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More Americans going global for health care: Medical Tourism
Houston Chronicle ^ | 2/14/2010 | MEREDITH SIMONS and CAROLYN LOCHHEAD

Posted on 02/16/2010 7:38:29 AM PST by Badabing Badablonde

WASHINGTON — Critics of health care reform often point to desperate Canadians who head south for surgery to escape waiting lists. But a trend closer to home points the opposite direction: Americans heading overseas to escape the high cost of U.S. care.

< snip >

Once a cottage industry, medical tourism may be on the cusp of major expansion as governments from India to Singapore invest in state-of-the-art hospitals, vying for a global market.

Uninsured patients currently make up the bulk of Americans venturing abroad. But Vequist's group has studied at least 50 companies that say they are open to helping employees go overseas for cheaper care. A Northern California casino and a Maine supermarket chain now offer the option to employees.

“They're interested in sending employees abroad if they can get similar- or better-quality care at a better price,” Vequist said.

Vequist says Texas companies are particularly well-positioned for taking advantage of the savings in medical tourism because many have affiliates in Mexico, already the destination of 50 percent of Texas' medical tourists.

(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: dnctalkingpoints; houstoncomical; medicaltourism; pravadamedia
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1 posted on 02/16/2010 7:38:29 AM PST by Badabing Badablonde
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To: Badabing Badablonde
I've read that India and Thailand are two places that Americans go for treatment.Having visited both countries all I can say is that I was scared silly eating the food and drinking the water there and would never,in a million years,consider seeking *medical treatment* in either place.
2 posted on 02/16/2010 7:42:52 AM PST by Gay State Conservative (Host The Beer Summit-->Win The Nobel Peace Prize!)
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To: Badabing Badablonde
Americans heading overseas to escape the high cost of U.S. care.

Like Sen Dodd & Murtha did?

Yeah, thought so.

3 posted on 02/16/2010 7:42:56 AM PST by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it)
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To: Badabing Badablonde
What I'd invest in would be hospitals located on Indian reservations.

No HIPAA, no EMTALA, no Medicaid, no unions, nothing but doctors and nurses. No passport needed either.

4 posted on 02/16/2010 7:44:15 AM PST by Notary Sojac ("Goldman Sachs" is to "US economy" as "lamprey" is to "lake trout")
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To: Puppage

Please don’t wander into my ER with complications from your
foreign treatment. No local doctor wants to deal with the headache.


5 posted on 02/16/2010 7:44:37 AM PST by Kozak (USA 7/4/1776 to 1/20/2009 Reqiescat in Pace)
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To: Badabing Badablonde

I have taken care of patients (er victims) of medical tourism when they return to the states. They get what they pay for. And a lot more (diseases that keep on giving)


6 posted on 02/16/2010 7:46:12 AM PST by Mom MD (Jesus is the Light of the world!)
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To: Badabing Badablonde
Once a cottage industry, medical tourism may be on the cusp of major expansion as governments from India to Singapore invest in state-of-the-art hospitals, vying for a global market.

I suspect that they are going to buy an organ if they are going all the way to Asia or India.

It's your body to do with as you wish unless you want to sell an organ. The medical establishment in America has spoken.

7 posted on 02/16/2010 7:51:01 AM PST by a fool in paradise (DON'T SAY "Happy Valentines' Day". It's Happy Holidays! This is the Holiday Season (Prez Day Feb15))
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To: Badabing Badablonde
“They're interested in sending employees abroad if they can get similar- or better-quality care at a better price,” Vequist said.

Uh, no. The companies are trying to cut costs and going where the American trial lawyer isn't.

If my employer insisted that I go abroad to get my medical coverage that I was promised, I'd wonder how long it would be before they would replace me for even bothering to actually file on my medical insurance policy.

8 posted on 02/16/2010 7:53:38 AM PST by a fool in paradise (DON'T SAY "Happy Valentines' Day". It's Happy Holidays! This is the Holiday Season (Prez Day Feb15))
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To: Kozak

“No local doctor wants to deal with the headache.”

Nice. You should be asking “why are people going to India when they can get the care they need right here?”

Then you should go to your collections department and look at the trends there. Then you should look at the difference in rates you charge customers with insurance, and those without.

You should do this BEFORE everyone but illegal immigrants and medicaid patients stop coming to your ER.


9 posted on 02/16/2010 7:54:10 AM PST by RFEngineer
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To: RFEngineer

Why go abroad? State of the art hosptials, U.S.-trained physicians, and pennies on the dollar costs by comparison to U.S. prices.


10 posted on 02/16/2010 7:55:58 AM PST by Wolfie
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To: RFEngineer

Please. We don’t get a penny from over 30% of the people we see thanks to EMTALA. Another 50% are people on Medicaid we get 20 cents on the dollar from them. I make the same hourly rate I made in 1990 when I left the military. Save your lecture.


