence to advise Australians not to go.
Thailand has long enjoyed a reputation as a cheap holiday destination. It now attracts thousands of Australians who combine a holiday with a cheap trip to the dentist.
More than 1.8million foreigners visited Thailand in 2005 for medical treatment ranging from sex changes to minor cosmetic surgery. The influx, up from 630,000 in 2002, has generated a multi-million-dollar industry.
Bangkok Dental Spa is one of a growing number of specialist dental centres in the Thai capital catering mostly to foreigners.
Patients pay $400 to $500 for a new crown, compared with $1500 in Australia. Implant work ranges from $2800 for surgery and a titanium prosthetic, compared with $4000 locally.
Bangkok Dental Spa chief executive Lily Porncharoen said she treated hundreds of Australians each year. Treatment in Thailand was cheap with high clinical and professional standards, she said.
"Australia is a very good market for us," Dr Porncharoen said. "It's not too far and they know Thailand well.
"What we (Thai dentists) need is our Government to promote us to Australian people so they understand better our standards. I think more and more Australians will come."
With only anecdotal evidence of pitfalls, the ADA's John Matthews said it was hard to challenge Dr Porncharoen's claims.
"I don't think we (ADA) have enough evidence to say: don't do it," he said.
Thai dentists were cheaper than Australian counterparts because of lower salaries, lower laboratory costs and a "less regulated" environment, he said.
Labor health spokeswoman Nicola Roxon said dental costs under the Howard Government had soared and more than 650,000 people were on public waiting lists for treatment.
Mark Dodd
The Australian Dental Association yesterday warned "buyer beware" in the wake of the dental tourism trend. But the ADA said that, apart from anecdotal tales of botched surgery overseas, there was insufficient evidence to advise Australians not to go.
Thailand has long enjoyed a reputation as a cheap holiday destination. It now attracts thousands of Australians who combine a holiday with a cheap trip to the dentist.
More than 1.8million foreigners visited Thailand in 2005 for medical treatment ranging from sex changes to minor cosmetic surgery. The influx, up from 630,000 in 2002, has generated a multi-million-dollar industry.
Bangkok Dental Spa is one of a growing number of specialist dental centres in the Thai capital catering mostly to foreigners.
Patients pay $400 to $500 for a new crown, compared with $1500 in Australia. Implant work ranges from $2800 for surgery and a titanium prosthetic, compared with $4000 locally.
Bangkok Dental Spa chief executive Lily Porncharoen said she treated hundreds of Australians each year. Treatment in Thailand was cheap with high clinical and professional standards, she said.
"Australia is a very good market for us," Dr Porncharoen said. "It's not too far and they know Thailand well.
"What we (Thai dentists) need is our Government to promote us to Australian people so they understand better our standards. I think more and more Australians will come."
With only anecdotal evidence of pitfalls, the ADA's John Matthews said it was hard to challenge Dr Porncharoen's claims.
"I don't think we (ADA) have enough evidence to say: don't do it," he said.
Thai dentists were cheaper than Australian counterparts because of lower salaries, lower laboratory costs and a "less regulated" environment, he said.
Labor health spokeswoman Nicola Roxon said dental costs under the Howard Government had soared and more than 650,000 people were on public waiting lists for treatment.
Mark Dodd
Medical Leave - Medical and Health Tourism to Thailand
Robert "Coop" Copper is by all accounts a well-traveled man. Beginning in 1976, the house painter decided to spend the winter months to traveling, visiting Europe, South America, Africa and much of Asia.
"If you put it all together I've spent years traveling," Cooper said. "I've spent at least a month in all the places I've visited. It has been a great experience."
Cooper has found a particular fondness for Southeast Asia, in particular Thailand.
"I've always enjoyed it," Cooper said. "There is a misconception about it in America. It is hard when all you see is movies and things like that. But it isn't the third world place that it is portrayed as. I've always enjoyed myself, the people, the culture; it has always been a good place to visit."
And through his travels, Cooper found that Thailand was more than just a place with relaxing beaches, warm sunshine and good food - he found it also was a place with top-notch medical care.
With the costs of medical care and health insurance mounting in the states, Cooper found himself, like so many Americans, without medical insurance when he was abruptly dropped from his insurance carrier in 1998, after years of paying without filing a claim.
"It is expensive," Cooper said. "
Most the time insurance only covers a small part of procedures and you are left paying the deductible."
With this in mind, Cooper hit on an idea that has become an increasing trend in the U.S. - leaving the country for medical procedures."From traveling other places, I'd seen that medical care at least as good as what we have here was available other places," Cooper said. "And ... ultimately it would be less expensive to get as good, if not better, care."Cooper said during the past few years he has traveled extensively for medical and dental care."I've never received such good care," Cooper said.
"I've traveled to have my teeth worked on, blood work, other procedures that would cost thousands of dollars here, but in Thailand I've been able to receive the same care for a lot less."
In particular, Cooper points to the care he received at Bumrungrad hospital in Thailand when he went in for shoulder surgery after having a bad break in his clavicle.
"My day job is painting houses," Cooper said. "I was worried about losing the use of my arm. After having my surgery I got most my strength back in about nine months and was back to 100 percent in about 10 to 11 months.
"It was a very serious operation, and I got great care and attention."
Cooper estimates that for much of his care he has spent anywhere from 60 to 90 percent less than he would have in the states.
On his recently launched Web site, Cooper has a cost breakdown of some common procedures such as a complete physical, which in the states can cost anywhere from $1,800 to $3,000, where as in Thailand it is around $250 U.S. dollars and root canals, which can cost between $700 and $1,400 in the U.S., where as in Thailand they are closer to $100 to $340 U.S. dollars.
Even with the cost of travel factored in, Cooper said in the long run, traveling is a money saving endeavor."When a procedure can cost $10,000 dollars here, and you can go somewhere else and have the same procedure done for $3,000, that is money in my pocket so far as I'm concerned," Cooper said. "That is the way I look at it, in the long run it is saving money."
From his own personal experience, Cooper thought this might be a service that other Americans could take advantage of if they had the opportunity to be made aware of what was available in other countries.This led Cooper to create Patient Vacation LLC, with the intention to make people more aware of the quality medical care available in the rest of the world, with a particular focus on Thailand.
Part of Cooper's work has been to dispel the third-world myths often associated with Thailand and the difficulties of being an American traveling for medical care. According to Cooper, Bumrungrad and Samitivej hospitals combine the best of both the world of medicine and the world of travel."These are very modern facilities," Cooper said. "You can find anything you need, any kind of care, any kind of specialist. Many of the doctors speak very good English and many of them have been educated in America or in Europe."
Cooper also pointed out that a stay in many of these facilities is much like a four star hotel."There is great care," Cooper said. "These are great places that you can afford to stay. After my shoulder surgery I wouldn't have been able to stay in the hospital. But there I was able to stay for as long as I needed. It costs about $55 a night and there is excellent care and you are always getting checked on and you at the same time you are in a beautiful place with sun and beaches to recuperate. It is a win-win situation."
Through Patient Vacation, Cooper is offering both consultation services and personalized travel."I can help people find out what is available," Cooper said. "And make contacts and arrangements. And I can also travel with them if that makes them more comfortable and be there to answer questions and help them get around and learn about what is going on and what is available, so that there is a familiar face there for them."
Cooper's newly launched venture has already had one client that Cooper said was overwhelmingly impressed by the care that she received as well as the beauty of Thailand."All around I think it is a win-win situation," Cooper said. "You are going to get great medical care and it is going to cost less and at the same time you are going to be able to visit a beautiful place and have a vacation at the same time and relax and get better. To me that is a win-win situation."
By Jason Gabak
"If you put it all together I've spent years traveling," Cooper said. "I've spent at least a month in all the places I've visited. It has been a great experience."
Cooper has found a particular fondness for Southeast Asia, in particular Thailand.
"I've always enjoyed it," Cooper said. "There is a misconception about it in America. It is hard when all you see is movies and things like that. But it isn't the third world place that it is portrayed as. I've always enjoyed myself, the people, the culture; it has always been a good place to visit."
And through his travels, Cooper found that Thailand was more than just a place with relaxing beaches, warm sunshine and good food - he found it also was a place with top-notch medical care.
