Travel Plan Information

Medical Tourism: Boom or Bust for the economic crisis
Medical Tourism

used for the path of the uninsured to make significant savings on the surgery. Today, employers are increasingly offering a choice of medical tourism as a way to bring back its costs increase in health

While medical tourism facilitators are seeing a decline in applications elective procedures . – As tummy tuck, nose chopped and veneer, they report a corresponding increase in patients requiring surgery serious – such as knee replacements, bypass surgery, spinal fusion, hip resurfacing

A facilitator medical based in California. recently completed a study procedures and found that 90 percent would have been covered if the patient had a typical employer-provided policy. Insurance costs provided by the employer to escape or more individuals, with most procedures cost 85% less abroad than at home nearby, medical tourism is expected a steady increase in patients medical tourism are the most attractive option.

It’s not just individual patients who are attracted significant attention of economies abroad. Employers and insurance companies are required to examine more closely their health plans to protect against the health insurance premiums increased by 73 percent since 2000, according to the National Coalition for Health Care. This has led some employers to cover employees or less, perhaps by eliminating benefits for retirees or taxation and differences between recruitment and the date of eligibility for benefits. Others have continued to increase co-payments and co-premiums (employee contributions increased 145 percent since 2000 according to NCHC). . Other employers have reduced the list of covered procedures

Progressive companies are finding that there is another way, the better: the added option of medical tourism into their health plans. Provide incentives for employees to travel abroad for expensive procedures, there is a huge savings for employers, and expansion options and the ability to share the savings for employees: a win all around. Savings of 85 percent is hard to ignore during the best moments, and the need to consider during dangerous times.

In 2008, significant events have marked more commercial interest in medical tourism. A milestone was Swiss Re Insurance Trade launches a medical travel option as part of its policy of halting the loss of customers in 50 states, in combination with a unique medical tourism facilitator to coordinate the logistics for the employees of its clients. Commercial interest in medical tourism has been leaking across the country and since it is unlikely to fall until Congress enacted the bow to stern, the reform of health care.

More and more employers are likely to offer medical tourism if there were not three misconceptions that the medical tourism industry works hard to overcome. The first is the perception that only the United States is capable of high-quality medicine, that saving means less quality and is too complex to add a component of medical tourism in existing health plans.

As for the quality, as long as the corporation is associated with a host of famous, your employees have access to doctors at the top of their field throughout the world and be able to choose an institution that has reached a level of excellence recognized worldwide. Patients who travel often find care technology far more advanced than what’s available in your hometown hospital and experience with a very high proportion of patients. A facilitator was renowned for several days of field visits to each medical center – including in-depth interviews with surgeons and key executives – before admitting to control their network providers. A facilitator who does due diligence to ensure that the quality of care patients receive is comparable or better than the care they receive in U.S. institutions, and would soon be out of business.

-. The third obstacle Employers worry about the complexity of the creation and implementation of a component of medical tourism – can be divided into three simple steps, according Hoeberechts.

Employers, insurance brokers and individual patients taking into account all medical travel should first do their homework on the industry and create a short list of entertainers most worthy confidence that can help. The second is to examine and evaluate each potential facilitator against a clear set of criteria, and the third is to choose the most capable of creating a personalized plan and provide a simple and easy process.

travel doctor is here to stay until the problems of affordability, access and efficiency of health care is significantly improved. While legislators have put these issues on the fast track, so have the lobbyists and special interest groups benefit from the current situation.

What You Should Know About International Travel Medical Insurance

International travel medical insurance goes a long way to insure that you have a trip without fear of encountering medical problems along the way. International travel for both business and pleasure keeps growing at a very fast pace and is not going to change in the near future. Some domestic health insurance plans will cover you away from home but many don’t cover you and especially for major medical expenses.

Domestic travel insurance plans are not designed at all to work well with hospitals and doctors overseas, which can add to your frustration if you have any medical problems while traveling. Generally, in the travel insurance market there are two kinds of insurance products: travel medical insurance (or travel health insurance) which is obviously more heavily weighted to cover you for any health-related problems that might occur while traveling outside of your home country and has a smaller amount of trip cancellation coverage included; the other type is trip cancellation insurance.

