12 Reasons Medical Tourism Is So Popular
Medical tourism is not a new concept by any means. People have been traveling to get treatment from healers and doctors for thousands of years. Yet this kind of travel has become increasingly popular in recent years, largely because for many it has become difficult to get quality treatment at affordable prices at home.
It is estimated that 500,000 Americans traveled out of the country to get medical treatment and dental work in 2005 and the numbers continue to rise. Medical tourism is a burgeoning industry, as destination countries offer quality treatment and accommodations at a fraction of the cost back home with the added benefit of a luxury vacation tacked on.
So why travel thousands of miles to get treatment you could just as easily get at your local hospital? While the reasons vary for each person, here are some of the major reasons medical tourism is so popular with patients all over the world.
- Potential Savings — The driving force behind the medical tourism market is the potential for savings. For those without insurance or those needing operations that insurance won't cover, medical tourism can be an affordable alternative to the skyrocketing costs of health care. Costs for major surgeries in the United States can run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars while the same surgery in a country like India or Thailand can be as little as a tenth of that. The cost differential isn't caused by a lack of quality, but because a good portion of health care costs in the U.S. are tied up in administrative and insurance costs. While there is a risk involved with not having a firm legal recourse if something goes wrong, you can at least know that your money is going towards your actual care rather than to shuffle some papers around.
- Shorter Waits — Even people who live in countries with public health care coverage often choose to take their treatment abroad because overburdened hospitals and doctors can have long wait periods for surgeries on conditions that are not life-threatening. While a bum knee might not be life threatening, it sure can make your life difficult and uncomfortable, and for some waiting months to get surgery simply isn't an option. In most countries where medical tourism is popular, wait times are almost non-existent. Patients can usually be scheduled for a surgery within a few days or weeks allowing patients convenience not available at home.
- Quality — If most people are honest, they will admit that the first place that comes to mind when they think of world class health care isn't India or the Philippines. Yet this is a bit of an unfair stereotype. Many of the countries where medical tourism has become popular have made significant investments in the industry to ensure that patients are happy and healthy. Many doctors have been trained abroad, and some are leaders in their fields. With careful research, it's possible to get the same if not better treatment abroad than you could at home.
- Relaxing Recovery — Traveling for medical treatment gives you the added benefit of helping yourself to a relaxing vacation while you're in recovery. Depending on the location you choose and the type of surgery you have, you could spend a relaxing week on the beach, a mountain resort, or just living it up in a luxury hotel. While it isn't advisable to party too hard after surgery, being away from home can give you a break from the stresses of everyday life and allow you to relax and concentrate on getting better.
- Insurance Coverage — While it isn't a guarantee, there are some insurance plans that will cover treatment that is performed outside of your home country provided that it isn't an elective procedure. More and more insurance providers are covering treatment abroad, as it saves them in costs as well.
- You Can Bring Friends and Family — Because of the reduced cost of treatment abroad, if can be completely feasible to bring others along and still spend less than you would have at home. This can help make foreign treatment less scary, and also provide a vacation for the whole family. Some hospitals can even provide accommodation for relatives at less than the cost of a hotel.
- Same Facilities and Equipment as Home — Because medical tourism is such a big industry, hospitals are making big investments in equipment and technology to help them draw more patients. Some hospitals have even made names for themselves as world class research centers. Essentially, there is little difference between these facilities and those at home. In fact, many top hospitals in medical tourism destination countries are associated with a well-respected hospital in the United States.
- Package Deals — If you are unsure where to start when getting medical treatment abroad, package deals can be a great time saver. Many companies specialize in providing patients with not only their treatment, but vacations afterwards, travel to and from the airport and all of the accommodations needed. It can make travel much less stressful to let someone else do all the work. The best part about these kinds of deals is that even with all the extras, they can still be cheaper than treatment at home.
- Surgical Options — While the most popular options with medical tourists are cosmetic and dental surgeries, the reality is that there is a growing market for a wide variety of procedures including heart surgery and orthopedic hip and knee replacements. Chances are good that if you need a particular type of care that there will be a surgeon specialized in it to help you out.
- Luxury Accommodations — Many hospitals that cater to medical tourists are corporately owned and therefore are in staunch competition with other hospitals to draw you in to their facilities. This can be a real boon to patients, who benefit from private rooms and luxury accommodations that are often much nicer than they would be able to afford at home.
- Service — Patients can usually expect a high level of personal care and attention from hospitals and clinics that are popular with medical tourists. Many have very low staff to patient ratios and many pride themselves on friendly patient relations.
- Travel is Affordable — While fuel costs have risen in the past few years, air travel is still an affordable and relatively convenient way to travel. With the wide variety of websites that cater to getting you the lowest rate on flights and hotels, the costs of traveling to a foreign country can be nominal when compared to the savings from not having surgery at home.
While medical tourism isn't the answer for everyone, it's easy to see why it's become such a popular option for people all over the world. Not only can it save you a bundle, but you'll also get the benefit of getting surgery quickly and being able to relax and take in the sights while you're recovering. While it's up to you to decide if it's the right option for your care, with rising health care costs it's definitely something to consider.
We are not medical professionals and the information on this site should not be considered medical advice. Please consult your physician before undergoing surgery or taking any action. Read our disclaimers and privacy policy.