With the costs of medical care and health insurance mounting in the states, Cooper found himself, like so many Americans, without medical insurance when he was abruptly dropped from his insurance carrier in 1998, after years of paying without filing a claim.
"It is expensive," Cooper said. "
Most the time insurance only covers a small part of procedures and you are left paying the deductible."
With this in mind, Cooper hit on an idea that has become an increasing trend in the U.S. - leaving the country for medical procedures."From traveling other places, I'd seen that medical care at least as good as what we have here was available other places," Cooper said. "And ... ultimately it would be less expensive to get as good, if not better, care."Cooper said during the past few years he has traveled extensively for medical and dental care."I've never received such good care," Cooper said.
"I've traveled to have my teeth worked on, blood work, other procedures that would cost thousands of dollars here, but in Thailand I've been able to receive the same care for a lot less."
In particular, Cooper points to the care he received at Bumrungrad hospital in Thailand when he went in for shoulder surgery after having a bad break in his clavicle.
"My day job is painting houses," Cooper said. "I was worried about losing the use of my arm. After having my surgery I got most my strength back in about nine months and was back to 100 percent in about 10 to 11 months.
"It was a very serious operation, and I got great care and attention."
Cooper estimates that for much of his care he has spent anywhere from 60 to 90 percent less than he would have in the states.
On his recently launched Web site, Cooper has a cost breakdown of some common procedures such as a complete physical, which in the states can cost anywhere from $1,800 to $3,000, where as in Thailand it is around $250 U.S. dollars and root canals, which can cost between $700 and $1,400 in the U.S., where as in Thailand they are closer to $100 to $340 U.S. dollars.
Even with the cost of travel factored in, Cooper said in the long run, traveling is a money saving endeavor."When a procedure can cost $10,000 dollars here, and you can go somewhere else and have the same procedure done for $3,000, that is money in my pocket so far as I'm concerned," Cooper said. "That is the way I look at it, in the long run it is saving money."
From his own personal experience, Cooper thought this might be a service that other Americans could take advantage of if they had the opportunity to be made aware of what was available in other countries.This led Cooper to create Patient Vacation LLC, with the intention to make people more aware of the quality medical care available in the rest of the world, with a particular focus on Thailand.
Part of Cooper's work has been to dispel the third-world myths often associated with Thailand and the difficulties of being an American traveling for medical care. According to Cooper, Bumrungrad and Samitivej hospitals combine the best of both the world of medicine and the world of travel."These are very modern facilities," Cooper said. "You can find anything you need, any kind of care, any kind of specialist. Many of the doctors speak very good English and many of them have been educated in America or in Europe."
Cooper also pointed out that a stay in many of these facilities is much like a four star hotel."There is great care," Cooper said. "These are great places that you can afford to stay. After my shoulder surgery I wouldn't have been able to stay in the hospital. But there I was able to stay for as long as I needed. It costs about $55 a night and there is excellent care and you are always getting checked on and you at the same time you are in a beautiful place with sun and beaches to recuperate. It is a win-win situation."
Through Patient Vacation, Cooper is offering both consultation services and personalized travel."I can help people find out what is available," Cooper said. "And make contacts and arrangements. And I can also travel with them if that makes them more comfortable and be there to answer questions and help them get around and learn about what is going on and what is available, so that there is a familiar face there for them."
Cooper's newly launched venture has already had one client that Cooper said was overwhelmingly impressed by the care that she received as well as the beauty of Thailand."All around I think it is a win-win situation," Cooper said. "You are going to get great medical care and it is going to cost less and at the same time you are going to be able to visit a beautiful place and have a vacation at the same time and relax and get better. To me that is a win-win situation."
By Jason Gabak
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Medical Tourism in India
Many countries have now developed official partnerships for speedy treatments in India for their residents most of whom have to wait for extended periods of time to undergo operations. In India, medical treatment is not only fast but would also costs a fraction of what it would costs in USA or Europe.
Tummy tucks and a visit to the Taj Mahal is not unusual, what with the escalating medical costs the world over, patients are flocking Eastwards to countries like India, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. The quality of medical services is often found better than some of the care centre in the United States and the UK.
Many countries have now developed official partnerships for speedy treatments in India for their residents most of whom have to wait for extended periods of time to undergo operations. In India, medical treatment is not only fast but would also costs a fraction of what it would costs in USA or Europe.
So, scale or whiten your tooth at $ 300 in the US, or do so at $75 in India. A smile designed at US$ 8000 can be yours at one eighth the cost in India.
Forget, cosmetic surgery, a dialysis in the US will shortchange you for $ 300 as against $50 for the same procedure in Chennai. Bone marrow transplant, surgical oncology, cord blood transplants, transplants of the heart, lung, liver are all possible at lower costs in countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and India than most developed countries where health insurance continues to shoot up in a heavily taxed public health-care system.
A chance to visit India and the Far East while healing and treating ailments at affordable costs has led patients from the developed nations to utilize health services in India at a fraction of the costs in the West. Five to seven per cent of Escorts' patients are understood to be from abroad.
Most patient traffic is from West Asia, South East Asia and Africa. International health insurance companies abroad are looking to forge partnerships with renowned specialty hospitals for Non Resident Indians (NRIs) to combine their treatment in India with their annual family visits.Most Indian states have either established themselves as destinations for health care and tourism or are building medical brand images.
Add to this, Yogic healing, Transcendental Meditation (TM) along with alternate therapies of ayurveda in India has been repackaged and redefined and goes hand in hand with India’s rise in ‘Health Tourism “also called Medical Tourism.
Further, impetus has come from corporate such as the Tatas, Fortis, Max, Wockhardt, Piramal, and the Escorts group who are investing in setting up of modern hospitals in major cities. Many have in fact built health packages designed for patients, including airport pickups, visa assistance, boarding and lodging.
With advanced medical and biotechnological progress, India along with Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand are leaders in selling healthcare the world over. With India’s infrastructure and technology quite at par with those in the USA, UK and Europe, also boasts of some of the best hospitals and treatment centers in the world.
A favourite world getaway, India as a health and tourism destination is here to stay. A joint report by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) -McKinsey study on Health tourism says that at its current pace of growth, healthcare tourism alone can rake over US$ 1.7 billion additional revenues by 2012. Medical tourism is now a US$ 299 million industry, as about 100,000 patients come each year.The biggest driver for healthcare tourism is the disparity in costs, nearly one fifth of the cost in the developed world.
India is definitely capitalizing on its low medical costs and the expertise of its highly skilled medical fraternity. • A heart surgery in the US costs US$ 30,000 as compared to US$ 6,000 in India. • A bone marrow transplant in the US costs US$ 250,000 and US$ 26,000 in India.
Lately, the Indian Government launched the six month medical Visa in 2005. The Visa allows a foreigner to stay for a year for medical treatment in India. In addition, the Government has also introduced policy measures such as the National Health Policy which recognizes the treatment of international patients as an export, allowing private hospitals treating international patients to enjoy the benefits of lower import duties, an increase in the rate of depreciation (from 25 per cent to 40 per cent) for life-saving medical equipment and several tax sops.
The ease in international travel, the improvement of technology and standards of care in many of the Far Eastern countries and in India score a point with patients in Britain or Canada who have to rely on the heavily taxed public health-care system for routine heart surgery, a hip resurfacing or a hip replacement which sometimes take years to be treated.
Tummy tucks and a visit to the Taj Mahal is not unusual, what with the escalating medical costs the world over, patients are flocking Eastwards to countries like India, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. The quality of medical services is often found better than some of the care centre in the United States and the UK.
Many countries have now developed official partnerships for speedy treatments in India for their residents most of whom have to wait for extended periods of time to undergo operations. In India, medical treatment is not only fast but would also costs a fraction of what it would costs in USA or Europe.
So, scale or whiten your tooth at $ 300 in the US, or do so at $75 in India. A smile designed at US$ 8000 can be yours at one eighth the cost in India.
Forget, cosmetic surgery, a dialysis in the US will shortchange you for $ 300 as against $50 for the same procedure in Chennai. Bone marrow transplant, surgical oncology, cord blood transplants, transplants of the heart, lung, liver are all possible at lower costs in countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and India than most developed countries where health insurance continues to shoot up in a heavily taxed public health-care system.