Getting a few low cost or cheap international travel medical insurance quotes online from several companies is very easy to do. If you’re looking for a group plan there are a few group insurance plans that are relatively cheap, and if you’re with a tour group or visiting business delegation you could save a lot of money with group travel medical insurance. Whatever compromise in the plan you choose to make between the risks and costs, shop around not only for cheap international travel medical insurance plans, but also for a reputable company that gives you total information, has open view functioning and is not evasive about any of your questions.

Yes you can get cheap international travel medical insurance. The time frame on the insurance policy needs to be restricted to the actual time you’re out of the country; the shorter duration will obviously reduce the cost. Some international travel medical insurance plans don’t accept any travel that may involve hazardous activity such as mountain climbing or skating.

Make sure that the coverage of health and accident insurance covers hospitalization, doctor bills and medications. There are travel medical insurance plans readily available with a wide range of costs and benefits, and with different conditions available through different insurance companies. And some insurance policies don’t cover any pre-existing illnesses, and will ask for your history of medical problems.

You want to keep handy the addresses and phone numbers of the persons who are to be notified in the event you need to make a claim when you’re traveling. Get your international travel health insurance early because many plans have a waiting period after the premium has been paid. One way of lowering your insurance costs is to agree to pay a small initial medical cost of any treatment needed and make a claim from the insurance company only when the amount exceeds that amount; for example, you could agree to pay the first 250 dollars of any medical expenses and make a claim only when the cost of treatment goes above it.

Choosing the right plan obviously involves taking some risks, but people who do are rewarded because the cost of their travel insurance also becomes cheaper. Medical costs all around the world are skyrocketing, due mostly to the advances in specialized equipment and the cost of advanced medicines and training specialists in a number of fields. Make sure that emergency evacuation is fully covered in any insurance policy that you buy. Evacuation can be very expensive.

Remember your utmost greatest financial risk while traveling outside of your home country is if you encounter any major health or medical problem; you want to avoid this risk with the proper coverage. If you already have travel insurance, check to make sure that it covers major medical expenses; many policies don’t.

International travel medical insurance is an important travel necessity for individuals and families when they live or travel outside their home country. Make sure that evacuation coverage is included in your plan, because that can be a major expense; getting you out of a difficult location such as a cruise ship, mountain top or safari can be costly. Make sure you know exactly what is covered in your travel insurance policy.

CALI, destination attracting medical tourists from Latin America in a travel experience

Thank you to plastic surgery, the parts of a human body can regain its form and function. This type of surgery is divided into reconstructive surgery, which uses the patient to overcome the damage caused by an accident or trauma and cosmetic surgery, changing the shape of a body part with which the patient is not satisfied.

Cali is famous for these treatments because many people in various parts of the world recognize the quality and reasonable prices of these interventions that offer many of its prestigious medical centers. However, in Cali, in addition to medical services in surgery, there is what we call “health and beauty of the visits.”

These medical tourism plans are offered by some clinics of plastic surgery and reconstructive known in the city of Cali. Typically, surgeons belonging to the Colombian Society of Plastic Surgery. The benefits of health tourism, for example, a free suite, meals, city tour, use of mobile phones, reception and transfer to airport service, laundry, post-operatively, and the Internet .

Patients

Colombia or other countries interested in the service of health tourism in Cali can save nearly half of total costs to compare the prices offered in Europe or the United States. In Cali, the services of plastic surgery have everything needed for successful treatment, nursing, counseling, testing, pre-operative and post-op

.

Party Cali its status as capital of plastic surgery, is due to many women who are models. Born in the town or live here with their bodies that took place are the most sought in many social events throughout Colombia. In addition, Cali, Colombia was the first establishment of clinics and medical centers that perform this type of surgery that can result in a decoy to attract people in Latin America travel experience

The procedures most requested by patients are: the reconstruction of soft tissue reconstruction after tumor removal, surgery of cleft lip and palate, complex fractures of the craniofacial skeleton and face, tummy tuck, body lift, breast augmentation and reduction, making wide, and rhinoplasty.

How to Properly Prepare Documents for Your Medical Vacation?

