| If you're one of millions of Americans who can't | | | | international training, and massive marketing |
| afford health insurance, then what you're about to | | | | campaigns; many of these countries have a vision for |
| discover is a low cost alternative for your medical | | | | building their way out of poverty. |
| needs. | | | | Just as is true in developed countries, some doctors |
| Copyright (c) 2008 Why would a person living in the | | | | and facilities are better than others. Information is |
| United States of America consider traveling abroad | | | | available as to which countries offer the best medical |
| for medical treatment? For a very long time, the only | | | | services, which facilities are accredited by the |
| people who traveled abroad were those in affluent | | | | International Organization for Standardization and/or |
| circles. The trend has changed over the past 10-20 | | | | the Joint Commission International. |
| years, and the millions of uninsured Americans are | | | | We are living in the 21st Century, in a global medical |
| being targeted as potential medical tourists. | | | | community that has no borders. International travel is |
| It is only logical to say that at some point in the not | | | | readily available, with the skies filled with jet planes |
| too distant future, either you or someone you know | | | | going to and fro. It is possible to travel anywhere in |
| will find himself in need of a medical procedure. Just | | | | the world, with relative speed and comfort. Many |
| the word "procedure" used by a doctor, results in a | | | | medical facilities are offering to make travel |
| bill! Immediately, the mind computes that the cost will | | | | arrangements for their patients, and have negotiated |
| be tens of thousands of dollars. | | | | discount travel tickets with major airlines. The |
| In one instance, a man needed surgery on a | | | | internet and electronic medical systems make it |
| herniated disk in his neck. He was in the U.S. hospital | | | | possible for medical documents to be sent anywhere |
| for less than 24 hours and received a bill for nearly | | | | in the world within minutes, and for teams of doctors |
| $200,000! The same surgery could have been done | | | | in various countries to consult with each other if |
| overseas for under $20,000, airfare and | | | | there are questions regarding the documents. |
| accommodations included. | | | | The practices within the facilities are competitive or |
| Case after case is being compiled of those who have | | | | superior to those in developed countries. Despite wild |
| no medical insurance and are in need of surgery | | | | rumors, the water that is used in hospitals in these |
| ranging from laser treatment to dental work to hip | | | | underdeveloped countries is completely processed |
| replacements. Estimates range from several thousand | | | | and sterilized, for example. While it may not be a |
| to nearly 100,000! With no means to pay such a bill, | | | | good idea to drink the water at a home in the same |
| patients are enduring the results of not having | | | | neighborhood, the medical facilities are very safe. |
| surgery. | | | | Millions have been invested in ensuring that sanitation |
| There is hope for those who are in need! There are | | | | is not a concern, and that communication is clear. |
| low cost alternatives, available in a plethora of | | | | Translators stand by around the clock, in many |
| countries across the world, many of which are in | | | | facilities. Testimonies of those who have received |
| Asia. Countries like Mexico, India, Thailand, Costa Rica, | | | | services abroad confirm that the staff is more |
| Poland and others are offering world class services at | | | | attentive than in the U.S. and Canada, and that |
| third world prices! | | | | translators eliminate the communication issues. One |
| Although major media broadcasters such as CBS | | | | patient has said that she wished the U.S. would offer |
| have aired segments on medical tourism, there | | | | translators, the way other countries do! |
| remains a vast amount of skeptics amongst the | | | | Because of the rising costs of insurance and for |
| general population of Westerns. Some common | | | | medical procedures, millions of patients are now |
| concerns are surrounding the conditions of the | | | | outsourcing their medical needs to countries abroad. |
| facility, the training that doctors have, and the safety | | | | They are opting to travel a little further to receive |
| within the country itself. | | | | quality services for 1/6 to 1/8 of the cost of their |
| Rest assured that the medical facilities are state of | | | | homeland. The rise of the medical tourism industry |
| the art, with cutting edge technology and equipment. | | | | has provided an alternative to those people who |
| Some of the poorest countries in the world have | | | | either cannot or will not pay the rising costs for |
| come to realize that there is a niche market for | | | | medical care. In our global medical community, there is |
| medical tourism and are making it their goal to | | | | little reason why a person cannot afford the services |
| provide the services. By investing the money to build | | | | needed. It means traveling a little further, but the |
| the resort type facilities, send doctors for | | | | bonus is that you get a vacation at the same time. |