A primary reason many patients choose to receive medical services overseas is the potential for significant cost savings. Even with the cost of travel and accommodation, receiving medical treatment in a foreign country can still be significantly cheaper than in the United States or Europe. The cost of certain medical procedures overseas may be as little as a tenth of the cost of receiving the same treatment in a U.S. medical facility. While the hospital costs for medical procedures undertaken in the United States cannot be accurately predicted, hospitals abroad are often willing to give patients up front estimates of their charges, helping patients avoid hidden costs that can be associated with surgery. It should also be noted that some insurers will cover overseas medical procedures. Cash paying patients pay much higher prices than insurers in most U.S. hospitals. Here are some estimated price comparisons:
Procedures
U.S. Insurer’s cost
U.S. Retail price
Thailand Cost
Angioplasty
27,704-44,268
57,262 – 98,618
13,000
Heart Bypass
54,741 – 94,277
122,424 – 210,842
12,000
Heart Valve Replacement
71,410 – 122,969
159,326 – 274,395
10,500
Hip Replacement
18,281 – 31,485
43,780 – 75,399
12,000
Knee Replacement
17,627 – 30,358
40,640 – 69,991
6,000
Spinal Fusion
25,302 – 43,576
62,778 – 108,127
9,000
Immediate availability is an additional benefit of receiving medical treatment abroad. Wait times for certain medical procedures in the United States and Europe can be months and up to a year in some cases, making medical tourism an important alternative for patients wishing to receive treatment without such delays. Most surgeries, whether major or cosmetic, can be scheduled within a few days or weeks in less overburdened foreign hospitals. Whether you have a pressing need to receive immediate treatment due to personal comfort and quality of life issues, or if you simply want to receive your treatment quickly, medical tourism can be a great way to more easily and quickly get the medical attention you need.
Certain foreign hospitals specialize in medical tourism, and in order to attract patients these hospitals strive to provide high quality and service. Foreign doctors at such institutions often will have been trained at prestigious institutions abroad. Equipment and facilities at these institutions are often comparable to western medical facilities, and patients will often find that they can afford a more luxurious hospital stay abroad than they could at home. MTP can assist you in selecting the best medical providers for your chosen medical procedures.
Our goal is to empower our clients so that they can make informed decisions to improve their health and quality of life in the context of the best, affordable medical services.
