Dear Savvy Senior,
What can you tell me about medical treatments and surgeries that are
available in foreign countries. I have a degenerative hip problem and need a hip replacement, but my insurance company won’t pay for it, and I can’t afford it on my own.
Underinsured and 60
Dear Underinsured,
Today, more and more Americans are traveling overseas for various surgeries and medical treatments and are saving big bucks. Here’s what you should know.
Healthcare Abroad
Dismayed by high surgical costs in the United States, increasing numbers of Americans are boarding planes and
traveling to countries like India, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia for cosmetic, orthopedic and heart surgeries as well as other medical and dental treatments. And the savings are huge,
averaging 40 to 90 percent less than what you’d pay here in the U.S., including the cost of travel, hotel and more.
Most people opt for surgery abroad because they’re uninsured or
underinsured, too young for Medicare and can’t afford the huge medical expenses in this country. It’s estimated that more than 500,000 Americans have already traveled abroad to have surgery or receive medical treatments and the trend is rapidly growing.
Finding Help
The best way to research this overseas medical option is to work with a medical tourism agency. These are U.S.-based companies that can guide you through the entire process, including putting you in touch with doctors, arranging
surgeries, booking your travel and
handling all the details and logistics while you’re there. They can also arrange follow-up care with a physician once you return home. Here are a few top agencies to help you get started:
PlantetHospital(www.globalchoicehealthcare.com)
GlobalChoice Healthcare(www.globalchoicehealthcare.com)
MedRetreat(www.medretreat.com)
IndUShealth(www.indushealth.com)
What to Know
Some specific areas you’ll want to
carefully check into before you make any decisions include:
Doctor qualifications: Many of the larger overseas hospitals have physicians who trained in the U.S. or other Western nations, including doctors who are board-certified, meaning they have passed strict tests for their specialties. Check to see where your doctor was
educated and trained. The American Board of Medical Specialties (www.abms.org) is a helpful resource. It’s also wise to spend some time researching your prospective doctor. Big hospitals catering to American patients have Web sites listing physicians with their
biographies and contact information.
Accreditation: Check to see if the
overseas hospitals you’re considering have been internationally accredited. This ensures that the hospitals have translators, qualified doctors and nurses and are up to American standards for safety and cleanliness. You can do this at the U.S.-based Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations at www.jointcommissioninternational.com.
Communication: Check to see how widely English is spoken by doctors and nurses at the hospital you’re considering and the availability of translators.
Patient’s perspective: Talk to other
people who have undergone surgery overseas both at the hospital you’re interested in visiting and with the doctor you’re considering. The medical tourism agency you work with can provide you a list of contacts.
Legal rights: Look into how medical malpractice is handled in the country you’re visiting. Find out how cases are typically handled if something goes wrong and ask the hospital what rights you have as a patient. Usually your options are limited.
Savvy Resource: A useful new book on this topic is “Patients Beyond Borders: Everybody’s Guide to Affordable,
World-Class Medical Tourism.” It’s
currently available for $22.95 at www.patientsbeyondborders.com or call 866-686-2229.
Tip For Travelers
For many older travelers, getting sick or injured while in a foreign country and not being able to find a reliable doctor is a big concern. Before your next
international trip, you can ease your mind by joining the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers (www.iamat.org). They provide their members access to a worldwide
network of physicians who speak English and have agreed to affordable
prearranged fees. Membership is free.
Send your senior questions to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit www.savvysenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today Show and author of “The Savvy Senior” books.