A chance to visit India and the Far East while healing and treating ailments at affordable costs has led patients from the developed nations to utilize health services in India at a fraction of the costs in the West. Five to seven per cent of Escorts' patients are understood to be from abroad.
Most patient traffic is from West Asia, South East Asia and Africa. International health insurance companies abroad are looking to forge partnerships with renowned specialty hospitals for Non Resident Indians (NRIs) to combine their treatment in India with their annual family visits.Most Indian states have either established themselves as destinations for health care and tourism or are building medical brand images.
Add to this, Yogic healing, Transcendental Meditation (TM) along with alternate therapies of ayurveda in India has been repackaged and redefined and goes hand in hand with India’s rise in ‘Health Tourism “also called Medical Tourism.
Further, impetus has come from corporate such as the Tatas, Fortis, Max, Wockhardt, Piramal, and the Escorts group who are investing in setting up of modern hospitals in major cities. Many have in fact built health packages designed for patients, including airport pickups, visa assistance, boarding and lodging.
With advanced medical and biotechnological progress, India along with Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand are leaders in selling healthcare the world over. With India’s infrastructure and technology quite at par with those in the USA, UK and Europe, also boasts of some of the best hospitals and treatment centers in the world.
A favourite world getaway, India as a health and tourism destination is here to stay. A joint report by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) -McKinsey study on Health tourism says that at its current pace of growth, healthcare tourism alone can rake over US$ 1.7 billion additional revenues by 2012. Medical tourism is now a US$ 299 million industry, as about 100,000 patients come each year.The biggest driver for healthcare tourism is the disparity in costs, nearly one fifth of the cost in the developed world.
India is definitely capitalizing on its low medical costs and the expertise of its highly skilled medical fraternity. • A heart surgery in the US costs US$ 30,000 as compared to US$ 6,000 in India. • A bone marrow transplant in the US costs US$ 250,000 and US$ 26,000 in India.
Lately, the Indian Government launched the six month medical Visa in 2005. The Visa allows a foreigner to stay for a year for medical treatment in India. In addition, the Government has also introduced policy measures such as the National Health Policy which recognizes the treatment of international patients as an export, allowing private hospitals treating international patients to enjoy the benefits of lower import duties, an increase in the rate of depreciation (from 25 per cent to 40 per cent) for life-saving medical equipment and several tax sops.
The ease in international travel, the improvement of technology and standards of care in many of the Far Eastern countries and in India score a point with patients in Britain or Canada who have to rely on the heavily taxed public health-care system for routine heart surgery, a hip resurfacing or a hip replacement which sometimes take years to be treated.
Monday, April 9, 2007
Patients Beyond Borders - Introduction
The seeds of this book were sown nearly five years ago, when my father, age 72 at the time, traveled to Mexico for extensive dental work.I well remember my first reaction upon hearing his plans: a mixture of bewilderment and fear, then resignation, knowing that despite my protestations, he was going anyway.
In spite of my concerns—some of them quite real—I’m pleased to report a happy ending. Dad and his wife Alinda selected a US-trained dentist in Puerto Vallarta and paid around $11,000—including two weeks noodling around the Pacific Coast. They returned tanned and smiling, Dad with new pearly whites and Alinda with an impromptu skin resurfacing. The same procedure would have cost them $24,000 in the United States.
After his treatment, when I told the story of my father’s trip, most friends responded with the same shock and disbelief that I had felt initially. Then, when I explained the quality of care and the savings, more often than not, those same folks followed me out the door, asking for Dad’s email address.I even had an airport customs agent abandon his post and follow me to the boarding gate, seeking additional information for his son, who he had just learned required heart surgery.
Late in 2005, I contracted an infected root canal and found myself following my father’s example.My research led me to Costa Rica for extraction and implant work. While pleasantly surprised at the quality of the care, the prices, and the all-around good experience of the trip, I nonetheless made a number of mistakes and created unnecessary difficulties and discomforts for myself. Had I done some simple things differently, my trip would have been more successful and more economical.
In seeking additional data on medical travel, I found no reliable source of information. Everybody had something to sell or a political axe to grind. Books, magazine articles, and newspaper reports seemed more like tourists’ brochures than health-travel references. Thus the idea for Patients Beyond Borders was born: a well-researched guide, written in plain English, which would offer an impartial look at contemporary medical travel, while helping prospective patients ask the right questions and make informed choices.
As we contemplate our options in an increasingly expensive, complex, insurance-weak society, nearly all of us will eventually find ourselves seeking alternatives to costly treatments—either for ourselves or for our loved ones. My dad was a health travel pioneer. When he became a health traveler, finding quality care abroad was a far more groundbreaking task than it is today.In a few short years, big government investment, corporate partnerships, and increased media attention have spawned a new industry—medical travel—which is bringing with it a host of encouraging new choices for patients.Individuals can now choose from a smorgasbord of safe, reliable options for diagnosis and treatment, ranging from dentistry and cosmetic surgery to some of the more dramatic and expensive procedures, such as hip replacement or heart valve surgery.
There is no single type of health traveler.In researching and writing Patients Beyond Borders, I’ve talked with wealthy women from Beverly Hills who, despite their affluence, prefer the quality of treatment and attention they receive in Brazil or South Africa to medical care California-style.I’ve met a hard-working couple from Wisconsin who, facing the prospect of refinancing their home to get a $65,000 hip operation here in the US, headed to India instead. I interviewed a Vietnam vet who became weary of long waits and red tape. Repulsed by this country’s ever-deteriorating healthcare system, he said bon voyage and headed overseas for treatment.
From these patients’ experiences, and many more like them, you’ll learn when and how health travel abroad might meet your medical and financial needs.
You Deserve an Impartial PerspectiveThis new phenomenon of medical travel—or international health travel—has received a good deal of wide-eyed attention of late.While one newspaper or blog giddily touts the fun ‘n sun travel side of treatment abroad, another issues dire Code Blue warnings about filthy hospitals, shady treatment practices, and procedures gone bad.As with most things in life, the truth lies somewhere in between.In short, I’ve found the term medical tourism is something of a misnomer, sometimes leading patients to emphasize the recreational more than the procedural in their quest for medical care abroad. Unlike much of the hype that surrounds contemporary health travel, Patients Beyond Borders focuses more on your health than on your travel preferences. Thus, throughout this book, you won’t see many references to the popular terms “medical tourism” or “health tourism.” In the same way business travelers don’t normally consider themselves tourists, you’ll begin to think more in terms of medical travel and health travel.
My research, including countless interviews, has convinced me:with diligence, perseverance, and good information, patients considering traveling abroad for treatment indeed have legitimate, safe choices, notto mention an opportunity to save thousands of dollars over the same treatment here in the US.Hundreds of patients who have returned from successful treatment overseas provide overwhelmingly positive feedback. They convinced me that I should write this impartial, scrutinizing guide to becoming a savvy, informed international patient. I designed it to help readers reach their own conclusions about whether and when to seek treatment abroad.
What Exactly Is Medical Tourism?Last year, more than 150,000 Americans, Canadians, and Europeans packed their bags and headed overseas for nearly every imaginable type of medical treatment: tummy tucks in Brazil, heart valve replacement procedures in Thailand, hip resurfacing surgeries in India, addiction recovery in Antigua, fertility diagnosis and treatments in South Africa, thalassotherapy in Hungary, or restorative oral dentistry in Mexico.
Currently, at least 28 countries on four continents cater to the international health traveler, with more than a million patients visiting hospitals and clinics each year in countries other than their own.The roster of treatments is as varied as the travelers.
If the notion of complex medical procedures in far-flung lands seems intimidating, don’t feel alone.That’s why we wrote this book, drawing from the varied experiences of hundreds of patients who, for dozens of reasons, have beaten a well-worn path to successful treatments abroad.
Why Go Abroad for Medical Care?Cost SavingsMost people like to get the most for their dollar.The single biggest reason Americans travel to other countries for medical treatment is the opportunity to save money. Depending upon the country and type of treatment, uninsured and underinsured patients, as well as those seeking elective care, can realize 15-85 percent savings over the cost of treatment in the US.Or, as one successful health traveler put it, “I took out my credit card instead of a second mortgage on my home.”
