Pre-election days, there was a lot of discussion about which candidate's health care reform was best for the country. the choices given were creating competition amongst health care companies or the government providing better health care.
When looking at the rising trend of medical tourism, it might not be any of those two. A foreign nation may give better care and cheaply. Medical tourism is a term used when a patient travels to a country for a less expensive medical treatment. The reason people would do this, is because medical care overseas is a lot less expensive.
A Businessweek report stated that a surgery costing $50,000 here could cost only $10,000 in India. The health insurance company paid less than half for major medical care in a foreign country including paying for a plane ticket. That could possibly hint at lower premiums as well as more coverage for the patient.
Adversely, if something happened who knows if you would have the same rights in another country. Not to mention if it will be the same quality. Well, the answer is negative. Albeit, there is a non profit organization in America that does accredit foreign hospitals for good care.
Health insurance companies are also wary of follow-up health care from overseas procedures. Do they send the patient back overseas? Do they cover physical therapy or other follow-up care in the U.S.? The BusinessWeek article wrote that many insurers are starting to get over their initial worries.
So, what we want to know now is, if medical tourism will become a regular thing. And if it does, what does that tell us about our own health care system? Additionally, is our health care so expensive that it leaves us no choice but to travel elsewhere for good care? - 15275
When looking at the rising trend of medical tourism, it might not be any of those two. A foreign nation may give better care and cheaply. Medical tourism is a term used when a patient travels to a country for a less expensive medical treatment. The reason people would do this, is because medical care overseas is a lot less expensive.
A Businessweek report stated that a surgery costing $50,000 here could cost only $10,000 in India. The health insurance company paid less than half for major medical care in a foreign country including paying for a plane ticket. That could possibly hint at lower premiums as well as more coverage for the patient.
Adversely, if something happened who knows if you would have the same rights in another country. Not to mention if it will be the same quality. Well, the answer is negative. Albeit, there is a non profit organization in America that does accredit foreign hospitals for good care.
Health insurance companies are also wary of follow-up health care from overseas procedures. Do they send the patient back overseas? Do they cover physical therapy or other follow-up care in the U.S.? The BusinessWeek article wrote that many insurers are starting to get over their initial worries.
So, what we want to know now is, if medical tourism will become a regular thing. And if it does, what does that tell us about our own health care system? Additionally, is our health care so expensive that it leaves us no choice but to travel elsewhere for good care? - 15275
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