As the debate continues in the US about a national healthcare plan versus our current cumbersome system, how about looking elsewhere? Why wait for someone else to dictate your future? You have many options if you’re willing to take a vacation. If recovering from a medical procedure while lying on a palm swept beach, relaxing by the hotel pool or shopping for terrific bargains sounds good, then read on.
From hip replacement to heart surgery more people are discovering the advantages of traveling overseas to have their medical needs performed.

Medical vacations started to be recognized as a consumer choice in 2006 and now, just two short years later they are gaining impressive market share. From Mexico, to India, Costa Rica to Thailand, hospitals are taking advantage of this global trend. And US companies are taking note as well. Aetna (AET) and Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina are tailoring their plans for companies to give employees the opportunity to head to India and elsewhere for surgeries such as knee replacements and the more modern, less invasive approach to hip replacement; hip resurfacing.

On this side of the world, Costa Rica is currently the in destination for travelers, especially for dental and cosmetic surgery needs. You can schedule online and your custom-made package, appointment and prices will be included in your email response.

For years, people in the American Southwest have capitalized on the high quality dental work available south of the border for a fraction of US prices. Now more people are traveling to Guadalajara, Mexico for body augmentation and other surgeries too. Many of the doctors there are US trained and the equipment is top rate. We know, because we have utilized it.

In Asia, one of the highest acclaimed hospitals in the world is located in Bangkok, Thailand. Bumrungrad (BH) looks more like a five star hotel than a medical facility, until you get to the third floor. Kings, Sheiks, and Presidents fly here to have medical procedures performed. Their website is user friendly and so is their professional English speaking staff. And they have more than 200 surgeons who are board-certified in the United States. We have quipped many times that the cheapest health care plan is an air ticket to Bangkok. 

Also close by is the Bangkok Heart Hospital. Both of these facilities are located in the center of the city with easy access to shopping and attractions. If necessary, they will arrange your hotel stay along with the medical procedure you’re having performed, and all of this is without waiting times or disqualifications. Your entire extensive physical will be done in one morning with your blood results and consultation that afternoon. One day in-and-out. How’s that for service?

Is it Safe?

A question many ask about medical tourism concerns the quality and safety of going abroad for technical and complex medical care or about post operative care once they return home. All of the hospitals mentioned here use the latest equipment and are either internationally accredited facilities or they have US trained Physicians on staff. Some Stateside health plans also provide an in-state network of physicians who will treat a patient who's gone overseas for medical care. The one thing that sets these hospitals apart from their US counterparts is their attention to customer service. They are undeniably first rate, professional and courteous.

Escorts Heart Institute in Delhi and Faridabad, India, performs nearly 15,000 heart operations every year, and the death rate among patients during surgery is only 0.8 percent--less than half that of most major hospitals in the United States. India also has top-notch centers including hip and knee replacement, cosmetic surgery, dentistry, bone marrow transplants and cancer therapy, and virtually all of these clinics are equipped with the latest electronic and medical diagnostic equipment.

Sounds good but what’s the cost?

Coronary Angiography in Bangkok costs less than $900. A metal free dental bridge worth $5,500 in the US costs $500 in India, a knee replacement in Thailand with 6 days of physical therapy costs about 1/5 of what it would be in the States. Cosmetic surgery savings are even greater. A full facelift that would cost $20,000 in the U.S. runs about $1,250 in South Africa.

The attraction is straightforward. The costs for everything from facelifts, dental implants or hormone therapy to reverse the effects of aging can be one-half or less for comparable procedures in the States. Have your surgery then recover and recuperate in a beautiful mountain setting or at a resort hotel.

Most procedures can be found online letting you know what’s included in the cost. The figure quoted to you will cover everything including follow-up visits. There are no hidden charges and the price includes the room, doctor, and staff.

So, if you’d like to retire soon but are held back due to healthcare issues, or if you’ve got the healthcare blues and need a holiday break, why not do some research online and take a vacation?

And, don’t forget your sun tan lotion.

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