How to compute the cost before going abroad for medical treatment
The low cost of medical and dental treatment in developing countries are one of the main lures why people opt to travel overseas. The destinations they choose have a lower cost of living making their healthcare facilities have cheaper operating costs and lower wages – thus having lower treatment prices and increased savings.
When travelling abroad for medical treatment, many overlook other expenses and often forget that the cost only includes the cost of treatment. But in reality, the cost is a long list that involves insurance contributions, airfare, accommodations and meals.
Here are some tips you can do to compute the costs when you travel abroad for medical care:
1. Know the detailed cost of every expense you’ll pay for.
Don’t easily give in to a low price deal! You might be surprised that the price escalates once package inclusions are added to the total price – the real price of the package. When checking for treatment packages, ask for an all-inclusive price and know what are the package inclusions and exclusions. Packages vary from every medical provider but usual treatment packages include hospitalization fees, specialist’s professional fees, surgeon and anaesthesia (if surgery is involved), lab tests, consultation fees, take home meds, meals during hospital stay, and airport transfers. Ask your provider if in the event that something goes wrong who pays what? Will you still pay your accommodation expenses if an infection occurs or will they shoulder only your extended hospitalization fees? Be clear and don’t be reluctant to ask these kinds of questions.
2. Book early to keep airfare costs low.
You can save a great deal on airfare if you book your flight months before your scheduled surgery and your departure date is on weekdays not on the weekends. Choosing airfare tickets with connecting flights instead of direct ones can also help you save money. Being wary of ticket prices on comparison sites and airline sites can also help in getting the best deal.
3. Consider the cost of living of the destination you’ll visit.
Transportation, accommodation and meals during your medical trip can also add up to the total cost of your treatment. Expenses can add up all the more when you need to extend your stay. It’s much worse when your expenses are doubled because you brought your husband/wife along to help you out during surgery. To know your expenses beforehand, hotel comparison sites can help you get a grip on local accommodation prices including transportation fees and meals. Also include the fluctuating exchange rates of the destination you’ll visit. Consider computing these details and compare it with the expenses you have back home.
4. Check prices on medical tourism sites.
Medical tourism information providers can help provide package estimates per destination, including package inclusions and exclusions. They can also help provide profiles of medical care providers and hospitals so you basically know what to expect during your medical trip – making it easier for you to compare costs between your prospect providers and other additional unexpected expenses that might incur during your medical trip. Getting an all-inclusive price along with extras, comparing them with prospect providers on the destination you choose and comparing them with your local healthcare providers more or less lets you know the real cost of your treatment.
5. Check how much your insurance contribution is if you travel abroad for treatment.
Most of the time, cosmetic surgery and dentistry are not included in the list of funded treatments and you need to prepare a budget for these kinds of procedures. Actually, most individuals who travel abroad for treatment don’t have a health insurance that can accommodate the procedures they want. These treatments are dental implants, breast augmentation and other cosmetic procedures. Depending on the medicare services in your country, not all medical and dental treatments will be shouldered by your insurance – and you may need additional budget if you may consider these.
6. Discuss your medical tourism plans with your local provider.
If you're decided to avail treatment abroad, it’s also safe to discuss this with your family doctor or local care provider. This is a must so you can apply for additional funding with your insurance especially if you may need follow-up care after your medical trip.
Now are you done with the maths? Check if you can really save money when you travel abroad for medical or dental care. If not, it is better that you get your medical care back home. If you’re a little adventurous and you’ve planned ahead, why not give medical tourism a try and see what new experiences it can provide.
About PlacidWay:
PlacidWay continues to provide unique treatment packages to entice the fluctuating desires of every medical traveller. Through its partnerships with different medical providers worldwide, it facilitates the provision of healthcare services not found from the consumer’s home countries. PlacidWay bridges the information gap every medical traveller needs so he can experience healthcare that is safe, high in quality, customized according to his needs and most of all, care that suits his budget.
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