Health Tourism -- History
More Americans than ever before are taking advantage of medical treatments in foreign countries. They are medical or health tourists. They are riding the growing wave of health tourism. Some of the travel is for elective surgery and some for major medical procedures.
So far, the debate about health care and health care insurance by both Senator McCain and Senator Obama, has not included any great mention of a viable and important third option that exists between government controlled health care and a struggling private system of health care.
So far, the debate about health care and health care insurance by both Senator McCain and Senator Obama, has not included any great mention of a viable and important third option that exists between government controlled health care and a struggling private system of health care.
Medical or Health Tourism is a relatively new term, but those who have traveled for health has been around for eons. Ancient Romans traveled to the hot water baths (called thermae) from all across the world, as it existed then. No mere gushing spouts of water and bare rocks, these were elaborate establishments that served up cures but also served as places for the elite to meet.
In the United States, many places with "healing waters" were common until science and medicinal cures overtook a comforting soak. Look at a map, and in nearly every state is someplace with the word "springs" attached. Hot Springs, Arkansas, for instance, was a gathering place for Native Americans to take the cures that the 143 degree water offers. The Native Americans, and the white settlers that followed, traveled to Arkansas; they were the medical tourists of the day.
Modern Medical Travel:
It would seem that with the ease of modern travel that more and more people would be looking for treatment beyond their own city, state and even borders. It turns out to be true. It is estimated that 47 million people in the United States have no health insurance. Some have no insurance by choice (mostly younger and statistically healthier people) and some have been priced out of buying affordable insurance, or do not have it offered through their place of employment. Another 120 millions US citizens are believed to be under-insured.
For those uninsured or under-insured, travel to another country became an option, starting first with elective surgery --i.e., "plastic surgery". Brazil became a leader in plastic or cosmetic surgery. Lately, destinations such as Singapore, India, Thailand, Costa Rica and a number of others have been receiving travelers from the United States and around the world, because they either specialize in certain types of treatments (India for heart surgery, for example) or they offer a package that includes transportation, procedure, and recovery for a fraction of the cost of doing the same in the United States.
Where to Go:
Just as your neighborhood has shops that specialize in men and women's clothing, or a place that delivers excellent Asian cuisine, and a deli that has premium cuts of meat, so does the world have countries that have staked out areas of expertise in medical treatments. Costa Rica, for instance, has become known for dental work, India for heart procedures, and Singapore for general surgery, oncology and stem cell therapy. Each of these countries represent only a small selection of what the world supermarket has to offer for those who need or want to seek treatment abroad.
A more complete listing of destinations and the treatments available are in an excellent book "Patients Beyond Borders," by Josef Woodman.
Is it Safe?
The answer is "yes" and "no".
This is where you or the potential patient has to do some homework. Many doctors practicing in even obscure corners of the world have been trained in the United States or in other western countries. That said, you have to pay attention to the facilities as well. Many hospitals and clinics in foreign countries maintain the same health standards --or better-- than in the United States. Often, they are accredited by the same US agency that certifies hospitals here, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations. Recently, this Oak Brook, Illinois, not-for-profit organization has shortened its name to simply The Joint Commission.
Should you Go?
For most, it is the cost factor that will ultimately determine a trip abroad for medical care. Woodman, in Patients Beyond Borders, applies the $6000 rule. If you are quoted a procedure that costs $6000 or more, then seriously consider buying an airplane ticket. Along with this calculation is the factor of whether or not you carry health insurance, or if you do, the amount of the deductible.
Often medical procedures done abroad can cost less than a third of what the US cost would be, and that can include transportation, procedure, and even a private resort like convalescence.
How to Go?
First, check with your health insurer. Though it is popular to bash insurance companies, they, too, are trying to be good consumers and keep costs down. If insurance companies have to raise their health care premiums to an astronomical rate, then eventually they will suffer a fall off in the numbers of people it insures, as the premiums are affordable for fewer and fewer. Recently, Blue Cross Blue Shield entered into an agreement with Parkway Health, which owns three first-class hospitals in Singapore.
The odds today that your health insurance provider is covering treatment abroad is rather low. This will change dramatically in the next few years. It is estimated that by 2010 health tourism will be a 20 billion dollar industry.
There are a number of Health Travel or Health Tourism Providers active in sending US citizens abroad. Some are based in foreign countries and some in the United States. It is better to use a domestic company or organization when planning for medical travel, but even so, be sure to check for references and be sure to get the names of the doctors and organizations that will be hosting you in the chosen country. Make sure that these providers have an operation staffed in these various countries in order to make sure that the transportation and medical care go seamlessly.
In most cases you will want a partner to go with you, so be sure to include that cost in any decisions.