As baby boomers become senior boomers, costs of healthcare and prescriptions are devouring nearly 30 percent of retirement and pre-retirement incomes.With the word getting out about top-quality treatments at deep discounts overseas, informed patients are finding creative alternatives abroad.
Margaret S., a patient from Santa Ana, California, was quoted $6,600 for a tooth extraction, two implants, and two crowns.One of the 120 million Americans without dental insurance, Margaret had heard of less expensive dental care abroad.Through a friend, she learned about Escazu, Costa Rica, known for its excellent dental and cosmetic surgery clinics. Margaret got the same treatment in Costa Rica for $2,600. Her dentist was a US-trained oral surgeon who used state-of-the-art instrumentation and top-quality materials.Add in airfare, lodging, meals, and other travel costs, and this savvy global patient still came out way ahead.
Doug S., a small business owner from Wisconsin, journeyed with his wife, Anne, to Chennai, India, for a double hip resurfacing procedure that would have cost more than $55,000 in the US. The total bill, including travel for him and his wife, lodging, meals, and two-week recuperation in a five-star beach hotel was $14,000.“We were treated like royalty,” said Doug, “and I'm riding a bicycle for the first time in six years.We could not have afforded this operation in the US.”
Better quality careVeteran health travelers know that facilities, instrumentation, and customer service in treatment centers abroad often equal or exceed those found in the US.In fact, governments of countries like India and Thailand have poured billions of dollars into improving their healthcare systems, which are now aggressively catering to the international health traveler.VIP waiting lounges, deluxe hospital suites, and staffed recuperation resorts are common amenities, along with free transportation to and from airports, low-cost meal plans for companions, and discounted hotels affiliated with the hospital.
Moreover, physicians and staff in treatment centers abroad are often far more accessible than their US counterparts.“My surgeon gave me his cell phone number, and I spoke directly with him at least a dozen times during my stay,” said David P., who traveled to Bangkok for a heart valve replacement procedure.
Excluded treatmentsEven the most robust health insurance plans exclude a variety of conditions and treatments.You, the policyholder, must pay these expenses out-of-pocket.Although health insurance policies vary according to the underwriter and individual, your plan probably excludes a variety of treatments, such as cosmetic surgeries; dental care, vision treatments, reproductive/infertility procedures; certain non-emergency cardiovascular and orthopedic surgeries; weight loss and substance abuse rehabilitation programs; and prosthetics—to name only a few.
In addition, many policies place restrictions on prescriptions (some quite expensive), post-operative care, congenital disorders, and pre-existing conditions.
Rich or cash-challenged, young or not-so-young, heavily or only lightly insured—folks who get sick or desire a treatment (even one recommended by their physician) often find their insurance won’t cover it.Confronting increasingly expensive choices at home, nearly 40 percent of American health travelers hit the road for elective treatments.In countries such as Costa Rica, Singapore, Dubai, and Thailand, this trend has spawned entire industries, offering excellent treatment and ancillary facilities at costs far lower than US prices.
Specialty treatmentsSome procedures and prescriptions are simply not allowed in this country.Either Congress or the FDA has specifically disallowed a certain procedure, or perhaps it’s still in the testing and clinical trials stage, or was only recently approved. Such treatments are often offered abroad. One example is an orthopedic procedure known as hip resurfacing, for most patients a far superior, longer-lasting, and less expensive alternative to the traditional hip replacement still practiced in the US. While this procedure has been performed for more than a decade throughout Europe and Asia, it was only recently approved in the US and the procedur’s availability here remains spotty and unproven.
Hundreds of forward-thinking Americans, many having suffered years of chronic pain, have found relief in India, where hip resurfacing techniques, materials, and instrumentation have been perfected, and the procedure is routine.
Shorter waiting periods For decades, thousands of Canadian and British subscribers to universal, “free” healthcare plans have endured waits as long as two years for established procedures.“Some of us die before we get to the operating table,” commented one exasperated patient, who journeyed to India for an open-heart procedure.
Here in the US, long waits are a growing problem, particularly among war veterans covered under the Veterans Administration Act, where long queues are becoming far too common. Some patients figure it’s better to pay out-of-pocket to get out of pain or to halt a deteriorating condition than to suffer the anxiety and frustration of waiting for a far-future appointment and other medical uncertainties.
The lure of the new and differentAlthough traveling abroad for medical care can often be challenging, many patients welcome the chance to blaze a trail, and they find the creature comforts often offered abroad a welcome relief from the sterile, impersonal hospital environments so often encountered in US treatment centers.For others, simply being in a new and interesting culture lends distraction to an otherwise worrisome, tedious process.And getting away from the myriad obligations of home and professional life can yield healthful effects at a stressful time.
What’s more, travel—and particularly international travel—can be a life-changing experience. You might be humbled by the limousine ride from Indira Gandhi International Airport to a hotel in central New Delhi, struck by the simple, elegant graciousness of professionals and ordinary people in a foreign land, or wowed by the sheer beauty of the mountain range outside a dental office window. As one veteran medical traveler put it, “I brought back far more from this trip than a new set of teeth.”
Who Should Read Patients Beyond BordersYou’ll benefit from reading this book if
you’re one of 43 million uninsured or underinsured individuals who wish to explore less expensive options for a treatment often covered by health insurance. you’re one of 120 million Americans without a dental plan who wish to take advantage of the full range of affordable dental procedures in other countries. you wish to pursue an elective treatment (such as cosmetic surgery, in vitro fertilization, or homeopathy) not normally covered by health insurance policies. you’re exploring one of many treatments either not offered or not approved in the US. you feel a friend or family member might benefit from learning more about health travel, yet that person might lack the confidence or focus to launch an inquiry. you plan to join a family member or friend for treatment abroad (see Chapter Seven, “For Companions”).
What Patients Beyond Borders Will (and Won’t) Do for YouPatients Beyond Borders isn’t a guide to medical diagnosis and treatment, nor does it provide medical advice on specific treatments or caregiver referrals.Your condition, diagnosis, treatment options, and travel preferences are unique, and only you—in consultation with your physician and loved ones—can determine the best course of action.
Should you decide to investigate traveling abroad for treatment, we do provide you with all the resources and tools necessary to become an informed medical traveler, so that you’ll have the best possible travel experience and treatment your money can buy.
Our job is to help you become a knowledgeable, confident health traveler; assist you in planning and budgeting your trip and treatment; provide you up-to-date information about the most popular, widely used treatment centers; make your in-country visit as comfortable and hassle-free as possible; recommend good lodging and travel leisure options; provide tips, tricks, and advice for a successful medical travel experience—before, during, and after treatment. Your job is toconsult with your US doctor(s) to ensure you’ve reached a satisfactory diagnosis and recommended course of treatment; decide, based on your research and the material featured in this book, whether you wish to travel abroad for treatment; and if so, select a travel destination, treatment center, and physician based on the information you find in this book and elsewhere. It’s a truism: Every journey begins with the first step.Health travel is no exception; yet once you’ve taken that first step toward learning more, you’ll find your friends, family, this book, and a trusty Internet connection will speed you on your way.
How to Use This BookBefore you dive into Part Two, “The Most-Traveled Health Destinations,” you’ll want to carefully read Part One, “How to Become a Savvy, Informed Medical Traveler.” It provides you the basic resources and tools you’ll need to do your research and make an informed decision.
Chapter One, “What Am I Getting Into? Some Quick Answers for Health Travelers,” addresses the questions and concerns most often voiced by patients and their loved ones considering a medical journey abroad.
Chapter Two, “Planning Your Health Journey,”helps you create your trip step-by-step.The chapter provides data and advice culled from interviews with hundreds of patients and treatment centers.You’ll learn how to cut through the chaff quickly to find the right clinics, determine physician accreditation, narrow your destination choices, choose the right companion, and more.
Chapter Three, “Budgeting Your Treatment and Trip,” walks you through the financial basics of a medical trip and gives you the tools you need to prepare an estimated budget. Our “Patients Beyond Borders Budget Planner” helps you determine specific cost-savings and avoid financial surprises.