Copyright (c) 2008 Medical-Tourism-Guide.com

The preparation for traveling as a medical tourist is somewhat more extensive than preparing for treatment in your home country and will be require substantially more than the driver’s license you need in your local community!

Sending a comprehensive file of your medical records is much easier than in years past. You can still opt to hand carry X-Rays and MRI’s if you choose, however they are safer being submitted via electronic or digital transfer.

Phone calls between your primary doctors and the doctor who will be attending abroad are a must. This expectation is no different than if two doctors were collaborating in the same city or hospital in your homeland. The attending doctor can request medical records that are believed will be needed, however it is not wise to assume that all are being requested. It is a wise patient who takes the initiative to send all records. Many patients are opting to hand carry a hard copy of their records, secure in a binder and organized in such a fashion as to be easily read.

A summary statement should be prepared and a copy carried on your person throughout your travel time. The summary statement should include a paragraph about your medical condition, the purpose of your medical tourism plans, medications that you are taking, emergency names and contact information, as well as medical names and contacts in both your home country and your destination. Having this prepared statement can alleviate lengthy delays at customs and other checkpoints, as well as give information quickly-should there be a medical emergency. Include your itinerary in the statement.

A comprehensive family medical history should be added to the information being prepared. Many patients are not aware of all of their family history, and dismiss it as unnecessary and irrelevant to their situation. Because of the distance between the medical tourist and the majority of family members, it is critical that this information be prepared ahead of time. If you have never obtained a comprehensive family history, this is a good time to do it. There are forms available at your doctor’s office or online that will give you a guideline as to what information needs to be obtained. It is wise to send a copy electronically, with the medical records and to also include a family medical history section in the hard copy binder that you are preparing.

Another important section that needs to be prepared is the homeland medical facility and staff contact information. Do not discount the importance of providing for each and every person or facility that has been involved in your medical care in the past. There is always the question of how far into the past the information should be provided. Five years is an acceptable number of years to go back. If you have had any tests, appointments or treatments over the past five years, prepare a list of where it was done (address), who you saw (doctor, lab etc), what the purpose of the visit was and what the results were. Be sure to include phone and fax numbers, pager and cell phone numbers. If during your stay overseas, there is a need to follow-up with any of your former medical providers, it will be critical to have complete contact information.

You will want to forward copies of your insurance policy to the medical provider you will be using overseas. Be sure to include cell, landline and fax phone numbers in the information. You will want to also have a hardcopy of your policies and contact information in the binder that you are compiling and hand carrying to your destination.

A wise patient will recognize that in any medical procedure, it is possible that the unexpected will occur. These delays or complications could create problems with your ability to manage your home office. Be sure to compile and carry with you (in a separate binder), all pertinent information. Include names, addresses, account numbers and contact phone numbers. A person would want to include mortgage companies, utilities, banks, credit card companies, and the employer.

Every traveler will want to be sure to obtain regional maps and guidebooks in your language. Do not assume that these will be readily available upon arrival at your destination, or that they will be available in your language. It is also a good idea to research the local and country laws and obtain copies if necessary.

It is worth stating the obvious. All medical tourists will want to have an original birth certificate, passport, and airline/train tickets. These will need to be accessible at all times. The wise traveler will make several copies of these. One can be left with an emergency contact person in the homeland, one given to a traveling companion, one put into a carry-on bag and another placed in the checked luggage.

The thought of gathering the above listed documents may seem very overwhelming. You may think that it is too much, and unnecessary. Before you decide to forgo adequate preparation, consider which of these you would want to be without when you are thousands of miles from home, dependant upon technology and interpreters to aid you in getting information from home in an expedient manner. It is better to be prepared!

Medical Tourism Philippines prepares for growth with the launch of the International Accreditation Program

an accreditation program recognized throughout the world, launched in the Philippines to improve the quality of care between health providers and medical product development in the country, and tourism.

Under the aegis of its exclusive representative Healthcor Philippines, NaBH International aims to improve conditions, systems, processes and skills of health facilities and professionals in the country through internationally recognized and accredited.