11 posted on 02/16/2010 7:57:11 AM PST by Kozak (USA 7/4/1776 to 1/20/2009 Reqiescat in Pace)
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To: Mom MD

“I have taken care of patients (er victims) of medical tourism when they return to the states. They get what they pay for. And a lot more (diseases that keep on giving)”

How many go overseas because they are cheap, and how many go overseas because they will be destitute as a result of availing themselves of your services?

Does it even bother you that you cannot provide the treatment they need at a price they can afford?


12 posted on 02/16/2010 7:58:01 AM PST by RFEngineer
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To: Gay State Conservative

A missionary friend I know had dental surgey done in South Africa, where he is stationed. Cost in USA: $4500. Cost in S Africa: $400. The facilities are all private and first class. He said that SA has government health care free for everyone. It sucks. A private for pay health care system has grown up along side the public one that is really really good, and cheap.


13 posted on 02/16/2010 8:00:23 AM PST by Red Boots
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To: RFEngineer

I’ve seen several news magazine TV shows cover the topic. People are getting top grade treatment, at much, much less (like $5,000 for something that would cost $50,000 in the States). It’s no suprise that the U.S. medical establishemnt is threatened by this. But hey, every industry that’s watched their jobs go overseas went through the same thing.


14 posted on 02/16/2010 8:01:53 AM PST by Wolfie
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To: RFEngineer

You’re barking up the wrong tree pal. I give those who cannot pay free care every day. When seeing a patient, I do not ask for insurance or how they will pay.
Do you feel bad having jumped to conclusions? Or do you feel bad begrudging me compensation for what I do, the risks I take and the hours I work?
BTW, many of the uninsured I care for for free both smoke and drink. They could buy insurance for the cost of their habits. There are things I would like to do but cannot because I can’t afford them.
And in the same vein, those I care for for free are often the ones that complain the most about the care (the service in the hospital is not good enough for them) and expect the most. Try it from my side for a while, and you will change your tune.


15 posted on 02/16/2010 8:02:51 AM PST by Mom MD (Jesus is the Light of the world!)
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To: Kozak

“I make the same hourly rate I made in 1990 when I left the military. Save your lecture.”

Why do you think this is? Doesn’t it bother you?

What if you could make a lot more doing another job somewhere else, would you do it?

I’m not lecturing - you just aren’t very inquisitive about this - and are blaming your customers who are voting with their feet and their wallets.


16 posted on 02/16/2010 8:03:04 AM PST by RFEngineer
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To: Red Boots
Yes,I can accept that quality health care is available in SA.I was once seeing a South African woman and visited the country a couple of times.There was lots of money on display in certain areas (white areas)...prosperity equivalent to what one routinely sees here,in Europe,Australia,etc.

I saw no such prosperity in the parts of India or Thailand that I visited (I certainly didn't see that much of either country,however).To the contrary,I saw breathtaking poverty...particularly in India.

17 posted on 02/16/2010 8:08:42 AM PST by Gay State Conservative (Host The Beer Summit-->Win The Nobel Peace Prize!)
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To: Mom MD

“You’re barking up the wrong tree pal. I give those who cannot pay free care every day.”

I’m not barking.

“When seeing a patient, I do not ask for insurance or how they will pay.”

And why not? Cost should come into the equation somewhere, that is why folks are going overseas. It’s not that they WANT to do it - they mostly have no choice, and often no idea what the costs are for your services other than it’s out of their reach.

You need to be more curious why the folks that have *some* money can’t come to you.


18 posted on 02/16/2010 8:08:53 AM PST by RFEngineer
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To: RFEngineer; Kozak

Anyone can come and receive my services, and those who cannot afford it know exactly how - show up in the ED and they will receive free treatment up to and including million dollar hospitalizations. And gripe about the care the entire time.

I have enough curiosity, thank you. I’m not even curious why you seem to have such a grudge against the medical providers in this country.


19 posted on 02/16/2010 8:14:08 AM PST by Mom MD (Jesus is the Light of the world!)
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To: Wolfie

“People are getting top grade treatment, at much, much less (like $5,000 for something that would cost $50,000 in the States). “

I am not qualified to determine if the services overseas are worth it. However, if I needed treatment for something, and had some assets, but no insurance, I would have to consider going overseas, because the US medical system would take everything from me if I did not go overseas.

Lots of US doctors are going to have to accept a lot less in salary if this continues. I don’t want that to happen - but when doctors don’t seem to care when potential paying customers walk out the door, I am left shaking my head “why don’t they care?”


20 posted on 02/16/2010 8:21:14 AM PST by RFEngineer
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