Chapter Four, “Choosing and Working with a Health Travel Planner,” shows you how to avoid hassles and save money by finding and engaging the right health travel agent.
Chapter Five, “While You’re There,” provides valuable information on what to expect from your treatment center and physician, plus general tips for dealing with local cultures, language barriers, and more.A section on communicating while on the road will help you use cell phones and computers to communicate with physicians in-country, as well as loved ones back home.
Chapter Six, “Home Again, Home Again,”helps you get settled in post-treatment, offering practical advice on working with your hometown doctor, shaking off the “post-treatment blues,”coping with discomforts and complications, and getting back on your feet.
Chapter Seven, “For Companions,” is written especially for those caring folks who accompany patients on health journeys.
Chapter Eight, “Dos and Don’ts for the Smart Health Traveler,”helps you avoid common speed bumps and potholes on the health travel road.
Part Two, “The Most-Traveled Health Destinations,” features 22 destinations in 14 countries, with up-to-date information on hospitals and clinics, specialties, accreditation, recovery centers and recuperation resorts, transportation, communication, and more.You’ll use the information in this section to get a good idea about where to travel for your particular procedure and about what to expect for the costs of common treatments.
Part Three:“Resources and References,” features exclusive planning aids and worksheets. It’s one-stop shopping for a wealth of helpful tools.
As you work your way through decision-making and subsequent planning, remember that you’re following in the footsteps of tens of thousands of health travelers who have made the journey before you.The overwhelming majority have returned home successfully treated, with money to spare in their savings accounts.
Still, the process—particularly in the early planning—can be daunting, frustrating, even a little scary.That’s normal, and every health traveler we interviewed experienced “The Big Fear” at one time or another.Healthcare abroad is not for everyone, and part of being a smart consumer is evaluating all the impartial data available before making an informed decision.If you accomplished that in reading Patients Beyond Borders, we’ve achieved our mission.
Josef Woodman, Author, Patients Beyond Borders
In spite of my concerns—some of them quite real—I’m pleased to report a happy ending. Dad and his wife Alinda selected a US-trained dentist in Puerto Vallarta and paid around $11,000—including two weeks noodling around the Pacific Coast. They returned tanned and smiling, Dad with new pearly whites and Alinda with an impromptu skin resurfacing. The same procedure would have cost them $24,000 in the United States.
After his treatment, when I told the story of my father’s trip, most friends responded with the same shock and disbelief that I had felt initially. Then, when I explained the quality of care and the savings, more often than not, those same folks followed me out the door, asking for Dad’s email address.I even had an airport customs agent abandon his post and follow me to the boarding gate, seeking additional information for his son, who he had just learned required heart surgery.
Late in 2005, I contracted an infected root canal and found myself following my father’s example.My research led me to Costa Rica for extraction and implant work. While pleasantly surprised at the quality of the care, the prices, and the all-around good experience of the trip, I nonetheless made a number of mistakes and created unnecessary difficulties and discomforts for myself. Had I done some simple things differently, my trip would have been more successful and more economical.
In seeking additional data on medical travel, I found no reliable source of information. Everybody had something to sell or a political axe to grind. Books, magazine articles, and newspaper reports seemed more like tourists’ brochures than health-travel references. Thus the idea for Patients Beyond Borders was born: a well-researched guide, written in plain English, which would offer an impartial look at contemporary medical travel, while helping prospective patients ask the right questions and make informed choices.
As we contemplate our options in an increasingly expensive, complex, insurance-weak society, nearly all of us will eventually find ourselves seeking alternatives to costly treatments—either for ourselves or for our loved ones. My dad was a health travel pioneer. When he became a health traveler, finding quality care abroad was a far more groundbreaking task than it is today.In a few short years, big government investment, corporate partnerships, and increased media attention have spawned a new industry—medical travel—which is bringing with it a host of encouraging new choices for patients.Individuals can now choose from a smorgasbord of safe, reliable options for diagnosis and treatment, ranging from dentistry and cosmetic surgery to some of the more dramatic and expensive procedures, such as hip replacement or heart valve surgery.
There is no single type of health traveler.In researching and writing Patients Beyond Borders, I’ve talked with wealthy women from Beverly Hills who, despite their affluence, prefer the quality of treatment and attention they receive in Brazil or South Africa to medical care California-style.I’ve met a hard-working couple from Wisconsin who, facing the prospect of refinancing their home to get a $65,000 hip operation here in the US, headed to India instead. I interviewed a Vietnam vet who became weary of long waits and red tape. Repulsed by this country’s ever-deteriorating healthcare system, he said bon voyage and headed overseas for treatment.
From these patients’ experiences, and many more like them, you’ll learn when and how health travel abroad might meet your medical and financial needs.
You Deserve an Impartial PerspectiveThis new phenomenon of medical travel—or international health travel—has received a good deal of wide-eyed attention of late.While one newspaper or blog giddily touts the fun ‘n sun travel side of treatment abroad, another issues dire Code Blue warnings about filthy hospitals, shady treatment practices, and procedures gone bad.As with most things in life, the truth lies somewhere in between.In short, I’ve found the term medical tourism is something of a misnomer, sometimes leading patients to emphasize the recreational more than the procedural in their quest for medical care abroad. Unlike much of the hype that surrounds contemporary health travel, Patients Beyond Borders focuses more on your health than on your travel preferences. Thus, throughout this book, you won’t see many references to the popular terms “medical tourism” or “health tourism.” In the same way business travelers don’t normally consider themselves tourists, you’ll begin to think more in terms of medical travel and health travel.
My research, including countless interviews, has convinced me:with diligence, perseverance, and good information, patients considering traveling abroad for treatment indeed have legitimate, safe choices, notto mention an opportunity to save thousands of dollars over the same treatment here in the US.Hundreds of patients who have returned from successful treatment overseas provide overwhelmingly positive feedback. They convinced me that I should write this impartial, scrutinizing guide to becoming a savvy, informed international patient. I designed it to help readers reach their own conclusions about whether and when to seek treatment abroad.
What Exactly Is Medical Tourism?Last year, more than 150,000 Americans, Canadians, and Europeans packed their bags and headed overseas for nearly every imaginable type of medical treatment: tummy tucks in Brazil, heart valve replacement procedures in Thailand, hip resurfacing surgeries in India, addiction recovery in Antigua, fertility diagnosis and treatments in South Africa, thalassotherapy in Hungary, or restorative oral dentistry in Mexico.
Currently, at least 28 countries on four continents cater to the international health traveler, with more than a million patients visiting hospitals and clinics each year in countries other than their own.The roster of treatments is as varied as the travelers.
If the notion of complex medical procedures in far-flung lands seems intimidating, don’t feel alone.That’s why we wrote this book, drawing from the varied experiences of hundreds of patients who, for dozens of reasons, have beaten a well-worn path to successful treatments abroad.
Why Go Abroad for Medical Care?Cost SavingsMost people like to get the most for their dollar.The single biggest reason Americans travel to other countries for medical treatment is the opportunity to save money. Depending upon the country and type of treatment, uninsured and underinsured patients, as well as those seeking elective care, can realize 15-85 percent savings over the cost of treatment in the US.Or, as one successful health traveler put it, “I took out my credit card instead of a second mortgage on my home.”
As baby boomers become senior boomers, costs of healthcare and prescriptions are devouring nearly 30 percent of retirement and pre-retirement incomes.With the word getting out about top-quality treatments at deep discounts overseas, informed patients are finding creative alternatives abroad.
Margaret S., a patient from Santa Ana, California, was quoted $6,600 for a tooth extraction, two implants, and two crowns.One of the 120 million Americans without dental insurance, Margaret had heard of less expensive dental care abroad.Through a friend, she learned about Escazu, Costa Rica, known for its excellent dental and cosmetic surgery clinics. Margaret got the same treatment in Costa Rica for $2,600. Her dentist was a US-trained oral surgeon who used state-of-the-art instrumentation and top-quality materials.Add in airfare, lodging, meals, and other travel costs, and this savvy global patient still came out way ahead.