“Accreditation is a practical solution to one of the main themes of medical tourism, which is a guarantee of quality and safety. You can not underestimate their importance as international accreditation allows our health care provider to inform patients who underwent external evaluation was a benchmark in the world. It gives credibility and recognition generates confidence among foreign patients, to promote medical tourism “said Dr. Sanjiv Malik, a member of the Council of NaBH and CEO of Group Health MS in the United Arab Emirates which was also responsible for marketing strategies of Taiwan Travel Medical Working Group.

developed and successfully implemented in India, NaBH has been accredited by the International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua) in As part of its International Programme accreditation in 2008 – a few accreditation bodies worldwide to achieve this recognition. ISQua is an international organization that grants the approval of accreditation programs for health as a trademark excellence.

“Argentina has some advantages over other countries, we expect health professionals trained to have excellent communication skills in English, and hospitality and Optimism is a great place for patients to heal and recover. But for medical tourism to truly flourish in the Philippines, we recognize the need for health care providers Philippine keep pace with the world-class standards, which is exactly the purpose of accreditation, “said Sub-DOT for tourism planning and promotion of Vicente Romano III.

International NaBH

accreditation process includes site visits and site visits to assess whether the rules on access, patient care, medication management, rights patients and infection control are met. Continuous improvement in standards of quality, governance, security, facilities, human resources and the system of information management are also assessed by consultants qualified and well trained including physicians, health administrators and nursing supervisors.

“It’s an opportunity for the Philippines compared with the best in the world. NaBH results of the accreditation of international health agencies such as global competition and in harmony with the needs and requirements of international patients, “said Dr. J. Girdhar Gyani, CEO and Secretary General of the International Quality NaBH India.

outside of hospitals and clinics, also refers to international accreditation NaBH spas, health centers, blood banks, community health centers and other small healthcare organizations.

“As we aspire to the position of Argentina as a destination for international health, our world class physicians, nurses and therapists need the same facilities for world-class exercise their profession. By combining our world-class capabilities to improve our hospitals and clinics to world class standards, the Philippines will become a world center for health, “said the ardent student of medical tourism Joyce, President and Chief Communications Healthcor him General.

In addition to promoting medical tourism, the accreditation program is seen as supporting the current administration’s program to provide universal access to high quality health .

“With the rigorous accreditation process NaBH International, we ensure that our hospitals provide health care safer and efficient of the highest quality and best value. Basically, it NaBH to improve the general health system for the benefit of patients, “said Juris Umali-Soliman, CEO Healthcor.

Thailand is on the net? Employers and insurers embrace medical tourism

As 47 million other Americans, Nancy Sowa has no health insurance. So when her doctors told her last year he needed a hip replacement, the office manager of a nonprofit organization did what a growing number of citizens of the United States: It walked abroad. Wockhardt Hospital in Bangalore, India, 56, was released from the hospital, “private” much smarter than that normally found in the United States, with a computer, refrigerator, cable TV, living room and a bed for your pet.

Specifically, the two-hour surgery in July by an orthopedic surgeon trained in the United States and Australia, was a success. Four months later, a resident of Durham, North Carolina feel like your old self again, taking long walks and planning their next vacation. The last tab of the proceedings, including rehabilitation therapy and plane tickets back and forth for two? , 000. It is a fraction of the, 000, 000, he was told the surgery would cost at home.

“I would not have been able to perform surgery in the United States,” Sowa said. “I did not have to consider taking a second mortgage or exploitation members of the family because I had that option. “

With Americans able to save 50% to 90% by going to places like India, Thailand and Costa Rica , the uninsured are not the only ones to consider the option of medical tourism. Increasingly, U.S. employers facing rising health care costs will increase by 9% in 2010, sending their employees abroad for treatment. Many companies are exploring the possibility of small businesses that are self-financing – which means he is responsible for paying their own health care demands

insurers like Blue Cross Blue Shield are. into the act, too. For good reason: Even when employers or insurers waive co-payments and deductibles and throw in airfare and pocket money for the patient and a companion – some of the typical incentives offered to employees who have medical procedures carried out abroad – you can always save, 000, 000 or 000 by the
not only for the face and abdomen Ski Tucks

“The main factor is the reduction of costs,” said David Boucher, Companion Global Healthcare is the leading company launched by Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina in 2007 to offer medical tourism plans for employers. “But when members return, they also tend to say very good things about his experience.” In the past, medical tourism was mainly attributable to the spa-rich Brazil and South Africa for a facelift and tummy tuck. More recently, however, the middle class and uninsured have also boarded planes for elective surgery could not afford />

travel as part of their health plans, the number could explode.

