Frequently
Asked Questions
What is medical
tourism?Why
do people become medical tourists?What
services are provided by Medical Tourism Solutions?What
is the typical cost difference associated with medical tourism?Why
is it so much more expensive in the U.S.?How
do I know that the hospitals and doctors are of the highest
quality?Will
I be able to choose/communicate with my doctor before deciding?Is
it safe to travel so far to receive surgical procedures?What
if I want a procedure that is not listed on the website?Why
should I choose Medical Tourism Solutions?
Medical Tourism
Solutions recognizes that choosing to go abroad for healthcare
services is a difficult decision for one to make, and the
concern you may have may not have been addressed in the
above questions. We encourage you to contact us if you have
any additional questions so we may attend to your particular
situation.
Q:
What is medical tourism?
A: Medical tourism is simply the act of traveling to another
country to obtain medical services. Historically people
did so in order to seek out higher quality care than they
could find in their own country. Advances in technology
now facilitate international travel with ease, allowing
greater numbers of people access to these markets. The end
result is one can get access to high-quality medical care
at reasonable prices through crossing international borders.
Q: Why do people
become medical tourists?
A: There are two typical reasons for one to choose medical
tourism: cost savings or immediacy of care. With the ever
increasing costs of healthcare in the U.S. people are now
looking abroad for more affordable options. Or, in the case
of countries with socialized medicine, many patients cannot
wait months on end to receive treatment at home and are
willing to pay the reasonable price of going abroad and
obtaining care on their own.
Q: What services
are provided by Medical Tourism Solutions?
A: Medical Tourism Solutions is a full-service medical
tourism operator. That means we will assist you throughout
your entire medical tourism experience, from start to finish.
We will provide detailed information on doctors, hospitals,
and countries to allow you to make the most informed and
educated decision possible. We will take care of all the
logistics associated with your trip, from coordinating with
your current doctor, to hotel reservations, transportation,
and related tourism options, in order to remove the stress
from this complicated process. And, if anything ever comes
up, we will have someone there for you to call on, whether
it is before you leave, on the ground in your destination
of choice, or even when you are safely back in the comfort
of your own home.
Q: What is the typical
cost difference associated with medical tourism?
A: Much of this depends upon your country of choice and
what medical procedure you are looking for. For most procedures
the cost difference is about a 50-80% savings over what
is charged in the U.S. In some cases (cardiac or some transplants),
the cost difference approaches 85-90% savings. For example,
a procedure that is quoted in the U.S. at about $10,000
could be obtained abroad for $2,000-5,000, thus leaving
enough savings to buy round-trip airfare, spend some time
recovering in five-star hotels, and do some sight-seeing
or shopping.
Q: Why is it so much more
expensive in the U.S.?
A: There are a number of factors that influence the difference
in prices internationally. One of the primary factors that
is commonly cited to explain the high U.S. prices is administrative
costs. Most estimates put administrative costs at over 50%
of the price, making this the leading cause of waste in
the U.S. healthcare market. Other factors include a lower
wage scale, lower prices paid for implants or drugs, advantages
gained through currency exchange rates, and lower malpractice
premiums.
Q: How do I know
that the hospitals and doctors are of the highest quality?
A: This is why one should use a reputable medical tourism
operator. At Medical Tourism Solutions, we have spent extensive
time in each country we operate in to ensure care of the
highest quality. This includes establishing personal relationships
with all of our partners, personally touring all facilities
to ascertain compliance with our rigorous standards, and
even using our care providers for personal medical needs.
In addition, the majority of doctors we work with have trained
in the U.S. and remain board certified. Plus, most of our
hospitals are internationally accredited or are working
towards that certification. We believe that when you have
more information to make a decision it will lead to a higher
quality choice, so if you ever want any further details
about your doctor or hospital, we will be happy to provide
them.
Q: Will I be able
to choose/communicate with my doctor before deciding?
A: Yes, at Medical Tourism Solutions we will provide you
with all the information you require before making a decision.
All of our doctors use email and instant messenger, and
phone calls/video conferences will be arranged prior to
departure. Additionally, we will facilitate communication
between your chosen surgeon and your doctor at home.
Q: Is it safe to
travel so far to receive surgical procedures?
A: Before making travel plans, all patients will consult
with their chosen doctor to ensure safe travel arrangements.
Many of the surgical procedures performed are non-invasive,
allowing patients to be traveling within days of receiving
the actual operation. For other, more intensive procedures,
travel plans will be dictated by the doctor’s recommendations.
Q: What if I want
a procedure that is not listed on the website?
A: The procedures listed are some of the most common offerings,
but not necessarily a complete listing. Please contact one
of our service representatives with more details and we
will inform you of a possible match with one of our partner
doctors.
Q: Why should I choose Medical
Tourism Solutions?
A: Most importantly because we are a company dedicated
to providing the highest quality services at prices anyone
can afford. One should never sacrifice quality when it comes
to healthcare, and this idea is paramount to our operating
procedures. On top of our reputation for quality, we would
also like to emphasize our commitment to the communities
in which we operate. Medical Tourism Solutions is a company
with a conscience. We were formed partly in reaction to
the escalating costs of healthcare at home, which are rendering
such services unavailable to large segments of the population.
The idea behind this company is to allow access to needed
medical procedures for the majority of the population in
a socially conscious manner. Furthermore, many medical tourism
operators are hesitant to admit this, but there exists some
criticism of the medical tourism industry in general, for
diverting resources away from the resident population. At
Medical Tourism Solutions we are aware of this phenomenon
and have initiated a community action program in which a
percentage of our profits will be reinvested in the communities
in which we operate.
