How to Find Out the Costs of Getting Surgery Abroad – Medical Tourism02 Mar
Surgery abroad may seem attractive because it is cheap, but there are other costs involved as well.
In the US, if you need any medical treatment which is not covered by insurance, or you are not insured, then you can be sure that it is going to burn a hole in your pocket to be paying for it. Whether it is a simple tooth extraction or hair transplant or hip or knee replacement surgery or heart surgery, everything is extremely expensive.
And then it is not necessary that you are going to get better care than anywhere else. In fact the number of doctors from other countries outnumbers local doctors in most western countries, though they have to be qualified to practice and have met all the certification requirements.
Why is surgery cheaper abroad?
Surgery abroad in most countries is cheaper than in the US or UK even though you are getting it done privately. The reasons for this may be:
- Cost of living is less
- Real estate is cheaper
- Cost of medical education is less
- Infrastructure costs are more reasonable
- Medical insurance fees have inflated prices in the US
- Cost of medical education in the US is extremely high
- Malpractice insurance in the US adds to the costs
- Cost of medicines, equipment and investigative procedures is higher
How much less does it cost?
There is no doubt that you will save money when you go abroad for surgery. How much money you will save actually depends on where you go. It can range from 40 percent to as much as 90 percent. That does not mean that the further you go, the cheaper it will be. Some countries in Latin America, Europe, Mexico or the Slav countries may offer treatments which are cheaper or at least comparable in price to similar procedures in Malaysia, India, Philippines, etc.
The actual costs which you have to factor in
It is not just the surgery and the hospital stay which should be the deciding factor. You should also factor in other, incidental and necessary expenses like:
- Travel costs for you and a companion
- Stay in a hotel, if required
- Pre and post hospitalization tests and investigations
- Leave from work
- Sightseeing expenses
- Shopping and food
- Extra nursing care, if required
- Medical care back home and that also if there are no complications
How to find out the actual costs
There are facilitators, agencies and even hospitals which offer forms on their websites which will give you all the information about costs. If you go through an agency, they may offer you an all inclusive package which will include airfare, visa costs, local travel, accommodation, the services of a guide or interpreter and more.
If you are dealing directly with a hospital, you will have to find out what their package includes: at times it may not include follow up care or change of dressings even. You may well have to make your own travel arrangements and hotel accommodations, though usually most hospitals have tie-ups with hotels as well.
Fortunately via the internet you can do all your costing easily before deciding on where to go. Travel, hotel, car hire, stay and the like can also be arranged online.
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