Find Out More:
Information is rather scattered now on health tourism, but it growing more easily accessible every day. More books are being published, and it is certain that with big insurers like Blue Cross Blue Shield lending their approval to the idea, that in the next year the concept of traveling to a foreign country for elective and required procedures will be much more common.
In fact, if you live in certain areas of the country, you will be able to go in person and get information directly from foreign medical sources. More tourist boards are recognizing the revenue of medical tourism, and see this as a stable niche to develop for their countries. Transmarx is a company that specializes in medical tourism, and it is organizing a number of health and travel expos across the country.
A helpful source is Your Medical Travel newsletter.
Personal Reasons:
Twenty one years ago, my father died of lung cancer. He had the worst possible type, small or "oat" cell carcinoma. His fate was sealed -- in six months or less he would be dead. He was. It was at that time the most traumatic thing to have happened to me and my family. He was only 55 years old.
After the shock of the diagnosis, we did some research. We found that there were some experimental treatments being done -- in Germany. A quick evaluation of the situation told us that travel to Germany for treatment would be impossible, and nothing was guaranteed, besides. It did open our eyes to the fact that the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) had procedures in place then that prohibited even the remotest possibility of getting those drugs here. They were too dangerous... for a terminally ill patient. The AIDS epidemic, which was climbing to its peak then, in 1987, has forced a small loosing of the FDA's procedures for "hopeless" cases, but has not provided complete freedom of choice for your or your family.
My father probably would not have been helped by any medications in Germany or elsewhere, but it made me acutely aware of the choices that exist globally.
We are now in a global economy, and there is no reason why health travel and health tourism cannot be accessed by any citizen of any country in any part of the globe.
For most, it is the cost factor that will ultimately determine a trip abroad for medical care. Woodman, in Patients Beyond Borders, applies the $6000 rule. If you are quoted a procedure that costs $6000 or more, then seriously consider buying an airplane ticket. Along with this calculation is the factor of whether or not you carry health insurance, or if you do, the amount of the deductible.
Often medical procedures done abroad can cost less than a third of what the US cost would be, and that can include transportation, procedure, and even a private resort like convalescence.
How to Go?
First, check with your health insurer. Though it is popular to bash insurance companies, they, too, are trying to be good consumers and keep costs down. If insurance companies have to raise their health care premiums to an astronomical rate, then eventually they will suffer a fall off in the numbers of people it insures, as the premiums are affordable for fewer and fewer. Recently, Blue Cross Blue Shield entered into an agreement with Parkway Health, which owns three first-class hospitals in Singapore.
The odds today that your health insurance provider is covering treatment abroad is rather low. This will change dramatically in the next few years. It is estimated that by 2010 health tourism will be a 20 billion dollar industry.
There are a number of Health Travel or Health Tourism Providers active in sending US citizens abroad. Some are based in foreign countries and some in the United States. It is better to use a domestic company or organization when planning for medical travel, but even so, be sure to check for references and be sure to get the names of the doctors and organizations that will be hosting you in the chosen country. Make sure that these providers have an operation staffed in these various countries in order to make sure that the transportation and medical care go seamlessly.
In most cases you will want a partner to go with you, so be sure to include that cost in any decisions.
Find Out More:
Information is rather scattered now on health tourism, but it growing more easily accessible every day. More books are being published, and it is certain that with big insurers like Blue Cross Blue Shield lending their approval to the idea, that in the next year the concept of traveling to a foreign country for elective and required procedures will be much more common.
In fact, if you live in certain areas of the country, you will be able to go in person and get information directly from foreign medical sources. More tourist boards are recognizing the revenue of medical tourism, and see this as a stable niche to develop for their countries. Transmarx is a company that specializes in medical tourism, and it is organizing a number of health and travel expos across the country.
A helpful source is Your Medical Travel newsletter.
Personal Reasons:
Twenty one years ago, my father died of lung cancer. He had the worst possible type, small or "oat" cell carcinoma. His fate was sealed -- in six months or less he would be dead. He was. It was at that time the most traumatic thing to have happened to me and my family. He was only 55 years old.
After the shock of the diagnosis, we did some research. We found that there were some experimental treatments being done -- in Germany. A quick evaluation of the situation told us that travel to Germany for treatment would be impossible, and nothing was guaranteed, besides. It did open our eyes to the fact that the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) had procedures in place then that prohibited even the remotest possibility of getting those drugs here. They were too dangerous... for a terminally ill patient. The AIDS epidemic, which was climbing to its peak then, in 1987, has forced a small loosing of the FDA's procedures for "hopeless" cases, but has not provided complete freedom of choice for your or your family.
My father probably would not have been helped by any medications in Germany or elsewhere, but it made me acutely aware of the choices that exist globally.
We are now in a global economy, and there is no reason why health travel and health tourism cannot be accessed by any citizen of any country in any part of the globe.