Doug S., a small business owner from Wisconsin, journeyed with his wife, Anne, to Chennai, India, for a double hip resurfacing procedure that would have cost more than $55,000 in the US. The total bill, including travel for him and his wife, lodging, meals, and two-week recuperation in a five-star beach hotel was $14,000.“We were treated like royalty,” said Doug, “and I'm riding a bicycle for the first time in six years.We could not have afforded this operation in the US.”
Better quality careVeteran health travelers know that facilities, instrumentation, and customer service in treatment centers abroad often equal or exceed those found in the US.In fact, governments of countries like India and Thailand have poured billions of dollars into improving their healthcare systems, which are now aggressively catering to the international health traveler.VIP waiting lounges, deluxe hospital suites, and staffed recuperation resorts are common amenities, along with free transportation to and from airports, low-cost meal plans for companions, and discounted hotels affiliated with the hospital.
Moreover, physicians and staff in treatment centers abroad are often far more accessible than their US counterparts.“My surgeon gave me his cell phone number, and I spoke directly with him at least a dozen times during my stay,” said David P., who traveled to Bangkok for a heart valve replacement procedure.
Excluded treatmentsEven the most robust health insurance plans exclude a variety of conditions and treatments.You, the policyholder, must pay these expenses out-of-pocket.Although health insurance policies vary according to the underwriter and individual, your plan probably excludes a variety of treatments, such as cosmetic surgeries; dental care, vision treatments, reproductive/infertility procedures; certain non-emergency cardiovascular and orthopedic surgeries; weight loss and substance abuse rehabilitation programs; and prosthetics—to name only a few.
In addition, many policies place restrictions on prescriptions (some quite expensive), post-operative care, congenital disorders, and pre-existing conditions.
Rich or cash-challenged, young or not-so-young, heavily or only lightly insured—folks who get sick or desire a treatment (even one recommended by their physician) often find their insurance won’t cover it.Confronting increasingly expensive choices at home, nearly 40 percent of American health travelers hit the road for elective treatments.In countries such as Costa Rica, Singapore, Dubai, and Thailand, this trend has spawned entire industries, offering excellent treatment and ancillary facilities at costs far lower than US prices.
Specialty treatmentsSome procedures and prescriptions are simply not allowed in this country.Either Congress or the FDA has specifically disallowed a certain procedure, or perhaps it’s still in the testing and clinical trials stage, or was only recently approved. Such treatments are often offered abroad. One example is an orthopedic procedure known as hip resurfacing, for most patients a far superior, longer-lasting, and less expensive alternative to the traditional hip replacement still practiced in the US. While this procedure has been performed for more than a decade throughout Europe and Asia, it was only recently approved in the US and the procedur’s availability here remains spotty and unproven.
Hundreds of forward-thinking Americans, many having suffered years of chronic pain, have found relief in India, where hip resurfacing techniques, materials, and instrumentation have been perfected, and the procedure is routine.
Shorter waiting periods For decades, thousands of Canadian and British subscribers to universal, “free” healthcare plans have endured waits as long as two years for established procedures.“Some of us die before we get to the operating table,” commented one exasperated patient, who journeyed to India for an open-heart procedure.
Here in the US, long waits are a growing problem, particularly among war veterans covered under the Veterans Administration Act, where long queues are becoming far too common. Some patients figure it’s better to pay out-of-pocket to get out of pain or to halt a deteriorating condition than to suffer the anxiety and frustration of waiting for a far-future appointment and other medical uncertainties.
The lure of the new and differentAlthough traveling abroad for medical care can often be challenging, many patients welcome the chance to blaze a trail, and they find the creature comforts often offered abroad a welcome relief from the sterile, impersonal hospital environments so often encountered in US treatment centers.For others, simply being in a new and interesting culture lends distraction to an otherwise worrisome, tedious process.And getting away from the myriad obligations of home and professional life can yield healthful effects at a stressful time.
What’s more, travel—and particularly international travel—can be a life-changing experience. You might be humbled by the limousine ride from Indira Gandhi International Airport to a hotel in central New Delhi, struck by the simple, elegant graciousness of professionals and ordinary people in a foreign land, or wowed by the sheer beauty of the mountain range outside a dental office window. As one veteran medical traveler put it, “I brought back far more from this trip than a new set of teeth.”
Who Should Read Patients Beyond BordersYou’ll benefit from reading this book if
you’re one of 43 million uninsured or underinsured individuals who wish to explore less expensive options for a treatment often covered by health insurance. you’re one of 120 million Americans without a dental plan who wish to take advantage of the full range of affordable dental procedures in other countries. you wish to pursue an elective treatment (such as cosmetic surgery, in vitro fertilization, or homeopathy) not normally covered by health insurance policies. you’re exploring one of many treatments either not offered or not approved in the US. you feel a friend or family member might benefit from learning more about health travel, yet that person might lack the confidence or focus to launch an inquiry. you plan to join a family member or friend for treatment abroad (see Chapter Seven, “For Companions”).
What Patients Beyond Borders Will (and Won’t) Do for YouPatients Beyond Borders isn’t a guide to medical diagnosis and treatment, nor does it provide medical advice on specific treatments or caregiver referrals.Your condition, diagnosis, treatment options, and travel preferences are unique, and only you—in consultation with your physician and loved ones—can determine the best course of action.
Should you decide to investigate traveling abroad for treatment, we do provide you with all the resources and tools necessary to become an informed medical traveler, so that you’ll have the best possible travel experience and treatment your money can buy.
Our job is to help you become a knowledgeable, confident health traveler; assist you in planning and budgeting your trip and treatment; provide you up-to-date information about the most popular, widely used treatment centers; make your in-country visit as comfortable and hassle-free as possible; recommend good lodging and travel leisure options; provide tips, tricks, and advice for a successful medical travel experience—before, during, and after treatment. Your job is toconsult with your US doctor(s) to ensure you’ve reached a satisfactory diagnosis and recommended course of treatment; decide, based on your research and the material featured in this book, whether you wish to travel abroad for treatment; and if so, select a travel destination, treatment center, and physician based on the information you find in this book and elsewhere. It’s a truism: Every journey begins with the first step.Health travel is no exception; yet once you’ve taken that first step toward learning more, you’ll find your friends, family, this book, and a trusty Internet connection will speed you on your way.
How to Use This BookBefore you dive into Part Two, “The Most-Traveled Health Destinations,” you’ll want to carefully read Part One, “How to Become a Savvy, Informed Medical Traveler.” It provides you the basic resources and tools you’ll need to do your research and make an informed decision.
Chapter One, “What Am I Getting Into? Some Quick Answers for Health Travelers,” addresses the questions and concerns most often voiced by patients and their loved ones considering a medical journey abroad.
Chapter Two, “Planning Your Health Journey,”helps you create your trip step-by-step.The chapter provides data and advice culled from interviews with hundreds of patients and treatment centers.You’ll learn how to cut through the chaff quickly to find the right clinics, determine physician accreditation, narrow your destination choices, choose the right companion, and more.
Chapter Three, “Budgeting Your Treatment and Trip,” walks you through the financial basics of a medical trip and gives you the tools you need to prepare an estimated budget. Our “Patients Beyond Borders Budget Planner” helps you determine specific cost-savings and avoid financial surprises.
Chapter Four, “Choosing and Working with a Health Travel Planner,” shows you how to avoid hassles and save money by finding and engaging the right health travel agent.
Chapter Five, “While You’re There,” provides valuable information on what to expect from your treatment center and physician, plus general tips for dealing with local cultures, language barriers, and more.A section on communicating while on the road will help you use cell phones and computers to communicate with physicians in-country, as well as loved ones back home.
Chapter Six, “Home Again, Home Again,”helps you get settled in post-treatment, offering practical advice on working with your hometown doctor, shaking off the “post-treatment blues,”coping with discomforts and complications, and getting back on your feet.
Chapter Seven, “For Companions,” is written especially for those caring folks who accompany patients on health journeys.
Chapter Eight, “Dos and Don’ts for the Smart Health Traveler,”helps you avoid common speed bumps and potholes on the health travel road.
Part Two, “The Most-Traveled Health Destinations,” features 22 destinations in 14 countries, with up-to-date information on hospitals and clinics, specialties, accreditation, recovery centers and recuperation resorts, transportation, communication, and more.You’ll use the information in this section to get a good idea about where to travel for your particular procedure and about what to expect for the costs of common treatments.
