Medical tourism and insurance

What is medical tourism?#

When the cost of a medical, dental or cosmetic surgery procedure is thought to be too high at home, some people travel overseas to find what they want at a lower price. Others travel abroad to seek treatment that is not available in their own country. This is called medical tourism, and it is a booming industry worldwide.

The global medical tourism industry is worth an estimated $54.6 billion a year and has been growing at around 25 per cent annually. Some medical tourists combine their procedure with sightseeing, while others travel just for the surgery. Either way, almost everyone goes for the savings, which can be as much as 80 per cent off the cost of the same procedure at home. But while overseas surgery can appear cheap, it carries real risks to safety and potential hidden costs, and many professional medical bodies caution against it.

Where do medical tourists go?#

People looking for lower-cost medical and dental services abroad often travel to countries in Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. Typically, medical tourists come from wealthier, more developed countries and travel to less developed ones to access cheaper healthcare, helped along by inexpensive flights and easy online access to information.

In many destinations, travel deals known as “health travel packages” combine a medical procedure with visits to popular tourist attractions. In some countries, governments actively promote their local offerings, with official websites covering procedures, providers and tourism itineraries.

Why do people go overseas for medical procedures?#

People choosing medical tourism are often seeking cheaper cosmetic and dental surgery, but spinal and neck surgery, hip and knee replacements, shoulder reconstructions and fertility treatments are becoming more popular. As well as saving money, medical tourists may value:

• travel opportunities, with a chance to see tourist attractions while abroad
• speed, with reduced waiting times
• ease, with online booking and simple payment
• privacy, by recovering away from friends and family

What are the risks of medical tourism?#

There are real risks to the safety of people who engage in medical tourism, including:

• Financial risk from limited travel insurance cover. If something goes wrong during or after the procedure, you may not be covered and could face significant costs, especially if you need an emergency medical transfer home by air.
• Lower-quality surgical skills and practices that can lead to infection or disfigurement.
• Antibiotic-resistant bacteria that can cause complications after surgery and may be difficult to treat.
• Limited consultation before the operation about whether the procedure is even necessary.
• Poor follow-up afterwards to confirm the results are satisfactory and safe.
• Weak regulatory systems in some countries, a lack of documentation about the procedure performed, and the possible use of unidentified implants.
• Communication difficulties and language barriers.

Post-operative care can be particularly difficult. Follow-up may be affected by a lack of continuity of care, since you may need to see a different doctor at home from the one who performed the surgery, and by the risk of infection. There are also concerns about the stress of having treatment in a foreign country without friends and family for support, and about fitness to fly. Travelling too soon after a procedure is risky, and you are often responsible for ensuring you have enough recovery time and are fit to fly. The quality of care overseas may not match what you would expect at home.

Liability and your own responsibility#

Many medical facilities offer their services without liability. This means you carry all the risk yourself, which is one reason treatment can be so cheap compared with places where medical teams are legally liable.

Because of these risks, if you are considering a procedure overseas you should:

• Have a plan in case the surgery does not work out as expected.
• Know where local emergency facilities are, and what is involved in medical evacuation to your home country.
• Consider whether your insurance is adequate, and know your legal rights and options.
• Where possible, choose internationally accredited facilities for your surgical care.

The surgical procedure is only one part of your overall medical management. Appropriate consultation with the treating practitioner, including a discussion of risks, post-operative care and rehabilitation, is essential. You are entitled to, and should ask for, full disclosure of the qualifications, experience and accreditation of the practitioner performing the surgery, and you should ask about the possible involvement of junior doctors or other assistants.

Make sure you understand what you are signing up for: what the procedure involves, where it will take place, the possible complications and error rates, the expected recovery time, and how long you should remain in the country afterwards.

Insurance and cover#

Public health systems are unlikely to cover overseas medical treatment, and private health insurance may not cover it either, although some insurers are entering this market. Reciprocal healthcare agreements between countries, where they exist, are usually limited to essential or emergency treatment and do not replace private travel insurance.

Anyone thinking about a procedure overseas should check whether their travel insurance provides for:

• medical care and emergency assistance abroad
• emergency medical transfer home by air in the event of a major complication
• repatriation of remains in the event of death
• any additional treatment needed back home, which may not be covered by your usual health cover

Key points#

• Another potential risk of medical tourism is liability.
• This means the person having the procedure carries all the risk.
• This is one reason why the cost of treatment can be so low compared with places where medical teams are liable.

Where to get help#