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By Billy and Akaisha Kaderli,
RetireEarlyLifestyle.com
Special to the Financial Independence Hub
From hip replacement, dental procedures to heart surgery, more people are discovering the advantages of traveling abroad for their medical needs.
In just the past few years, medical vacations have gone from a tiny niche market to an impressive growth story with substantial market-share gains.
Hospitals in countries such as Mexico, India, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Thailand are taking advantage of this global trend. And U.S. companies are taking note as well tailoring their corporate health insurance plans to give employees the opportunity to head to India or elsewhere for surgeries such as knee replacements and the more modern, less invasive approach to hip replacement, hip resurfacing.
In the Western Hemisphere, Costa Rica is currently one of the “in” destination for travelers, especially for dental and cosmetic surgery needs. You can schedule online and receive a custom-made package, appointment and prices 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 U.S. prices. Now more people are traveling to Guadalajara in Mexico for body augmentation and other surgeries, too. Many of the doctors there are US-trained, and the equipment is top of the line. (We know, because we’ve used it.)
In Asia, one of the world’s most acclaimed hospitals is located in Bangkok, Thailand. Bumrungrad looks more like a five-star hotel than a medical facility — until you get to the third floor. World leaders from around the globe fly here for medical procedures. Their website is user-friendly, as is its professional, English-speaking staff. The hospital has 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, all without waiting times or disqualifications. Your entire extensive physical will be done in one morning, with your blood results and consultation that afternoon. In and out in a single day. How’s that for service?
Is it safe?
Many people interested in medical tourism are concerned about the quality and safety of going abroad for technical and complex medical care, and how to get post-operative care once they return home. All of the hospitals mentioned here use the latest equipment and are either internationally accredited facilities or have US- trained physicians on staff. Some U.S. health plans also provide an in-state network of physicians who will treat a patient who’s gone abroad for medical care. The one thing that sets these hospitals apart from many of their U.S. counterparts is their attention to customer service — they are professional and courteous in a way you rarely see any more at home.
For instance, award-winning Fortis Escorts Heart Institute in Delhi and Faridabad, India, manage over 14,500 admissions and 7,200 emergency cases in a year.
India also has top-notch centers for hip and knee replacement, cosmetic surgery, dentistry, bone marrow transplants, and cancer therapy. Virtually all of these clinics are equipped with the latest electronic and medical diagnostic equipment.
Sounds good, but what’s the cost? Continue Reading…
