10 Facts About Medical Treatment Abroad
Medical tourism has become a lucrative industry for dozens of countries around the world. Many people travel abroad to get medical treatment because it’s cheaper there than in hospitals at home. If you’re thinking about getting medical treatment abroad, you need to obtain as much information as you can before doing so. It’s important that you fully understand how it works and what risks are involved before you make a decision.
Here are the 10 facts you need to know about getting medical treatment abroad:
Fact 1
Many Europeans travel abroad to get safe and more affordable medical treatment.
Fact 2
Some of the most popular medical treatment destinations are India, Hungary, Turkey, Malaysia, Germany, Poland, Spain, Philippines, and Thailand.
Fact 3
Many also decide to go abroad for treatment because of the rather long waiting times for operations and donors at home.
Fact 4
Patients covered by a national health system have the right to receive medical treatment within the European Economic Area but there are limitations and conditions.
Fact 5
There are two ways to get funding from your national health system: the S2 form, which you can obtain from your health insurer, or Article 56 of the EU Treaty Provisions
Fact 6
Most private health insurance policies do not cover the cost of medical treatment abroad. Travel insurance only covers emergency treatments.
Fact 7
Seeking medical treatment abroad does not guarantee your safety. In New Delhi (India) for example, two health tourists (Britons) died and many others were hospitalized because they got infected with a virus during their trip.
Read also: How to Undergo Pre-Existing Medical Conditions Screening
Fact 8
The cost of treatment abroad is significantly lower than at home. It has been estimated that a knee replacement surgery in a Western European hospital could cost around €9,200 - €10,500 but such procedure would only cost half of this amount in India. Dental implants, which would normally cost about €4,000 per implant here would only cost about €580-1,000 in Southeast Asia (Thailand and Philippines).
Fact 9
The most common problems that arise from seeking treatment abroad are: communication barriers (language problem), lack of insurance, not preparing for aftercare treatment, and not having sufficient information about the clinic/hospital, doctor, and procedure.
Fact 10
Here are some of the latest statistics regarding medical treatment abroad:
- 97% would likely go back to the same doctor and/or hospital in the future;
- 96% would recommend getting medical treatment abroad to a relative or friend;
- 74% are very happy with their experience.• 17% saved over €11,500 compared to the cost of the same treatment at home.
If you are planning to get medical treatment abroad, don’t forget to take out cheap travel insurance in case of emergencies. Most standard travel insurance policies don’t cover the cost of planned treatment however there is an option to buy medical travel insurance that’s specifically targeted for people who travel abroad for medical, dental, cosmetic and fertility treatments.
