Every year, millions of United States citizens choose to travel internationally for health care and medical treatments. Cost issues, timing, perceived quality of services and access to elective procedures that their insurers won’t approve or authorize are high on medical tourists’ lists of reasons.
Making Informed Choices About Medical Tourism
You might plan a trip without first consulting your physician or using a commercial medical tourism company. While you may still receive first-class care and treatment at your foreign destination, you should weigh the potential pros and cons before deciding to travel internationally for health care.
1. Quality of Treatment and Care
The U.S. enforces stringent regulations for health care facilities and medical professionals. While you may encounter similar rules in some other countries, others may be more lenient about facility, doctor and surgeon accreditation, licensing and credentials.
While researching potential destinations for your procedure or treatment, clarify that their medical standards are in accordance with international accrediting organizations before you make any decisions. Also, check that there are regulations in place to govern the quality of medical devices and the legitimacy of medication.
2. Communication
Depending on where you plan to travel for your health care treatment, you may encounter language and communication complications that could create misunderstandings.
You must ensure beforehand that there is mutual understanding between you and your international care team and that there are no gray areas relating to your planned procedure or treatment — those responsible for looking after you must speak and understand English fully, or you must be able to converse fluently in the country’s native tongue.
3. Air Travel
If you have a condition requiring surgery, consult a health professional or medical tourism specialist about your impending trip. Determine that you can safely fly to your destination and learn about risks you may expose yourself to by doing so.
Know what activities — like hiking, swimming or other exercises — to avoid before, during and after your procedure, and for how long. Find out how soon you can travel after surgery and any risks you may encounter by doing so. Several eye, ear, abdominal, thoracic and orthopedic surgeries require recovery time before you can legally fly commercially — you may need to make alternative travel arrangements or extend your accommodation plans during this recuperation period.
4. Travel Insurance
It’s always wise to get an insurance policy before traveling abroad. When flying for health reasons, this becomes even more imperative. Depending on your destination, you will likely have to pay your medical bills before leaving, as many countries won’t cover non-citizens.
Check whether your health insurance policy covers travel emergencies, including related exclusions. Taking out decent travel insurance means coverage for medical evacuation, from remote hospitals to centralized ones and from your current country to the U.S. It could also include coverage in case you need to cancel your trip. Investigate your travel health policy if you intend to participate in adventure sports activities like parasailing or scuba diving during your medical vacation, especially if you have an existing medical condition.
5. Care Continuity
A potential disadvantage of international health care treatment is the lack of follow-up care if you need it. Your health insurance may not cover medical complications you develop after you arrive home, leaving you to settle expensive bills out of pocket. Likewise, find out whether your insurance policy covers required medications. Compare drug prices and research generic alternatives that reduce prescription costs to save money.
Request extensive medical records from your international treatment facility to ensure informed follow-up treatments if necessary. Medical tourism can reduce primary medical costs, but you should have a plan in place if you need to pay for secondary care after your return. Building an emergency fund can assist with unanticipated medical expenses. Also, investigate if your U.S. health insurance offers any coverage — otherwise, supplemental travel health insurance options may cover specific emergency or follow-up treatments when you get home.
Investigate The Viability Of Health Care Travel Early
You can make the best decisions for your well-being after weighing the pros and cons of health tourism. Assess the medical standards in the country you intend to visit and whether you’ll need to plan an extended trip, depending on your required treatment. If you decide to book your trip, ensure you have ways to deal with and cover emergencies while you’re abroad and following your return home.