Medical Tourism Can Save You Thousands of Dollars

Here are some thoughts from the GREAT book on medical tourism titled Patients Beyond Borders: Everybody's Guide to Affordable, World-Class Medical Tourism on how medical tourism can save you a ton of money:

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, not to mention an opportunity to save thousands of dollars over the same treatment here in the US.

Let me repeat that one section: an opportunity to save thousands of dollars over the same treatment here in the US.

With healthcare costs in the US skyrocketing, traveling abroad for medical treatment is looking better all the time.

Comments

[Mike]

One of the key questions I would have about this is whether this sort of medical service is covered by the average, everyday health care plan. About 10 years ago, I almost went to South America for a consulting assignment, and I was warned to figure out how health care would work, because most of the plans would not cover medical care outside the United States.

If you're doing something "elective" that wouldn't be covered anyway, that's one thing, but if you're already 80% or 100% covered, maybe with a co-pay or a deductible, the benefits are greatly reduced, and most likely negated completely if it would not be covered by your insurance.

[Maggi]

My experience in India tells me that even with BCBS's 80% coverage, I'd come out ahead if I have time to get to India for any medical procedure. It is difficult to fathom the difference in price; even harder to imagine the difference in care!