Medical tourism is traveling to a foreign country to receive any number of treatment types. Dental, cosmetic, therapeutic, and surgical procedures are common categories. Since crossing the pond or at least a border or two has become easier to do, more patients are doing it.
There are several reasons why it’s becoming increasingly popular. Among them is the fact that more people are focused on their own health and wellness. But they can’t always get everything they need or want where they live.
As a rule, patients should vet their treatment providers well. Medical, ethical, hygiene, and other standards differ between countries. But if they’re comfortable with what they find out, traveling for healthcare may be just the ticket. Here’s why.
Healthcare costs in the United States continue to spiral upward. Even with insurance, patients may find themselves paying thousands of dollars out of pocket. Deductibles, coinsurance, and copays add up quickly.
Moreover, few health insurance plans even cover many of the types of treatment people want. That’s especially accurate for dental care and cosmetic procedures. If patients must pay for them in full on their own anyway, being a medical tourist could save them big bucks.
For example, hair transplantation costs thousands less in Turkey than in many other countries. It’s such a popular destination for these procedures that clinics package services with luxury hotel stays and other services. Depending on the patient’s citizenship or residence, they may need to obtain a Turkey eVisa to enter the country. But that process is relatively easy and quick if they use a trusted online service provider.
Saving money is always a perk, even if there are a few hurdles to jump. And because people can’t use their insurance plan for certain treatments anyway, medical tourism is an even bigger draw.
Access to certain treatments may be limited or completely unavailable in particular countries. If such treatment is available elsewhere, patients may travel to receive it.
There are certain medications patients want or need that aren’t available in all countries. Food and Drug Administration approval in the U.S., for example, typically takes longer and has more stringent requirements than in other countries. Patients who want access to a potentially life-saving drug may obtain it where they can.
Certain therapies and services may not be readily accessible where patients live, such as physician-assisted suicide. With severe shortages of organs for transplant patients in many countries, they may travel where they can receive one sooner. Although some studies show a lower rate of success due to poor post-surgical coordination, it still may be some patients’ best shot.
When patients need treatment that could improve or save their lives, most will be willing to travel for it. They can’t always find what they need in their own backyard.
Many patients seek certain types of physicians to treat them. For example, women may want a female gynecologist because they believe a woman will understand gender-related health issues better. And there’s no doubt that seeing a healthcare provider who speaks the same language is more comfortable for patients.
Religious and spiritual beliefs greatly affect healthcare. Those beliefs often dictate types of acceptable treatment, dietary recommendations, physical touching, gender norms, clothing, hygiene, eye contact, and more. Some patients will travel to a country with shared belief systems to obtain care to avoid being offended in some way.
People from different cultures also share some genetic propensities for illness and disease. Patients may become frustrated by what they perceive as a lack of knowledge about certain conditions common in their family or culture. It makes sense for them to seek treatment in an environment that understands and recognizes them.
Patients who receive culturally sensitive care are more likely to achieve better health outcomes in the process. That cultural competence can save lives.
Rest is often prescribed following a medical procedure. Combining treatment with a vacation adds value to the money patients spend making the trip. A little R&R and a change of scenery may be just what the doctor ordered.
A stay at an all-inclusive resort on the Mayan Riviera may help patients recover after eye surgery. Taking in the sights and sounds of Thailand after a dental procedure makes the most of that lengthy airline flight. In either case, it keeps patients near the healthcare professionals who provided the treatment, should follow-up be needed.
The getaway may be fortuitous for privacy purposes as well. Despite healthcare privacy laws in various countries, others often still find out about medical treatment. Some patients prefer to let people know they’ve scheduled a vacation, not a procedure.
Depending on the treatment sought, combining it with a foreign getaway has its advantages. After all, what happens while they’re there stays there.
Healthcare is personal. There are many reasons why people choose to venture beyond their own borders to access it. Saving money, getting the care they need from the providers they’re comfortable with, and seeing the world are a few of them.
It’s not surprising that more and more patients are packing up so they don’t have to pack it in. Medical tourism may be their passport to better health and wellness.