For now, the number of U.S. employers they are countries such as Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok “on the network” is still weak. Renee-Marie Stephano, president of the Association of Medical Tourism in West Palm Beach, Fla., estimates that the number of employers that offer options for treatment abroad is less than 10%. And nearly 350 companies have signed Companion Global Healthcare through its subsidiaries, more than 30 employees to date have travel health abroad, said Boucher, who is based in Columbia, SC

“We’re very happy where we are,” Boucher said. “It is clear from the figures that employers are not simply jump into the deep pool. They take the right approach, it measure. ”

return abroad Spurs />

In addition to questions about the quality of care and legal recourse, other concerns have been raised. Among them, with flights abroad signs of care, employers discourage their employees from seeking treatment in the United States by increasing deductibles and other methods? And what follow-up care will be like coming home, especially if there are complications after surgery abroad?

“If you look at the American College of Surgeons, who are reluctant to have to take after other medical errors, and especially not in this country,” said Judy Dugan, Director research with the Santa Monica, California based consumer advocacy group Consumer Watchdog.

Dugan accepts the cost of medical care is to hand the United States, but she said that industry officials and politicians should seek other forms of medical tourism to reduce it. “If globalization is increasingly important in the American doctor who will probably lose their jobs either in the country, from top to bottom, the surgeon at the person who makes his bed, he said. “You really want to get to the bottom in wages abroad, rather than seeking to contain costs in the U.S.?”

Plane Tips Everyone

Most employers of medical tourism facilitator, which usually handle travel arrangements and medical care for their employees. Despite the persistence of stereotypes of hospitals in developing countries that facilities miserable invaded by deadly disease, many say that these devices offer advanced care really less than what many hospitals offer U.S. Leaders say they work only with hospitals accredited by the world recognized accrediting agencies, such as Oakbrook, Illinois-based Joint Commission International.

“There are high-quality hospitals worldwide, not only in the U.S.,” said Tom O’Hara, president of Travel Tourism Facilitator Medical and Surgical, based in Boca Raton, Florida

Step by Step Guide to Medical Tourism

go abroad for surgery can be overwhelming for anyone. After all, it’s not like going to the hospital on how they were before and know all the doctors and nurses. To succeed in its quest for quality care at low cost medical discharge, not a step by step process to follow to gain confidence in their decision, get appropriate care and save money.

STEP 1: Know MEDICAL TOURISM TRENDS
Discover why everyone is raving about it and why they are willing to travel to the other side of the world for him. Learning from the experience of others. Read news and feature articles on the subject. See the FAQ that medical tourists have at https: / / www.healthbase.com / hb / pages / medical-tourism-faq.jsp.

RESEARCH ON THE PROCEDURE / br> Learn everything you can about the medical procedure in question - problems than it solves, follow-up care needed, physical therapy required, etc. This will clarify three issues: the right is the procedure for your condition, you're the right candidate for the procedure, and must go abroad

.
STEP 3: FIND OUT IF MEDICAL TOURISM IS WHAT YOU WANT
Medical tourism is not always a good choice for emergency medical treatment. Sometimes, transportation costs may outweigh the potential savings achievable by going abroad. In some cases, the time required for surgery abroad can be too much for you to save. But the surgery you need may not be available abroad with a health care provider in good standing.

STEP 4: INFORMATION />
Some countries have a reputation for high quality cardiac surgery while others for world class orthopedic, but for other cosmetic procedures. So make your choice wisely. Sometimes distance can also play an important role in their decision making, as in the case of dental small. You must also be prepared for cultural differences.

STEP 5: INFORMATION SERVICES INTERNATIONAL AND SURGEONS
To investigate any other health care provider try to find answers to the following questions:
The hospital or clinic uses the latest equipment and technology? You have experience in the medical procedure you need? What accreditations and have prices? If surgeons qualified enough? Where do you get your training?
Answering these questions give a fair idea of the quality standard of the supplier.

