Things to Decide Before Having Surgery Overseas

Over 500,000 Americans went abroad for medical care in 2008, and the number increases every year. The advantages are clear, and largely financial – surgery costs aboard can be a quarter or fifth the price of the same operation in the USA, and the quality of surgical skill can rival that here; many of the hospitals have hired US- or British-trained physicians.  And to make it more attractive, travel costs for a companion are often included, while the foreign hospitals set themselves up like a resort hotel, with all the trimmings. 

However, the American Society of Anesthesiologists has assembled a list of issues you should resolve before you opt in favor of a foreign operation. Here’s a summary:

• ·       Involve your family doctor in your decision – she/he knows your health problem best.
• ·       Check the expertise and qualifications of the surgeons, anesthetists, and the accreditation of the hospital. You can look for the hospital’s Web-site, and check accreditation at the Joint Commission International Web-site.
• ·       What is the “pain culture” in the host country?  The level of “acceptable” pain can vary from country to country – make sure you’ll get the analgesia you need.
• ·       If there are “complications”, will these be taken care of by the host hospital itself, or is there risk of transfer to a different facility, and if so, where?
• ·       List your existing medications, and make sure they can be continued before and after your procedure, or at least are compatible with meds used locally.
• ·       Find out how much your health insurance provider will cover and/or reimburse of your treatment abroad; don’t assume anything!
• ·       If you’re going to use a medical tourism agency, research them carefully.
• ·       Ask to talk with other patients who have had similar procedures at the specific host hospital.
• ·       Identify a family member or friend who will travel and stay with you.

Let me add a personal piece of advice.  Don’t let the lure of cheaper cost, exotic location, spa-like comfort and convalesce, and so on, blind you to the need to ensure that the medical care you’ll receive is excellent, both during and after your procedure.  If cost is the driving factor, check with local USA hospitals to see if they can offer a specific guaranteed discount for your particular case – you may be pleasantly surprised.