- Who is using medical tourism?
- Why should I work with Medical Tourism International (MTI)?
- What is Medical Tourism International's role?
- Does Medical Tourism International provide medical advice or opinions?
- What is the normal difference in the cost of medical care between the United States and abroad?
- Why is the cost of medical care significantly less abroad?
- Is cost alone a compelling reason to travel abroad for medical care?
- Why has MTI selected to work with medical centers in India, Thailand and Malaysia?
- What if I need a medical procedure that is not listed in your website?
- How did MTI select the medical centers in your Network?
- Will I be able to communicate in English with my physician and hospital staff?
- How will I be able to review the qualifications of my treating physician?
- Should I inform my local physician that I intend to receive medical care overseas?
- Can MTI select a medical center and doctor for me?
- How will I correspond with my physician prior to departure?
- Can I bring along a family member or companion?
- How long will I need to recuperate before it is safe to fly home?
- Can I take a vacation or recuperate at a tourist destination?
- What should I do if I need follow up care when I return home?
- What is Medical Tourism International's confidentiality policy?
As Reported on CBS 60 Minutes 9/04/05
Kim Atwater from Bend, Ore., was on vacation in Thailand when she decided to combine sightseeing with a bit of an eyelift.
Was she nervous about having an operation done in Thailand?
"Yes, yes, I was somewhat hesitant about having any type of operation in a foreign country, and it turned out to be, I mean, it was beyond my expectations," says Atwater.
And it was not beyond her budget: $1,500 and that included a private room.
How would she describe the difference between this place and an American hospital? "It's much nicer than any that I’ve ever stayed in the United States," says Atwater.
1. Who is using medical tourism?
People consider seeking medical care abroad for a number of reasons.
An increasing number of people are having major medical procedures done abroad due to the staggering difference in cost. Many people in the United States find themselves without insurance or with insurance that has limited coverage or pre-existing conditions. When faced with the need to have cardiac, orthopedic or other major surgeries, many people have traveled abroad for care in order to save money. For example, one can travel abroad for heart bypass surgery in a prestigious medical center with a three-week recovery for under $20,000. The total cost for the medical procedure alone in the United States would routinely be in excess of $100,000.
2. Why should I work with Medical Tourism International (MTI)?
Medical Tourism International is the premier medical tourism company in the United States. MTI will be your expert advisor – a trustworthy consultant with an established relationship with some of the finest medical centers in the world.
Medical Tourism International is committed to ensuring that our customers have a safe and smooth medical tourism experience from your first call to your return home. Our customer service staff will ensure that this commitment is met.
Medical Tourism International will provide you with access to affordable high quality medical care. MTI has carefully selected and screened all of our Network medical centers. MTI’s relationships with our Network medical centers ensure that you receive the lowest cost for your surgical procedure.
MTI’s technology is second to none. Our Medical Information System allows us to rapidly provide you with a number of options for care from different medical centers, doctors and countries.
As Reported by
The International Herald Tribune
12/02/05
Carlo Gislimberti, a 60-year-old American, was convalescing recently after a triple bypass
When he had his third heart attack in May, he was, like 50 million other American, without health insurance. His doctor told him a bypass would cost over $150,000.
Because he did not qualify for government assistance, he would have had to sell his Italian restaurant in Taos, New Mexico, to pay the bill.
The total cost of surgery and 20-day stay in the New Delhi hospital was $10,000.
He was operated on by Dr. Trehan, who used the latest surgical technology. Gislimberti then recovered in a shining, marble floored wing of the hospital, waited on by smiling staff wearing badges reading “May I help you?”
“I was facing financial death or death by heart attack.” he said...
3. What is MTI's role?
MTI's role is to assist you in accessing affordable, high quality medical care abroad. We will provide you with information regarding the medical centers and doctors in the MTI network so that you can make an informed decision as to which provider and country to use. We will guide you through the preparation process and facilitate communication with your physician. We will assist you with your travel arrangements and work with your Destination Coordinator, the person who will assist you during your stay abroad.
4. Does Medical Tourism International provide medical advice or opinions?
Medical Tourism International does not provide medical advice or opinions of any kind whatsoever.
5. What is the normal difference in the cost of medical care between the United States and abroad?
The Medical Tourism experience is comprised of two components – the cost of medical care and travel costs.
The difference in the cost of high quality medical care between the United States and the countries that are in the MTI Network is normally 50% to 75%. Furthermore, the more expensive the medical procedure is in the United States, the greater the difference in cost. For example, the difference in the cost of cardiac bypass surgery between the United States and MTI Network medical centers is normally over 80%.
Travel costs vary by country but usually start at $2,500 per person including the cost of a Destination Coordinator, ground transportation and hotel reservations. If a medical procedure costs $50,000 in the United States, the cost of the same procedure at a MTI Network medical center and travel costs will be approximately $10,000.
As Reported by the
San Francisco Chronicle
11/11/05
...21 percent of health care expenditures were spent on insurance administration and an additional 13 percent was used to cover other administrative tasks, such as maintaining medical records. "What you're left with is that 66 cents (out of every dollar) is spent on health care".
6. Why is the cost of medical care significantly less abroad?
The countries that Medical Tourism International works in are developing countries with excellent private sector medical centers. For the medical tourist, the cost of medical care in these countries is favorably impacted by the lower cost of living, a strong dollar and lower physician fees.
In addition, the cost of medical care is lower because there is a minimal amount of medical/legal issues and significantly less administration and paperwork. The vast majority of private patients in Malaysia, Thailand and India pay the doctor and medical centers directly. Unlike the United States, there is no administrative paperwork associated with insurance claims or approval of care for private patients in these countries.
