Cost of surgery abroad
In this article, we will discuss the elements that you need to take into account whenever you are considering getting medical treatment abroad. What is described is based on assumptions for people living in the USA.
1- What you should consider before getting treatment abroad
When considering going abroad for treatment, there are multiple implications regarding the financial impact it will have. If you are considering the financial implications and cost of it all, it also probably means that you are aware of what you are looking for, treatment-wise. So we will jump right in to the elements you should keep in mind.
Know what you need: if you’ve reached the point where you’re looking to other countries for treatment, it likely also means that you have a very good idea of the treatment and procedure you’re looking for. It is important to be very detailed in what you’re looking for, as the packages offered by foreign healthcare institutions may be different from what you are assuming you will be getting.
You may not get the answers you want: you may be affected by a condition and your physician may have recommended a specific treatment course. It may come as a surprise, but after consulting with a doctor in a different country, their opinion may be different and their recommended treatment may not be the one you’re looking for. Or they may even disagree with your diagnostic. This is a possibility, and you need to be aware that different doctors may have different points of view, based on their training, the treatment guidelines their countries have and other factors that may affect their medical opinion. This may have an impact on what you were expecting to pay.
Be aware of the time you will invest: getting medical treatment is an important step. When traveling abroad, surgery may not go as planned and any number of complications may arise (from the benign to the more serious ones). It is important that you factor in the fact that you will probably not be able to work for a certain period of time and that in case of a complication, you may spend more time than you expected in recovery.
Who will come with you: when undergoing any major medical procedures, it is always recommended that a person you trust be with you. It may be for emotional support as well as helping out with the small details that you may encounter while traveling.
2- What affects the cost of my treatment abroad?
The factors that will affect your treatment are varied. You should consider that the hospital and doctor bills may only account for a percentage of the amounts involved in getting treatment in other countries. The main “line items” to consider are the following:
Cost of the surgery and/or treatment itself: Depending on the surgery and/or treatment that you will be getting as well as the place where you will be getting it, the price will change. Typically, this item will account for between 50% up to 90% of the total cost for your treatment. If the cost of your treatment dips below 40% of the total cost of your trip, it may be a sign that it is not cost-efficient to be getting the treatment at this particular destination (you may be better-off closer to home). Keep in mind that there may be extreme variations on the cost of the procedure itself [Blue Cross/Blue Shield article here].
Cost of travel: depending on the destination you have chosen for your treatment, the cost of airplane tickets may be significant. The distance to your destination, the class of travel you’ve chosen for yourself and your companion (if you have one), the time of year and how much time in advance you’ve booked your travel will affect the cost you pay. The range this item will account for will vary, typically, from 20% to 40% of your total cost.
Lodging and food: absolutely no medical professional will ever recommend that you travel the same day that you have gotten treatment. And very rarely will a doctor accept to perform surgery or treatment on the same day that you just travelled. This means that you will probably spend some time before the surgery and sometime after it in the city where you just were operated or treated in. The hospital will host you for the necessary time for the treatment, but you will need to find a place to stay for several days for you and your companion. The cost variation will obey the same logic as airplane travel (type of place you’re getting, location, time of year and duration of stay). Remember that having just received treatment, you will need a minimum of amenities and available services. Elevators, housekeeping, availability of food and security are necessary, as well as a quiet environment that helps lower your stress levels to recover faster. Lodging and food will usually account for about 20% to 40% of your travel budget.
Ground transportation: getting to and from the airports as well as from hotels to hospitals and back can quickly amount to significant amounts. It is difficult to try the local flavor of public transport when having gotten a surgery; you may be feeling less well than usual and understanding a new system may be challenging. Different countries will have different ways of moving around. And it is no secret that taxis and ground transport services are the most prone to people getting scammed the world over (we call them like we see them). Surprisingly, this line item may end up costing up to 15% of your total budget.