Part Three:“Resources and References,” features exclusive planning aids and worksheets. It’s one-stop shopping for a wealth of helpful tools.
As you work your way through decision-making and subsequent planning, remember that you’re following in the footsteps of tens of thousands of health travelers who have made the journey before you.The overwhelming majority have returned home successfully treated, with money to spare in their savings accounts.
Still, the process—particularly in the early planning—can be daunting, frustrating, even a little scary.That’s normal, and every health traveler we interviewed experienced “The Big Fear” at one time or another.Healthcare abroad is not for everyone, and part of being a smart consumer is evaluating all the impartial data available before making an informed decision.If you accomplished that in reading Patients Beyond Borders, we’ve achieved our mission.
Josef Woodman, Author, Patients Beyond Borders
Patients Beyond Borders - Chapter Excerpts
Dear Reader: On this page, we’ll frequently post a new excerpt from Patients Beyond Borders,” either an informative chunk from one of the eight chapters in the book, or a peek at one of the 22 destinations featured in Part Two. Check back for new posts, or go to Amazon and click the “Search Inside” link.
From Chapter Two: Planning Your Health JourneyThe Twelvefold Path to Enlightened Health Travel PlanningThe following is culled from hundreds of interviews with patients and treatment center staff members around the world. Follow the steps and advice outlined here and you’ll streamline your planning, organize your trip well, select the best physician(s), communicate effectively with staff and agents, save money, and prepare to pack your bags with confidence.
Step 1: Confirm Your Treatment OptionsDoctors often recommend a range of choices for a given condition and then leave the choice up to patients and their families. That’s wise, because your body is your own, and no one except you can or should make such vital decisions. Most physicians respect their patient’s autonomy. That’s why they usually stop short of advising you on a specific course of treatment.
If you have doubts about your diagnosis or feel dissatisfaction with your relationship with your physician or specialist, don’t be timid about seeking a second—or even third—opinion. At the very least, a second opinion expands your knowledge base about your condition. The more you and your hometown health team learn about—and discuss—your condition, diagnosis, and treatment options, the more precisely and confidently you’ll communicate with your overseas practitioners.
As you sort through your treatment options and consider courses of action, you’ll want to learn as much as you can about your condition. You’ll get better care from your overseas practitioners if you are a knowledgeable and responsive patient.
It works both ways: your experiences and challenges as an informed medical traveler will sharpen your skills on the home front, better equipping you and your loved ones to survive and flourish in the increasingly complex morass that has become our contemporary healthcare system.
Step 2: Narrow Your DestinationsOnce you’ve resolved what treatment you’re seeking, refer to the Patients Beyond Borders “Treatment and Country Finder” found at the beginning of Part Two. This handy reference will help you locate the destinations cited throughout the book that offer the care you’re seeking. In addition, you may also want to consult the Web or other trusted sources you may know.
Your searches will likely produce a dozen or so places that offer, for example, excellent dental care. Great! Choice is good. You will now want to narrow your search based on your circumstance and personal preferences. For example, if you have a choice in travel times, you may prefer a cooler climate in Eastern Europe over the coastal humid heat of Cape Town, South Africa. Or perhaps you speak a little Spanish and are more comfortable conversing with Costa Ricans than Croatians. For sheer travel convenience, a patient living in California or Oregon may prefer Mexico as a destination for dental treatment, while Costa Rica makes more sense to a Florida or Georgia resident.
The point is to narrow your options based on your travel preferences, geography, budget, time requirements, and other variables. Part Two, “The Most-Traveled Health Destinations,” provides a wealth of information on the most widely visited regions and treatment centers.
To help you narrow your options, ask yourself these questions:
When do I want—or need—to travel? If I’m taking a companion, when can he or she travel? How much do I mind a ten-hour flight? An 18-hour flight? Do I have a preference for a hotter or cooler climate? If I’m planning on leisure activities while abroad, what types most interest me? Hiking? Museum-hopping? Shopping? Beaches? Night Life? How much cultural diversity can I tolerate?
Step 3: Engage a Great Health Travel AgentGood news: if you don’t want to do all the planning, research, and booking work yourself, you don’t have to. The medical travel industry has recently given rise to the specialty services of the health travel planner. A qualified agent is usually a specialist in a given region or treatment, with the best doctors, accommodations, and in-country contacts at their fingertips.
Once you’ve settled on your health travel destination, it pays to seek out the services of that locale’s best health travel agent. Agents usually pay for themselves and are well worth the relatively modest additional fees they typically charge.
The better health travel agents do all the work of a traditional travel agent and more, including some or all of the following:
Match you with the appropriate clinic and physician(s)By far the most important service a health travel agent provides is that of matchmaker. The best agents have years of experience with treatment centers, physicians, and staffs, and are in a position to find the best fit among a variety of choices, in addition to weeding out bad apples. Because the agency’s success depends on references from satisfied customers, top agents work hard to make the physician-patient relationship a good match from the start.
Arrange and confirm appointmentsOnce you’ve selected or approved a physician, the agent can handle the details of making appointments for consultations, tests, and treatment. Agents know all the assistants and aides; they can push the right buttons to fast track your arrangements.
Expedite the transfer of your medical information Your agent can work with you and your physicians at home and abroad to relay medical data, including history, x-rays, test results, recommendations, and other documentation. Agents can help you get data into the right format for emailing or help you determine the best way to ship documents.
Book air travelAgents sometimes have arrangements with airlines for good deals on airfares, and booking international flights is usually a standard part of an agent’s service offering.
Obtain visasFor a relatively modest fee, a health travel agent can help you avoid the hassles of purchasing a visa (if required), updating your passport, procuring tourist cards, and hounding the appropriate embassy for service.
Reserve lodging and other accommodationsThese folks can work with your budget and lifestyle preferences to put you in touch with hotels closest to your treatment center; they’ll often book reservations and arrange amenities such as private nursing care. Many agents have forged partnerships with hotels for discounted rates.
Arrange in-country transportation Most agencies either provide transportation from the airport to your hotel or treatment center, or they work directly with the hotel or hospital to arrange transport. If transport is required between your hotel and treatment center, they’ll also help with arrangements.
Help manage post-reatment proceduresAgents can be hugely helpful at the point of discharge from your treatment center, ensuring that your exit paperwork and other documentation are in order.
Help with recovery and recuperation Little publicized and often overlooked are the recovery resorts, surgical retreats, and recuperation hotels that can make a week or two of post-treatment more bearable—sometimes even enjoyable. Agents know all about facilities in their area and work in close partnership with the better ones. The international travel services coordinator at your hospital can also help on this front.
Help with leisure activity planningIf you and your companion are up for a pre- or post-treatment trip, most agents offer assistance with side trips, car rentals, hotels, restaurants, and other travel amenities.
For more information on health travel agents in your preferred destinations, see Chapter Four, “Choosing and Working with a Health Travel Agent.” For information on specific agents, see the “Health Travel Agent” sections in Part Two.
Josef Woodman, Author, Patients Beyond Borders
From Chapter Two: Planning Your Health JourneyThe Twelvefold Path to Enlightened Health Travel PlanningThe following is culled from hundreds of interviews with patients and treatment center staff members around the world. Follow the steps and advice outlined here and you’ll streamline your planning, organize your trip well, select the best physician(s), communicate effectively with staff and agents, save money, and prepare to pack your bags with confidence.
Step 1: Confirm Your Treatment OptionsDoctors often recommend a range of choices for a given condition and then leave the choice up to patients and their families. That’s wise, because your body is your own, and no one except you can or should make such vital decisions. Most physicians respect their patient’s autonomy. That’s why they usually stop short of advising you on a specific course of treatment.
If you have doubts about your diagnosis or feel dissatisfaction with your relationship with your physician or specialist, don’t be timid about seeking a second—or even third—opinion. At the very least, a second opinion expands your knowledge base about your condition. The more you and your hometown health team learn about—and discuss—your condition, diagnosis, and treatment options, the more precisely and confidently you’ll communicate with your overseas practitioners.
