Outsourcing MEDICAL treatment

[Jennasis]

So I was reading an article in "People" magazine about how some (many?) have been going abroad for some medical treatment that would otherwise be unaffordable. One guy went over for a pacemaker (though he ended up needing a different treatment that was still way more affordable...$5K, as opposed to $200k in the states), another went for hip resurfacing. Most of the treatements/surgeries seemed to be in India though many doctors were trained in the US or UK.

So, your thoughts, if any?

 

[MareSINY]

Makes me glad to have a good job with great health benefits!! I had uterine cancer a few years back, had several surgical procedures as well as lots of doctors visits, etc. I don't think I paid even $1,000 total out of pocket for all of that.

My sister lived in Italy when she was first married (husband was in the Navy) and they were told that if they were ever injured in a car accident to tell the authorities that you're an American and to take you to the nearest base because they don't believe in anesthetizing or giving pain killers for things like setting broken bones.

I think I'd rather go broke, bankrupt or pay off my medical bills for the rest of my life rather than go all the way to another country for treatment. I just can't imagine having to do that and I feel sorry for anyone who would need to.

 

[anewvance]

We have a friend who's family lives in Columbia. She needed some sort of oral surgery. Here it would have cost her a fortune, over there it cost only a fraction of the price. So she went over there to have the surgery. I'm not saying anything about outsourcing medical treatment and it could have happened here but she got a major infection and had to stay in Columbia 2 extra weeks because her doctor wouldn't let her travel. She's home now finally but still can't go back to work, still in too much pain.

 

[Crankyshank]

What annoyed me the most about the article is that they only talked about the positive. A local woman died last month after going to India for a tummy tuck and a breast reduction.
I just don't see traveling thousands of miles away from my family in another country with different malpractice and licensing laws to have risky surgery. What if something happened?

 

[Disney Doll]

I would not do it.

I have no idea what kind of regulations they have for hospitals and healthcare. I wouldn't risk it.

Even though our healthcare system isn't perfect, I speak the language here.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Funny you mentioned this.

I was thinking the same thing when Angelina Jolie went to have her baby in Africa. Thinking with all that we have here--she goes to Africa to give birth (not too familiar with the country she went to--but have seen some sad stories on Discovery Health with the hospitals there and such). She did bring her OB with him (probably for a nice handsome sum!). So not quite the same thing as what you are speaking--but it did make me wonder.


The whole idea of medical treatment overseas ---just worries me unless it is an emergency you must treat that occurred while overseas.

 

[N.Bailey]

I know a family in Maine and the husband went to Canada to have corrective eye surgery for WAY less than it is in the US.

I've also talked to a person who went to India for dental implants at a fraction of the cost.

I might opt for it if I were having elective surgery, but for anything else, I think I'll stay here in the US and pay what my insurance does not.

 

[lowie]

So I was reading an article in "People" magazine about how some (many?) have been going abroad for some medical treatment that would otherwise be unaffordable. One guy went over for a pacemaker (though he ended up needing a different treatment that was still way more affordable...$5K, as opposed to $200k in the states), another went for hip resurfacing. Most of the treatements/surgeries seemed to be in India though many doctors were trained in the US or UK.

So, your thoughts, if any?

i heard somewhere that they are also sending x-rays, mri's etc. to India for radiologists there to read and report on them. with email it's so quick and easy, instant results, very cheap.

 

[Quinn222]

I had to have my gallbladder out. My job didn't provide health coverage and didn't pay enough for me to buy it myself. I was in the hospital for 3 days. It cost $37,000. I'll be in debt for the rest of my life. I'll never be able to buy a home. You bet your *** I'd go elsewhere if I could and it was cheaper.

 

[pearlieq]

I don't think it's the worst idea I've ever heard. Our health care system is broken and competent health care is available overseas for a fraction of the price.

It's getting very popular to do IVF overseas, and for some couples it's the only way it's affordable.

I certainly don't have a problem with the idea and would definitnely consider it for ourselves. I don't think a reputable hospital overseas would have any sort of lower standard of care than in the US. There are good and bad hospitals anywhere you go.

 

[tar heel]

When my DH traveled to India less than four years ago, the travel doctor in his large internal medicine practice gave him a list of suggestions for keeping safe. One of them was to have no invasive medical treatment in India, to go to Singapore or some other country (can't remember the other country) if you found yourself seriously ill.

If you can't even brush your teeth with the water, how in the world could you safely have surgery there?