7. Is cost alone a compelling reason to travel abroad for medical care?
Although the cost of care is perhaps the most important reason to travel abroad for medical care, MTI suggests that you carefully review all of the information on the medical center and physicians prior to making this decision. There are risks involved in surgical procedures regardless of where you receive medical care. You should take time to understand these risks. We also suggest that you discuss this decision with your family members and others prior to traveling overseas for medical care.
Prince Mahidol of Songkla – Father of the Modern Thai Medical Profession
Prince Mahidol of Songkla was born in 1892. He was the youngest, and by all accounts, the most modern-minded of King Chulalongkorn’s children.
Inspired by a visit to a Thai teaching hospital and medical school, he dedicated his life to the modernization of the Thai medical system. He earned his MD from Harvard Medical School in 1928. In fact, his youngest son, the current King, was born in Cambridge, MA in 1927.
Prince Mahidol spent his life dedicated to the advancement of the Thai medical profession. He worked closely with the Rockefeller Foundation to establish a scholarship programme for Thai med students. He championed efforts to build and modernize Thai medical schools. He taught preventive and social medicine to final year medical students, and he practiced medicine and surgery at an American missionary hospital in Chaing Mai.
The Prince died at the age of 37, but his legacy and contributions live
on in Thailand’s modern and advanced medical profession.
8. Why has MTI selected to work with medical centers in India, Thailand and Malaysia?
Historically, India and Malaysia have had a very strong public healthcare system. As former British colonies, both countries' medical establishments maintained a strong link with Britain after independence. Many physicians and hospital administrators were trained and worked in Britain prior to returning to their home countries. In addition to Britain, many physicians from India and Malaysia began to train in the United States in the 1980's. When the private healthcare sector began to rapidly develop in these countries in the 1990's, many of the top physicians that were educated and trained overseas played an instrumental role in that development. Top private medical centers in India and Malaysia are staffed with excellent physicians and run by experienced managers.
Thailand's medical community has had a historical relationship with United States. In the early 20th century, Prince Mahidol of Songkla, the King's father, received his medical degree from Harvard University. A group of Thai men and women soon followed him to the United States to receive their medical degrees and were instrumental in establishing the foundation of the modern Thai medical system. Thailand has a vibrant private healthcare system and has maintained a strong link to the United States. Many Thai doctors have studied, worked and are Board Certified in the United States.
In addition to a vibrant private healthcare sector, the governments of Thailand, India and Malaysia all actively support the development of medical tourism. From Cabinet level, to the Ministries of Health and Tourism, the governments of these countries are developing programs that result in a positive experience for the medical tourist.
Finally, two members of MTI's management team lived and worked in the healthcare industry in Asia for approximately 10 years. As healthcare professionals and medical patients, we are familiar with the high quality of care that is provided in many of the top medical centers in the region. We feel very comfortable associating our company with the top medical centers in India, Thailand and Malaysia.
9. What if I need a medical procedure that is not listed in your website?
MTI's website contains a list of the most common medical procedures. Due to size considerations, this list does not include all of the medical care that can be provided by the medical centers in the MTI Network. Contact MTI if you need a medical procedure that is not listed in our website.
10. How did MTI select the medical centers in its Network?
MTI selected its Network medical centers based upon a number of criteria. These criteria included a review of their international, domestic, clinical and service credentials; the credentials of the physicians and their history of working with overseas patients.
In addition, MTI's management personally conducted site visits to all of the medical centers that participate in our Network. Some of the main factors that we reviewed on-site were the credentials of the physicians, the use of technology and the modernity of the laboratory and diagnostic equipment.
11. Will I be able to communicate in English with my physician and hospital staff?
In India and Malaysia, English is widely spoken and almost universally spoken within the medical community. In Thailand, all of the Medical Centers in the MTI network have English speaking staff that caters to overseas patients. This staff is available throughout all stages of patient contact.
12. How will I be able to review the qualifications of my treating physician?
One of MTI's main services is to provide you with information on the physician that you selected. This information will include a profile of your physician’s education, training, certification and experience.
13. Should I inform my local physician that I intend to receive medical care overseas?
MTI recommends that you inform your treating physician that you are considering receiving medical care abroad. If needed, MTI will facilitate correspondence between the physician in your home country and the overseas physician that you have selected to perform your medical procedure.
14. Can MTI select a medical center and doctor for me?
MTI's role is to furnish you with information on the medical centers and physicians in our network that can provide you with medical care. We will not select, encourage you to use, advise nor underwrite any of the physicians or medical centers in our network.
15. How will I correspond with my physician prior to departure?
After you have made your selection, we will assist you in communicating with you physician. Initial communication is usually in the form of a telephone call with further communication usually taking place by email, fax and/or telephone.
16. Can I bring along a family member or companion?
Yes, many medical tourists have a companion accompany them overseas.
17. How long will I need to recuperate before it is safe to fly home?
Your recuperation time is dependent upon your medical procedure. You will be advised of your expected recuperation time prior to your departure and your treating physician will advise you when you can safely fly after your surgery.
18. Can I take a vacation or recuperate at a tourist destination?
Yes. Your physician will advise you when it is appropriate to take a vacation or recuperate at a tourist destination. India, Thailand and Malaysia have many beautiful destinations and we would be happy to make your post-surgical travel arrangements.
19. What should I do if I need follow up care when I return home?
As stated above, MTI recommends that you inform your treating physician that you will be receiving medical care abroad. It is important that your physician be aware of your upcoming medical care so that you can receive any needed follow-up care upon your return.
20. What is Medical Tourism International's confidentiality policy?
Medical Tourism International will hold all of the information that you provide to us in confidence. Information provided to MTI will be seen only by employees and associates of Medical Tourism International. In addition, all information provided to MTI through our website is subject to encryption technology.