The Truth About International Surgery

International surgery or medical tourism, is becoming more and more popular these days for both, necessary life-saving procedures, and elective or cosmetic treatment. Why are more and more Americans having surgery outside of the country? Over 47 million people in this country today have no medical insurance. International surgical services can save you from 50% to as much as 90% over having the same procedure here at home. For those who do have insurance, there are many medical and experimental procedures that their policies will not cover, or else the service itself is not available or legal in the US. Today, over one million US citizens per year are having international surgical procedures and treatments.

Today there is no compromise on the quality of the care you receive at an international surgery center. In fact, in most cases the quality is far superior to any treatment you could receive at home, with US hospitals only ranked 37th by the World Health Organization. Surgeons and medical professionals who staff the facilities are extensively trained, with many countries including the US participating in their education. This means they actually have the advantage of a global education that your local medical provider simply does not have. The facilities where you have your treatment are world-class state-of-the-art facilities, and are associated with some of the finest facilities in the US, Canada and other countries.

The easiest and most convenient way to arrange your international procedure is through a medical tourism service. There are several to choose from and they can be found online. The service acts as a consultant for you and coordinates with your local physician to determine your needs and then makes arrangements for your entire trip. The advantage to this system is that everything associated with the procedure, the travel expenses, your companion’s expenses and all associated costs are included in a flat fee rate. You will know exactly how much it costs before you leave home.

You will be assigned a medical concierge once you have arrived at your destination, which will be available to you 24/7. Once you are in the recovery phase of your treatment and the concierge feels you are able to venture out, they can also arrange some sightseeing or other entertainment while you are on your medical getaway.

There are many international facilities in a number of countries that you can choose from. All are JCI (Joint Commission International) certified just like hospitals here in the US. Some are affiliated with the finest hospitals in the US, Canada and Europe. The Mayo Clinic in Mexico and Johns Hopkins in Panama are two examples.

There are also some fabulous facilities located in such countries as Singapore, Thailand, and India. Costa Rica and Latin America have recently been added to the list and are beginning to Thrive. Medical tourism, also known as Medical Travel, will allow you to take care of your medical issues and visit and exotic locales such as Barbados and the Caribbean.

You can have most any procedure or treatment done internationally that you can have at home. You can also have many procedures that are not allowed in the US or that are experimental. Even transplant procedures for which you can spend years on a waiting list without resolution can also be accomplished with no waiting and in one trip to an international surgery facility. Even dental procedures are available at a fraction of the US cost.

Available surgeries include, but are not limited to: Cardiac, orthopedic, weight loss, general surgery, cosmetic surgery, facial plastic surgery, neurosurgery, laparoscopic, sex reassignment, hop replacement, breast augmentation, organ transplants for kidney, heart and liver and dental surgery in beautiful places such as Los Cabos, Mexico. You can obtain treatments for cancer, stress reduction and infertility, as well as a number of experimental treatments for different conditions. Medications and many other medical services are also available.

Elective cosmetic surgery has long been an issue in the US. It is not covered under most insurance policies when there is no medical reason to have it. If you want a breast augmentation, a face lift or any other body enhancement surgery, you have to pay for it yourself. In the US the cost is prohibitively high for all but the few. Internationally, you can have all the enhancements you desire at a savings of 50% to 75% over treatment in America.

When you consider all of your options for treatment, or lack of them; your insurance coverage, or what it does not cover; the costs that you will be left owing; and the waiting periods for some life-saving treatments; it is no wonder that so many people are opting for international surgery.

Surgical Escape who I referenced here in this hub, had an interesting news release just hit the wire today. Staggering facts, which really surprised me!

Here is a link to the press release which discusses knee replacement surgery and the countless number of patients now going overseas for such procedures: http://www.prweb.com/releases/surgery/knee-replacement/prweb9281464.htm