 

[ilovepcot]

Lots of questions were racing through my head as I read this thread. First, how does one find a reputable doctor in another country? Who says they're "reputable"? Have any lawsuits been filed? How does the hospital measure up to ones in the USA?

Do you make several trips over before actual surgery? After all you need a consultation with the doctor and tests need to be run. In the USA that usually requires 1 or 2 visits prior to surgery. Then there's the follow-up visit or visits to deal with. (Hopefully!)

Looks as though a hotel and meals could be needed (unless hospital puts you up the entire time) as well as plane tickets and the cost of surgery. How is that arranged? Perhaps due to traveling restraints all this is taken into consideration and done in one visit but I'd want to meet the doctor first and see the facilities *before* making the decision to proceed. Not sure I could decide in the time frame necessary.

 

[Jennasis]

Good questions all around. DH and I have full medical coverage so it isn't a question for us...we'd stay here. But SO many Americans do not have insurance. What are they to do? Though I'll admit, travelling to India in and of itself sound expensive!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Looks as though a hotel and meals could be needed (unless hospital puts you up the entire time) as well as plane tickets and the cost of surgery. How is that arranged? Perhaps due to traveling restraints all this is taken into consideration and done in one visit but I'd want to meet the doctor first and see the facilities *before* making the decision to proceed. Not sure I could decide in the time frame necessary.

For cosmetic surgery--they offer vacation packages. I saw a story on tv once (Forget the show whether it a news program or a news magazine program).

You get however many set weeks over in a country (this story was Africa)...it included hotels, tours, doctors visits, surgery and post op care and follow ups. It worked out well for this person.

I cannot see how it is 100% safe though given the surgery (and by 100% I mean as safe as possible--there will always be risks involved with any surgery and it is never 100% on the nose safe).

What people are doing is basically taking a once in a life time dream vacation and paying for it accordingly. Insurance doesn't figure into the mix.

 

[Quinn222]

Good questions all around. DH and I have full medical coverage so it isn't a question for us...we'd stay here. But SO many Americans do not have insurance. What are they to do? Though I'll admit, travelling to India in and of itself sound expensive!

I think the OP was talking about Abroad and only mentioned India as one place mentioned. I doubt I'd got there but I'd certainly go to Canada, France, Switzerland, The UK etc.

 

[ilovepcot]

For cosmetic surgery--they offer vacation packages. I saw a story on tv once (Forget the show whether it a news program or a news magazine program).

You get however many set weeks over in a country (this story was Africa)...it included hotels, tours, doctors visits, surgery and post op care and follow ups. It worked out well for this person.

I cannot see how it is 100% safe though given the surgery (and by 100% I mean as safe as possible--there will always be risks involved with any surgery and it is never 100% on the nose safe).

What people are doing is basically taking a once in a life time dream vacation and paying for it accordingly. Insurance doesn't figure into the mix.

Ahhhh...I had *no idea*! Maybe I'll get busy doing a search for some procedures.

 

[Jennasis]

I think the OP was talking about Abroad and only mentioned India as one place mentioned. I doubt I'd got there but I'd certainly go to Canada, France, Switzerland, The UK etc.

I AM the OP (hehehehee). I referred to India specifically because that is where the surgeries in the article took place, but yes, I meant abroad anywhere else as well.

 

[horseshowmom]

I saw a story about this on 60 Minutes (or one those shows), and it was very interesting. They toured several state of the art hospitals/medical facilities and interviewed numerous doctors and outlined their training/education/qualifications.

They also interviewed several Americans who had done this. Of course, their reasons were financial. One man said he absolutely did not have the financial capability to have done what he needed and would have eventually died without the prodedure. Needless to say, he was very pleased with the value he got for the money he paid.

Fortunately, my family has health insurance that will take care of us, and, hopefully, I'll never have to make this decision, but I can understand why some people do.

 

[n2dzny]

i heard somewhere that they are also sending x-rays, mri's etc. to India for radiologists there to read and report on them. with email it's so quick and easy, instant results, very cheap.

that is true...the hospital that I work for outsources radiologist services to Australia...a couple of the radiologist quit at one time and the hospital only had one guy to cover, so they started outsourcing the services at night and on weekends.

We got in a situation one night...a newborn had to have a chest tube and the x-ray tech came to the nursery and would shoot the film, take it downstairs and fax it to Australia, the whole time we were on the phone, making sure that it was in the correct place.