Medical Tourism

[Barefootwoman]

Do any of you have experience (or know someone who does) with going to another country for the purpose of medical care or surgery?

Would love to hear first hand about those experiences, in whatever level of detail you care to share.

Naysayers usually come out of the woodwork on a topic like this yada, yada, yada - but this is becoming increasingly common or so the media and the expats say.

 

[elweb]

After living for 5 years in Mexico I would return in a heartbeat for any major medical care. I had a fabulous Dentist, Periodontist and my GP was a gem, just don't count on quick appointments since Doctors will take at least an hour since they want to get to know their patients and take their time with you each and every time.

A Dermatologist diagnosed skin cancer on my SO and the total cost for the Dermatologist, two different Oncologists, Surgeon, surgery, tests and our GP holding my SO's hand and translating for every appointment was under $800 US (no insurance involved). The total time from diagnosis to surgery was under 48 hours.

It is important to research your Doctors since there are good ones and bad ones in Mexico just like the US.

Feel free to PM with any questions or more details.

 

[BuddyFunJet]

My brother's sickness about ten years ago was handled at the Bumrungrad hospital in Bangkok. I was happy with the care and facility and they had a "hotel" for family to stay in if they didn't stay in the same room. The place is mainly for foreigners and most clients are from Japan or the middle east. The one weirdness is that they come by the room on a regular basis to collect payment if the bill get to be over about $1k, credit cards accepted.

To pass some time while there, I went through their executive health checkup. A standard battery of tests like blood and EKG for a cost WAY lower than US.

Post or PM if you have any specific questions

https://www.bumrungrad.com/thailandhospital

 

[smittytabb]

Do any of you have experience (or know someone who does) with going to another country for the purpose of medical care or surgery?

Would love to hear first hand about those experiences, in whatever level of detail you care to share.

Naysayers usually come out of the woodwork on a topic like this yada, yada, yada - but this is becoming increasingly common or so the media and the expats say.

I have a friend who goes to Bangkok to have her dental work done. Another friend has his dental work done in Lima. My own daughter had her dental work in Chile after being diagnosed here and the cost was less than a tenth of what it would have cost here. The cost of dental and medical care in the US is outrageous compared to the rest of the world. I had emergency medical care and outpatient surgery in Nairobi, Kenya and put it on a credit card. It cost me much, much less than had I been in the US. This was obviously unplanned

 

[crsoccerguy]

I have a business in Costa Rica and have had extensive dental work done there over the past 10 years. Current prices on a couple of items--implants (one/two stage $600), crowns (high noble metal and porcelain $329/zarconia $450). The office is more high tech than my US dentist. They have their own lab to Cad-Cam mill the crowns and their own onsite hotel for visiting patients. Lots of experience--over 30,000 implants. I would highly recommend my dentist. Glad to share my experience and answer any questions.

 

[Matt]

Had half a front tooth knocked out in an escapade involving a magnum bottle of Heineken. Got great walk in service in Mexico, but when I returned to the bar that evening to share the story I learned that it glowed in the dark. Classy.

 

[sriki]

Had half a front tooth knocked out in an escapade involving a magnum bottle of Heineken. Got great walk in service in Mexico, but when I returned to the bar that evening to share the story I learned that it glowed in the dark. Classy.

Guess I need to find me a situation to get my teeth knocked out...brb

 

[BuddyFunJet]

With all things medical, the facility and Doctor selection is critical. Overseas the difference between the best facility and the average is greater than in the US.

When caring for my brother, he was living in Chang Mai and the hospital there was still in 1950. Glass IV bottles, re-sterilized syringes, etc. Not all foreign care is great.

Our goal was to get him well enough to travel to BKK. Since almost all the patients there were foreign and had a choice of where to go, the facility had to be first rate.

While my experience was good, things can go badly and you are then dealing with a foreign legal and/or medical system. Our system isn't so good but we know it.

 

[Barefootwoman]

IIRC, Bumrungrad is a highly rated facility. Most 0f my med care has been in the US and thankfully few trips to the ER, but during the last one, a hospital employee entered the curtained area mid procedure in order to have me digitally sign a credit card charge, so this could be ubiquitous, lol.

That said, I seem to hear mostly positive reports about care elsewhere. I once was treated for a bad case of sunburn in Anguilla and that didn't turn out so well.

 

[ArtVandelay]

No direct experience other than getting tonsillitis in China a few years ago but there are several start-ups tackling the med-tourism industry. take a look at www.medkohealth.com its an AirBnb for medical tourism.