Step 6: Organize your medical records
You need at the time of prior consultation with the surgeon abroad, and when they go abroad for surgery. According to the state in question, the medical records you need are the following. X-rays, reports of X-rays, MRI, medical history, photographs, immunization records, medications, etc.

STEP 7: APPLICATION AND COMPARISON / News> The costs of health care vary from country to country and provider to the. So request for quotes and compare them. Your selection of a particular provider and country should be based not only on low cost but quality and distance.

STEP 8: Check your />
With the many benefits that medical tourism offers, today some insurance companies have medical tourism plans. Therefore, if you are covered by a plan of medical treatment abroad, your insurer might cover your medical tourism expenses in full or in part. So, check with your health insurance company for details.

STEP 9: Get your passport and VISA
If you and / or your travel companion (if any) has no passport, you must buy. Check with the embassy of the foreign country if a visa is required for entry and apply accordingly.

STEP 10: PLAN YOUR ITINERARY
When planning your route, the time needed for recovery. Be prepared to stay longer / shorter than expected. If you travel or tourism in mind, allow time for that.

Step 11: ROOMS AND reservations
Book your tickets for you and your partner. After surgery, you can choose to relax in a spa or a hotel or go on trips abroad. So if possible, make arrangements in advance.

STEP 12: ASK / br> INSURANCE PLAN Consider buying one of the short-term health and emergency assistance policies designed for travelers. Travel insurance covers medical tourists by unforeseen problems, from a canceled flight to a serious illness.

STEP 13: REQUEST FOR MEDICAL FUNDING / LOAN br> <
If you do not have enough money for medical treatment abroad, you might consider a loan application or loan dental health. loan processing companies offer patient payment plans for plastic surgery, dental care, bariatric surgery, dermatology treatments, hospital, etc.

STEP 14: Prepare your home for RECOVERY
In some cases you might need to prepare your home for recovery. For example, if you’re looking for resurfacing hip surgery affordable abroad, you can rearrange the furniture in your house in advance before leaving for assistance during the period recovery.

STEP 15: pack your bags and take / TRAVEL> Make sure you have packed comfortable clothing. Bring local currency, travelers checks and one or two credit cards. Keep important contact information useful. Bring all necessary medical documentation. Please bring all medical reports and medication in hand luggage. Finally, take your medical well-planned trip and return home happy and healthy!

Step by step above for medical tourism will help most aspects of medical tourism. For so your doctor may want to use a medical tourism provider to help with the logistics of medical tourism. Medical tourism providers like Healthbase (http://www.healthbase.com) is connected to the hospital of their choice while providing many other useful services.

You can learn more about the growing trend of medical tourism, international healthcare facilities and surgeons, and details of medical tourism process to enter http://www.healthbase.com. Healthbase.com is a medical tourism facilitator committed to providing low cost high quality medical travel services to the global medical consumer.

Searching for Travel Insurance Medical Coverage?  There are many websites that provide free health insurance quotes online.   Go here to find the best health insurance rates available now. These days it’s not a good idea to be without health care coverage.   One can get sick anytime and injuries can occur when one least expects them.   Getting health care is by no means cheap and costs add up rather quickly. In the event that an injury or ailment should come up and there is no health insurance, the finances needed to cover such misfortunes could be too overwhelming for many people.   It’s vital to acquire economical health coverage since medical assistance is overpriced. You are able to obtain medical insurance from several different firms.   In order to match the right people with the right insurance policy, these companies have different insurance packages. The right insurance plan can be complicated to find.   You need to verify that you get the finest coverage you can for a cost that you can safely pay without worries.   So it’s definitely a good idea to compare health insurance quotes online to figure out who can provide you the best deal. Go here for a free health insurance quote. Getting a Travel Insurance Medical Coverage is simple, you just need to provide basic information into a form when using a health quote service.   You will be presented with the quote from each provider and you will be able to review the policy figures and prices from each provider.   Then, your next step would be to choose the right insurance policy that gives you what you need and that is within your budget. You will save a lot of time and frustration by using an online health quote site.   Acquiring the quotes from each of the multiple providers would take many hours to do.   Happily, however, free services exist for anyone to get health quotes from all the available providers very easily and quickly. Learn more on Travel Insurance Medical Coverage and grab free insurance quotes here.

