SPENDING SMART
By Gregory Karp
With recent turmoil in other countries, consumers might be nervous about traveling abroad for medical treatment.
But medical travel, sometimes called medical tourism, can be a huge money saver for quality surgical procedures. It can be a wise choice, especially in recessionary times.
But it's not a decision to make lightly.
"It is clear that geopolitical forces are a factor in medical travel and add to the complexity," said Dr. Steven Tucker, president of the International Medical Travel Association. "Let's not forget it is always better to be treated at home, but currently some people feel that is not an option due to cost."
Medical travel is not a far-fetched idea. In 2007, an estimated 750,000 Americans traveled abroad for medical care, according to a report by the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions. It's an option insurance companies are considering. Health insurance giant WellPoint Inc. recently announced a pilot program that would provide coverage for group members to travel to India for certain non-emergency procedures, such as joint replacement.
Here are questions to consider if you're thinking about having a surgical procedure done in another country:
Am I a candidate?
If you need non-emergency surgery, you could save thousands of dollars by having a procedure done outside the United States if you don't have health insurance, have a high deductible or want a procedure not covered by health insurance, such as elective cosmetic surgery, weight-reduction surgery or in-vitro fertilization. Those without dental insurance also might be candidates, as are those who want a procedure not approved in the United States.
What are the savings?
In a list of pros and cons, saving money is the biggest advantage. Savings vary widely, typically from 15 percent to 85 percent. For example, a heart bypass in the United States might cost $130,000, compared with perhaps $10,000 in India or $18,500 in Singapore. A knee replacement that costs $40,000 in the United States might cost $8,500 in India or $13,000 in Singapore.
Those savings would more than cover the cost of round-trip travel for you and a partner, along with hotel accommodations for a partner. Bringing a spouse or other companion is widely recommended.
What's most important?
Research. The Internet provides substantial information at such Web sites as MedicalTourismAssociation.com, MedicalTourism.com and MedicalNomad.com. "Patients without Borders," a book by Josef Woodman, is a good resource for the medical travel industry. Talk with representatives of overseas hospitals and former medical travel patients.
"This is not the kind of thing where you think, 'I'm tired of queuing at my local county hospital, I think I'll go to Thailand," Tucker said. "This requires research."
What is the quality of care?
It can be excellent, on par with procedures completed in the United States, with equally sophisticated equipment and qualified doctors. In fact, many physicians are trained in the United States.
But this is where research comes in. Look for institutions approved by the Joint Commission International (www.jointcommissioninternational.org), an affiliate of the group that accredits U.S. hospitals. And some foreign hospitals have established affiliations with well-known U.S. facilities, such as Johns Hopkins and the Cleveland Clinic. Find out all you can about hospitals and doctors.
Should I use a medical travel company?
"Good medical travel companies will hold your hand through scheduling surgery, coordinating medical records and making travel arrangements. They might even give you a wireless phone loaded with international minutes, provide car service in the foreign country and call your family and friends after surgery to relay information about how you're doing," said Vic Lazzaro, chief executive of medical travel company BridgeHealth International, which works with 25 foreign hospitals and has facilitated travel for more than 1,000 patients.
Often, you don't have to pay medical travel companies because they are paid by foreign hospitals in return for attracting patients. But using a facilitator adds a level of complexity because you have to worry about choosing a good company. Lazzaro recommends finding out if the firm has more than just a few employees, including a medical director. And find out how many patients the company has sent abroad. Obtain references.
"If you're experienced traveling abroad, you can make your own arrangements. Often, the hospital will help facilitate your travel and accommodations," Tucker said.
Is it safe to travel?
Americans traveling abroad should regularly monitor the State Department's Web site at www.travel.state.gov/travel for reports, such as travel warnings and alerts.
What are other downsides?
Before you leave, you should make arrangements for follow-up care upon your return. And be aware that if something goes wrong, you won't have the same legal options as in the United States. You'll have to abide by court systems in the host country, which aren't known for large malpractice awards like in the United States.
"Travel always presents risks; medicine presents risks," Tucker said. "The issue is, when is the potential reward, savings, high enough to take risks?"
Gregory Karp is a personal finance writer for The Morning Call, a Tribune Co. newspaper in Allentown, Pa. E-mail him at
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. For additional discussion on spending wisely, see the Spending Smart blog at http://blogs.mcall.com/spendingsmart.
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