• Medical Tourism
• Step by Step
• Accreditation
• Financing
• Tax Considerations
• Air Travel and Health

Financing

Whether you are looking to have potentially life saving procedure performed or are looking for some quality dental work or a tummy tuck, cost along with quality is critical. Because of the significant cost advantage of medical travel, out of pocket payment may be within reach for procedures that would be impossible without financial calamity in the US or Europe.

Health Insurance

If you have health insurance you should contact them to see what, if any, international coverage is provided. For now there are very few medical insurers who will pay for services provided outside of their home network and country of operation. Even while you should anticipate having to cover most or all of these costs on your own, you should nevertheless contact your medical insurer to see whether a necessary medical procedure can be fully or partially covered, in particular if your only other option is to have a more expensive procedure done in the U.S. or Europe. Be sure to determine ahead of time whether or not the condition being treated can be considered a "pre-existing condition" by your insurer, as they will not cover it if defined as such.

Planning the Cost

Because of the current insurance system the result is that the vast majority of patients seeking health care treatment overseas finance it themselves. If this is your scenario, you need to carefully consider, compare, and calculate the various costs that will arise in your medical travel. In addition to the cost of your health care procedures, these costs may include: Cost of passport and/or travel visas. Travel: Flights, airport pick-up, travel to-and-from medical provider Accommodations Food and drink Tips and gratuities Visa costs Calls and other correspondence with family at home Medications or medical supplies (crutches, etc.) for use during post-procedure recovery time.

Options

Depending on the type of procedure planned the judicious use of a credit card may be the way to go ($10,000 for a heart valve transplant in India versus $200,000 in North Carolina). There are financing companies that specialize in loans for medical procedures both elective and non elective. Their interest rates tend to be similar to a credit card. Consult the following websites, among others, to explore financing options.

• Personal Financial Solutions
• Health Care Finance - Capitalone
• Health Care Everywhere
• Patient Financing Loans

In certain cases the role of family, friends and community should not be ignored. Fund raising for a few thousands of dollars for a needed procedure versus tens of thousands is much easier.