Overseas Medical Tourism Facilities Target US and Canadian Companies

Copyright © 2008 Medical-Tourism-Guide.com
by Jay Siva

Medical tourism is simply the practice of combining vacation and medical procedures.
Although this niche market is now being capitalized on and becoming better known, the practice of traveling abroad for services is not new.

Ten years ago, the concept of medical tourism was new and received bad media coverage in developed countries. It was misunderstood and given a negative image. Today, that trend has not only reversed, but medical tourism is being embraced as a viable option for people in need of affordable medical care.

The concept of going to a developing country to obtain a package of services that supercedes what is available at home is becoming more widely understood and accepted. Just as the economy has become a global economy, so it is with the medical field.

India has a goal of becoming the number one destination in the world. Thailand is competing for the position of being the forerunner in providing services at fully accredited facilities. Other countries are setting similar goals. As they begin to compete with each other, vying for our business, services and options are increasing while the costs remain low.

Medical tourism facilities have started heavy marketing campaigns to Western insurance companies. More and more, it is the insurance agent who suggests (and in some instances, mandates) having the surgery done in another country. An increasing number of insurance companies are not only agreeing to overseas medical services, but are advocating or insisting that the patient obtain the less expensive services as a medical tourist.

The dollar is what speaks in the insurance industry. If an insured person is in need of a procedure, the insurance company is going to need to pay the bills to the doctors and hospitals. When faced with the option of paying $20,000 vs. $200,000 more and more agents are inclined to agree to pay for outsourcing services overseas. Who would not want to save $180,000 in pay outs?

Medical tourism facilities have also started heavy marketing campaigns to Western employers, particularly those who employ the blue collar labor force. The reason for targeting the employers of the blue collar labor force is that it is these companies that have a higher rate of injury and worker’s compensation claims. Those in the medical tourism industry recognize that time is a precious commodity.

Making the choice to obtain medical services in India means that the average laborer could travel with a companion to a state of the art facility in India, have the procedure done, and recover in a five star resort setting, for a fractionof the cost of having the procedure done at home.

The bottom line is that the worker in need of a heart bypass can obtain one in another country for $10,000 vs. $70,000 in the US. He can get a knee replacement for $6,000 vs. $50,000! It can be scheduled within a couple of weeks in another country, rather than wait a year or more in the US or Canada. More and more, it is the employer who suggests (and in some instances, mandates) having the surgery done in another country.

Not all patients are happy about the decisions of employers, worker’s comp boards and insurance companies to outsource the medical procedure to another country. Much of the unhappiness is based in fear of the unknown. One has to think logically and wisely. If a person would travel thousands of miles to vacation, why not travel that far to have a medical procedure done? If a person is willing to risk having a foreign doctor perform the procedure in the developed country (E.G. a cardiologist from India, working in Chicago) why does that person not trust going to the same caliber cardiologist in the country of India itself?

If a person is willing to fully research the hospitals and credentials in their homeland, why not check the ones abroad and save money by choosing a facility abroad? Case studies and statistics verify that medical tourism offers top quality medical care in accredited facilities. A growing number of facilities that offer medical tourism are accredited by the IOS (International Organization of Standardization) and the JCI (Joint Commission International).

The bottom line is that medical tourism is here to stay. India and Thailand both have a goal of becoming the number one destination in the world. Other countries are setting similar goals. It is becoming commonplace practice for an employer or an insurance a person to travel abroad for all types of medical procedures. Most countries are seeing a growth of 20-30% in medical tourism, as medical services in the Western countries are being outsourced. We are seeing, in the 21st Century, that we are truly living in a world with no medical borders!

Jay Siva is the author of the best seller book "The Complete Guide to Medical Tourism" where he reveals crucial information on how to successfully plan your medical trip abroad, find discount airfare, American-trained doctors, and internationally-accredited hospitals. You’ll find out such things as: how to pick your treatment destination, what you can expect to pay for specific surgical procedures, what to look for before choosing a hospital, what to ask your doctors, how to manage your travel and treatment costs and so much more.

Overseas Medical Tourism Facilities Target US and Canadian Companies

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