As you sort through your treatment options and consider courses of action, you’ll want to learn as much as you can about your condition. You’ll get better care from your overseas practitioners if you are a knowledgeable and responsive patient.
It works both ways: your experiences and challenges as an informed medical traveler will sharpen your skills on the home front, better equipping you and your loved ones to survive and flourish in the increasingly complex morass that has become our contemporary healthcare system.
Step 2: Narrow Your DestinationsOnce you’ve resolved what treatment you’re seeking, refer to the Patients Beyond Borders “Treatment and Country Finder” found at the beginning of Part Two. This handy reference will help you locate the destinations cited throughout the book that offer the care you’re seeking. In addition, you may also want to consult the Web or other trusted sources you may know.
Your searches will likely produce a dozen or so places that offer, for example, excellent dental care. Great! Choice is good. You will now want to narrow your search based on your circumstance and personal preferences. For example, if you have a choice in travel times, you may prefer a cooler climate in Eastern Europe over the coastal humid heat of Cape Town, South Africa. Or perhaps you speak a little Spanish and are more comfortable conversing with Costa Ricans than Croatians. For sheer travel convenience, a patient living in California or Oregon may prefer Mexico as a destination for dental treatment, while Costa Rica makes more sense to a Florida or Georgia resident.
The point is to narrow your options based on your travel preferences, geography, budget, time requirements, and other variables. Part Two, “The Most-Traveled Health Destinations,” provides a wealth of information on the most widely visited regions and treatment centers.
To help you narrow your options, ask yourself these questions:
When do I want—or need—to travel? If I’m taking a companion, when can he or she travel? How much do I mind a ten-hour flight? An 18-hour flight? Do I have a preference for a hotter or cooler climate? If I’m planning on leisure activities while abroad, what types most interest me? Hiking? Museum-hopping? Shopping? Beaches? Night Life? How much cultural diversity can I tolerate?
Step 3: Engage a Great Health Travel AgentGood news: if you don’t want to do all the planning, research, and booking work yourself, you don’t have to. The medical travel industry has recently given rise to the specialty services of the health travel planner. A qualified agent is usually a specialist in a given region or treatment, with the best doctors, accommodations, and in-country contacts at their fingertips.
Once you’ve settled on your health travel destination, it pays to seek out the services of that locale’s best health travel agent. Agents usually pay for themselves and are well worth the relatively modest additional fees they typically charge.
The better health travel agents do all the work of a traditional travel agent and more, including some or all of the following:
Match you with the appropriate clinic and physician(s)By far the most important service a health travel agent provides is that of matchmaker. The best agents have years of experience with treatment centers, physicians, and staffs, and are in a position to find the best fit among a variety of choices, in addition to weeding out bad apples. Because the agency’s success depends on references from satisfied customers, top agents work hard to make the physician-patient relationship a good match from the start.
Arrange and confirm appointmentsOnce you’ve selected or approved a physician, the agent can handle the details of making appointments for consultations, tests, and treatment. Agents know all the assistants and aides; they can push the right buttons to fast track your arrangements.
Expedite the transfer of your medical information Your agent can work with you and your physicians at home and abroad to relay medical data, including history, x-rays, test results, recommendations, and other documentation. Agents can help you get data into the right format for emailing or help you determine the best way to ship documents.
Book air travelAgents sometimes have arrangements with airlines for good deals on airfares, and booking international flights is usually a standard part of an agent’s service offering.
Obtain visasFor a relatively modest fee, a health travel agent can help you avoid the hassles of purchasing a visa (if required), updating your passport, procuring tourist cards, and hounding the appropriate embassy for service.
Reserve lodging and other accommodationsThese folks can work with your budget and lifestyle preferences to put you in touch with hotels closest to your treatment center; they’ll often book reservations and arrange amenities such as private nursing care. Many agents have forged partnerships with hotels for discounted rates.
Arrange in-country transportation Most agencies either provide transportation from the airport to your hotel or treatment center, or they work directly with the hotel or hospital to arrange transport. If transport is required between your hotel and treatment center, they’ll also help with arrangements.
Help manage post-reatment proceduresAgents can be hugely helpful at the point of discharge from your treatment center, ensuring that your exit paperwork and other documentation are in order.
Help with recovery and recuperation Little publicized and often overlooked are the recovery resorts, surgical retreats, and recuperation hotels that can make a week or two of post-treatment more bearable—sometimes even enjoyable. Agents know all about facilities in their area and work in close partnership with the better ones. The international travel services coordinator at your hospital can also help on this front.
Help with leisure activity planningIf you and your companion are up for a pre- or post-treatment trip, most agents offer assistance with side trips, car rentals, hotels, restaurants, and other travel amenities.
For more information on health travel agents in your preferred destinations, see Chapter Four, “Choosing and Working with a Health Travel Agent.” For information on specific agents, see the “Health Travel Agent” sections in Part Two.
Josef Woodman, Author, Patients Beyond Borders
Patients Beyond Borders - The book that’s changing the way Americans think about traveling abroad for healthcare
Patients Beyond Borders is the first comprehensive guide for Americans considering medical tourism. Less about travel and all about healthcare choices, this consumer guidebook provides practical answers for the increasing numbers of Americans facing long-term financial insecurity due to challenging medical conditions.
Bangkok International Hospital, Thailand Lobby and soothing music, Bangkok International Hospital, Thailand Typical ward, Bangkok International Hospital, Thailand. Fluent English spoken. ATMs, Bangkok International Hospital, Thailand Entrance to operating room, Bangkok International Hospital, Thailand Patient suite, around $200/night, Bangkok International Hospital, Thailand In-room VoIP fone, call anywhere worldwide, free. Bangkok International Hospital, Thailand. Gym and physical therapy center Waiting and reception area, Bangkok International Hospital, Thailand Starbucks, Bangkok International Hospital, Thailand
Easy-to-understand, impartial, extensively researched, and filled with authoritative and accessible advice, Patients Beyond Borders gives you detailed information on the best hospitals and treatment centers in 22 destinations worldwide; data on American and regional accreditation; health travel planners; accommodations and more.
Whether it’s dental work, heart surgery, orthopedics, fertilization clinics, neurosurgery, cosmetic surgery or LASIK? eye repair, you can’t afford to ignore the safest, most affordable options when considering your treatment choices. Patients Beyond Borders is the best way to determine if heath travel is right for you, and to plan and budget your journey.
Amidst an increasingly bleak US healthcare landscape, informed Americans now have financial leverage when considering expensive medical procedures. With more than 100 American-accredited hospitals now offering hundreds of treatment procedures and super-specialties, it pays the healthcare consumer to be informed—the savings often far outweigh the rigors of travel abroad.
Josef Woodman, Author, Patients Beyond Borders
Bangkok International Hospital, Thailand Lobby and soothing music, Bangkok International Hospital, Thailand Typical ward, Bangkok International Hospital, Thailand. Fluent English spoken. ATMs, Bangkok International Hospital, Thailand Entrance to operating room, Bangkok International Hospital, Thailand Patient suite, around $200/night, Bangkok International Hospital, Thailand In-room VoIP fone, call anywhere worldwide, free. Bangkok International Hospital, Thailand. Gym and physical therapy center Waiting and reception area, Bangkok International Hospital, Thailand Starbucks, Bangkok International Hospital, Thailand
Easy-to-understand, impartial, extensively researched, and filled with authoritative and accessible advice, Patients Beyond Borders gives you detailed information on the best hospitals and treatment centers in 22 destinations worldwide; data on American and regional accreditation; health travel planners; accommodations and more.
Whether it’s dental work, heart surgery, orthopedics, fertilization clinics, neurosurgery, cosmetic surgery or LASIK? eye repair, you can’t afford to ignore the safest, most affordable options when considering your treatment choices. Patients Beyond Borders is the best way to determine if heath travel is right for you, and to plan and budget your journey.
Amidst an increasingly bleak US healthcare landscape, informed Americans now have financial leverage when considering expensive medical procedures. With more than 100 American-accredited hospitals now offering hundreds of treatment procedures and super-specialties, it pays the healthcare consumer to be informed—the savings often far outweigh the rigors of travel abroad.
Josef Woodman, Author, Patients Beyond Borders
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