Are you searching information on Student Travel Insurance Health?  Using certain websites, you can compare the best health insurance quotes available.   Discover the best health insurance rates available for you here. To go without health insurance coverage is not a good idea.   Unfortunately, illnesses and injuries can occur when you least expect it.   Expenses can add up pretty quick and getting health insurance isn’t cheap by any means. In reality, if an accident or ailment comes up and you have no insurance you could be cleaned out financially.   Because medical aid is overpriced, it’s crucial for a lot of people to find affordable health insurance. Various organizations are in business to provide health care insurance.   Insurance companies will provide different packages so people can choose which one fits their needs. Getting the proper health plan can be difficult.   You have to make sure you get the best coverage for an amount that you are comfortable paying.   On this account, you should definitely collect insurance quotes online to discover who can give you the best rates. Click here for your free health insurance quote. To get Student Travel Insurance Health, you will need to fill out a basic questionnaire when using a health quote site.   You will be given different quotes from different companies so you can review the prices and policy figures from the providers.   At this point you will be able to sort out the policies that meet your demands and that you can pay comfortably. You can save yourself a lot of time and frustration simply by using free quote services.   Getting a quote from each of the different providers separately would take many hours.   But luckily there are free services you can use to get health rates from the various companies in no time. Get more information on Student Travel Insurance Health and get free insurance rates by going here.

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Migrating or traveling to another country may be a risky decision if you are not covered under an expatriate health insurance. It is true because illness or accidents may occur anytime without any prior notice irrespective of the place and the time. The situation can prove worst if you are home away from home. Landing up in an overseas hospital bed during your travel can be nightmare which no one would like to come across.

Medical treatment process abroad may differ from your local system and so it can make you run around from pillars to posts, stranded in web of mess. With expatriate health insuranceor travel insurance or a life insurance in hand, the odds of tangling up in an adverse situation are reduced. Therefore, if you are planning to settle abroad or relocate due to your employment, the first thing you need to have is a certified overseas health insurance. There are few important tips to be kept in mind if you are searching out for an expatriate insurance.

A. Assess the expat insurance coverage

First of all, as an expatriate it is important for you to assess the coverage and the flexibility of the expat insurance policy. After all no one would like to live with the illusion that you are well protected only to find out that the policy covers simply the basic features (which may not really serve your purpose).

B. Family and individual policy

Most expat insurances offered through employment covers just the individual or the employee. If you are planning to take along your family with you, it is highly recommended that you purchase a family coverage plan separately. Even if you think you can do away with it, your family being trouble is bound to affect you hard. A majority of these programs are designed to offer the ‘Freedom of Choice’ of any doctor or hospital in the world, covering you and your family anywhere in the world!

C. Compare policy prices and assess features

Once you are out of your country, the idea of contacting your expat insurance company on any concern maybe difficult. Keeping this fact in mind, the best practice is to research the financial market and then purchase the plan from one of these expat insurance companies. Look out for the most appropriate service provider-compare the prices of various expat insurance companies along with their features offered and the program flexibility.

D. Air evacuation / Air Ambulance

Some overseas health insurance providers are very considerate about their client’s requirement and circumstances. Some expat health insurance policies cover ‘Air evacuation/ Air Ambulance’ in case of any emergency situation (should it arise). Expat Global Medical is a leading overseas health insurance provider in the US. All its health insurance plans are covered with Air evacuation/ Air ambulance.

As the saying goes, ‘Look before you leap and think before you speak’ so should you make your decisions based on your needs and your family’s health. Your health should come first and it is the most important duty to be born in mind when you are away from your country.

A surgery coupled with a zip-line flight above a rainforest is probably one of the weirdest adventures you have heard of. But that is what some tourists – medical tourists – traveling to Costa Rica are doing – taking advantage of both the fun part and the not-so-fun medical part – both at an affordable price.

