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A "medical vacation" is a fantastic way to renew oneself in
mind and body. When the body is relaxed and the mind is at
ease, the quality of healing can be phenomenal. If you are one
of those contemplating surgery in the near future, or know of
someone who is at the crossroads of a medical decision, then
you may want to investigate a medical vacation.
The advantages outweigh the disadvantages when you consider
the cost, the service and the location.
Ten years ago, according to the authors of a new book,
"Hospitality 2010: The Future of Hospitality and Travel" by
DeMicco, Cetron and Davies, medical tourism was barely
noticeable. In 2006, nearly a half million patients will visit
India for medical care. The authors indicate that India
expects medical tourism will bring in approximately $2.2
billion per year by 2012.
For those of you shuddering at the thought of undergoing an
advanced medical procedure in a foreign country, DeMicco,
Cetron and Davies note that India's death rate among patients
undergoing surgery is only half that of most major hospitals
in the United States. Additionally, many foreign hospitals
provide hotel-like amenities, include personal assistants for
post-hospital recovery and sometimes add airfare incentives.
Medical costs for surgery in the United States are clearly
beginning to drive the business of surgery overseas. Cost
savings range from 25 to 80 percent less for many procedures.
When you take into account that there are approximately 43
million people without health coverage and 120 million without
dental coverage in the United States alone, then the economic
pull of obtaining low-cost medical service with a vacation
thrown in becomes obvious.
The long waiting periods for surgery in countries that
practice socialized medicine such as Canada and England also
add to the momentum of a burgeoning worldwide medical
business. If you were to price a range of surgeries here in
the United States, you might suddenly have the urge to call up
your insurance agent to go over your policy. Some patients
have even resorted to living with their conditions rather than
depleting family savings or dragging themselves through
bankruptcy court.
The stress of contemplating the devastatingly high cost of
heart surgery, for example, which can run as high as several
hundred thousand dollars, can be overwhelming for the
uninsured or the underinsured.
On the other hand, if you are someone who wants to look and
feel your best and opt for elective surgery, then there is
also the overseas option to consider. For considerably less
than the amount that is spent on cosmetic or remedial surgery
in the United States, the venturesome patient can enjoy a
renewed body and have a great vacation at the same time in
Costa Rica, Cuba, India, Malaysia, Mexico, South Africa or
Thailand.
Heart surgery for the uninsured or underinsured who might
otherwise have to dip into life savings costs only a fraction
of what it costs in the United States. Some heart procedures
are as low as $7,000 dollars as opposed to $50,000 to $125,000
dollars. Those savings can easily translate, during a surgical
recovery period, into airfare, gourmet meals and a nice hotel
at the beach for a month with a lot of spending money left
over for those willing to step outside of their comfort
zones.
As with all medical issues, you should talk to your personal
physician before engaging medical services abroad. But with a
little research and care, you will more than likely thank
yourself for taking your medical concerns overseas.
Many of the doctors performing these surgeries have been
trained in the United States, Europe, Australia, Singapore and
Malaysia. Local hospitals are conversant with the latest
techniques and state-of-the-art medical technology. What
are you waiting for? Let the healing begin. |
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