Americans Seeking Medical Tourism & Choices

A Growing Number of American Patients are Seeking Medical Treatment Abroad

The medical tourism industry has seen a major increase in the past decade. Researchers have confirmed that:

• In 2013, about 75,000 American citizens traveled to India for medical treatment and more than 300,000 went to Latin America.
• It is estimated that approximately 1.25 million Americans travel abroad in 2014 for medical treatment.

American patients are opting to undergo medical treatment abroad for procedures such as: face lifts, heart bypasses and fertility treatments. For many people who require medical treatment, the last thing they want to do is travel. However, due to the high cost of medical treatment in the USA, many American patients are going abroad for medical treatments. Their purpose is to save 50% to 80% on medical treatment conducted by doctors who are often trained in the United States, at hospitals that maintain the precise standards of patient care and safety.

Popular Destinations – USA Medical Tourism

Many American patients visit South or Central American countries like Brazil, Argentina or Costa Rica for cosmetic treatment, as they can travel cost effectively and can avail themselves of advanced cosmetic surgery. Mexico is a popular destination for American patients who need primary and dental care. “Dental Tourism” developed rapidly as Americans traveled to Central American countries such as Costa Rica for dental treatment not covered by their insurance. It is estimated that about 40% of today’s medical tourism from the USA is for dental work. Costa Rica is a popular place for American medical tourists to travel to in order to receive quality dental care at about half the price.

According to a study completed in 2013, by the Medical Tourism Association, most American patients obtain medical treatment in Mexico or India. Currently, countries like India and Thailand provide state-of-the-art amenities for critical treatments like hip or knee replacements and cardiac surgery. Some other popular destinations are Singapore, Belgium and South Africa. Many people from Northern and Western Europe visit Central and Eastern Europe for low-priced medical and dental care.

Deloitte’s 2011 Survey of Health Care Consumers uncovered other interesting points on medical tourism. Of those surveyed:

• 9% Sought health care beyond their local area
• 54% Would travel if it meant saving at least half of the cost

In addition, some states have introduced legislation to accommodate medical tourism

Reasons Why American Patients are Traveling Abroad for Medical Treatments

Patients from the US are provided with brand new facilities and equipment due to fierce competition among hospitals and global medical tourism centers. Though price is an important factor, there are other benefits of medical tourism.

Here are a few reasons why medical tourism is rapidly gaining popularity in the USA:

Low costs of Medical Treatment Abroad

For most people, the lower price is the main advantage of medical tourism. USA health care costs are often higher than the combined fee of traveling and receiving medical care abroad.

• A total face and neck lift procedure can cost about $12,000 in the U.S.A, while a similar procedure will costs around $3,000-4,000 overseas.
• The price of hip replacement surgery varies from $40,000 to $65,000 in the USA, whereas a similar procedure abroad costs about $8,000 to $18,000, including traveling expenses.
• India provides reasonable prices and high quality medical services to patients from the US. The prices in India usually vary from 0.25 to one 0.1 of the price of a similar medical procedure in the USA.
• Thailand – India’s major competitor – is about 20% more expensive
• Receiving medical treatment in South America can cost between 50-100% more than it would in India.

High Quality Healthcare Abroad Is Equal To or Greater Than USA Hospitals

Medical treatment centers in many of these countries offer state-of-the-art facilities. This includes new or renovated private hospitals that use cutting edge technology and equipment. The doctors in these facilities are trained to American and European standards, providing service that is equal or greater to what hospitals in USA offer.

Patients undergoing minor surgery or procedures can enjoy their recovery by staying in a relaxing vacation environment in beautiful surroundings. Patients accompanied by a family member or friend can enjoy some quality time, relaxing on the beach or going shopping. This can relieve much of the stress that builds up after a surgery. For patients receiving minor treatments, the benefits are even greater.

Lack of Insurance

RAND’s Health Reform Opinion Study, which studied the rate of uninsured people in America, discovered that 15.8% are still uninsured and many more may be under-insured. Reason Magazine’s Jim Epstein has estimated that more and more Americans will seek medical care abroad in order to find “fast, affordable, and effective treatments” as a result of continuously increasing healthcare costs and lack of affordability in the USA.

According to David E. Williams, principal and co-founder of MedPharma partners, and author of Health Business Blog.com, the most popular medical treatments received abroad are Cosmetic and Dental surgeries as these treatments are usually not covered at all by insurance.

Travel Insurance

As the world of medical tourism grows, so does the appetite for specialist travel insurance. This need stems from the fact that standard travel insurance usually penalizes you for pre-existing conditions and in any case cover for traditional delays and loss of baggage would be void. There now exists insurance products that will cover you in the case of travelling for surgery, and further products that seek to protect you from the cost of complications and repeat operations. If you are considering travel for medical treatment reasons then make sure you seek this type of insurance and double check your cover need with the provider.

The Outlook in Medical Tourism

These medical tourism facts indicate a bright future for this industry. Companies like Hannaford Bros. Co. located in Maine are considering saving up to 70% on medical costs by offering offshore medical treatments for their employees. In a similar manner, insurance companies like BasicPlus Health Insurance at Roswell are collaborating with global healthcare companies to provide overseas options to members with maximum fixed benefits.

Although these medical tourism statistics show favorable figures, patients traveling abroad should research facts about the facilities and services regarding U.S. accreditation. Whether you are receiving surgery in the US or abroad, there are always risks involved. Reviewing a doctor’s credentials and talking with previous patients is highly recommended when seeking quality healthcare.

The Rise of International Accreditation

As both patients, practitioners and service providers look towards the future a common aim is that of a seamless and reliable experience. Since 1999 the Joint Commission, which is a U.S. governmental body has been expanding overseas. The original purpose of the commission is to ensure the same standards of quality and care are being met across the States. Now its international body, the Joint Commission International (JCI) is seeking out hospitals and clinics which seek to prove their own standard outside of the U.S.

This is beneficial for both parties. The expectation of good care abroad comparable to that of domestic medicine is a main concern of medical tourists. With an international standard being followed patients now have less to worry about, including required follow up treatment at home. Clinicians and clinics will have patient data that can be transferred and discussed more easily, and attract lucrative overseas client once the seal of approval has been given by the JCI.