What is Medical Tourism? Medical tourism (also called medical travel, health tourism or global healthcare) is a term initially coined by travel agencies and the mass media to describe the rapidly-growing practice of travelling across international borders to obtain health care. Medical tourism is becoming more popular, as more people realize its benefits. The main benefits of health tourism include big monetary savings besides getting the opportunity to travel to an exotic destination. As the healthcare crisis worsens in the United States many US insurers, Employers, TPA's and health insurance agents are looking at innovative and creative ways to reduce healthcare costs. US Employers and Insurance Carriers are saving up to 90% off of the cost of their healthcare expenses by implementing medical tourism.
Employers and insurance companies in the US, Canada and the European Union are now starting to look at the potential to "outsource their healthcare" and send millions of patients overseas to international hospitals specializing in Medical Tourism.
While travel isn't the first thing that comes to mind when contemplating going under the knife, going abroad for many medical treatments can actually be an incredibly beneficial experience. The term commonly applied to this kind of travel is medical tourism and as costs for even simple procedures rise, it's becoming an increasingly popular choice for people all over the world.
Medical tourism can also be a boon for those who cannot get the treatment they need in a timely manner. In some instances, the wait for a major surgery can be as long as a year which isn't exactly something which one looks forward to. These long waits are often a deciding factor for those who choose to seek treatment elsewhere. Countries like India thrive on medical tourism because the wait times are short or nonexistent. This allows patients to get the care they need sooner and at a time when it is convenient for them.
Many people are hesitant to travel for surgery because they are concerned about the quality of treatment and care they will receive away from home. In reality a majority of these fears are unfounded because a majority of the hospitals in consideration are top notch and in certain cases even better than those at home. Many doctors that participate in medical tourism have been trained in the United States and Europe and many are certified with highly prestigious medical associations. Hospitals are often corporately owned, and as such are very competitive and will often exceed expectations of care and comfort.
The idea of the medical tourism is to offer you an opportunity to get away from your daily routine and come into a different relaxing surrounding. Here you can enjoy being close to the beach or the mountains and yet receive an orientation that will help you improve your life in terms of your health and general well being. It is rejuvenation and a cleansing process on all levels - physical, mental and emotional. Medical tourism also affords the chance to get in a little sightseeing before or after your treatment. You can spend your recovery relaxing under an umbrella on a scenic beach or a mountain resort or even just enjoying the benefits of a high class hotel's room service. In some places, medical tourism packages may be all inclusive, providing you with medical staff on call at your lodgings.