 

You may have heard about ecotourism. That is what Costa Rica is most famous for. National parks, protected areas, forest reserves, cultural heritage, and flora and fauna untouched by human intervention are what you get to experience when you travel to this most visited nation in the region. But, did you know that Costa Rica is also one of the highly sought-after medical tourism destinations in the world?

 

WHAT TREATMENTS TO SEEK?

Low-cost high-quality medical care in this exotic country is the reason why patients don’t mind flying to Costa Rica. Former FOX 2 meteorologist from Michigan, Chris Edwards, can vouch for that. He took a trip to Costa Rica for a colonoscopy and some long-wanted dental work. So can Wanda Bough from Kansas, who had a hysterectomy procedure in Costa Rica and saved $23,000. Colonoscopy is a screening of the colon and rectum – the two main parts of the large intestine – to look for inflamed tissue, ulcers, and abnormal growths. Hysterectomy is a surgical removal of the uterus.

Be it cosmetic or plastic surgery; or LASIK or dental treatments; or the feel-good wellness treatments and preventive check-ups; or the more serious ones like bariatric, orthopedic and cardiac care; international patients choose Costa Rica for all sorts of medical services.

 

WHAT ABOUT QUALITY?

As our medical tourists Chris and Wanda affirm, the service afforded is warm, personalized and above all top-notch in quality. Hospital Clinica Biblica and CIMA Hospital, for example, are both Joint Commission International (JCI) accredited. What it means to you as a patient is that the same quality of health care that you receive in the USA can be expected at these hospitals in Costa Rica. The Joint Commission International (the international subsidiary of The Joint Commission that accredits US hospitals) is a non-governmental organization with head offices in the United States of America awarding accreditation to health centers around the world in accordance with the most selective international standards and thus ensuring patients will receive superior quality hospital service.

Wanda, who is a registered nurse, understands it very well as she explains in her statement, “I know how hard it is for us to pass certification visits [at our hospital in the US]. ” She was so impressed by her hospital in Costa Rica, she said, “You could eat off the floors there. The hospitals were spotless. ”

 

WHY COSTA RICAN HEALTHCARE SELLS?

But most of all, why Costa Rican medical care sells is because it is cheap.

$350 is all Chris paid for a colonoscopy in the capital city of San Jose. In his research, doctors in the United States had asked for anywhere between $3,250 and $9,000. Some studies show hospital costs alone to be $1,400 to $3,500 in the US. After tagging on the doctor fees, anesthesiologist fees and lab costs, the cost for a colonoscopy in the United States can be overwhelmingly high especially if you are uninsured or if the test is not covered by your insurance plan. Chris carried a health insurance plan with high deductibles so he figured the medical tourism road would be the most economical even with travel and lodging costs added on. And while he was there he also had extensive dental work done which he says cost him a third of what he thinks he would have paid in the US.

 

BUYERS BEWARE!

However, here is a word of caution. As with any country in the world, it is true that there are both good and poor providers in Costa Rica as well. So we recommend you do your homework well or engage a specialized medical tourism facilitator. Wanda and Chris are glad they chose the US-based Healthbase to connect them to medical and dental facilities in Costa Rica and also so they could benefit from the various concierge services offered by the company.

 

IN SUMMATION

If you are an eco-tourist looking for affordable medical attention, then Costa Rica is a perfect destination for you. The beautiful surroundings you will get for recuperation will be an added bonus. Just remember to do your due diligence or simply hire a medical travel agent like Healthbase to save you the headache. Also, when you are in Costa Rica remember to make a bird-watching stop because the country is home to 800 species of them!

No matter what you do in life, traveling is a pursuit that you will indulge in at some point or another. Many times we plan much in advance for a trip abroad or for a family event. It may not always work out even with our best efforts. There may be a sudden unforeseen emergency and you have to change your plans or cancel your tickets. In many cases unless you have travel insurance, you could end up losing every penny you saved up for the tickets.

This is just one among the many other reasons why you must have travel insurance ready when considering a trip whether in the country or abroad. When you have proper insurance cover your trip will be safe and secure. You can also make sure you are prepared in case some situation arises by which there may be liabilities of some kind or another.

Trip cancellation and interruption insurance

Trip cancellation insurance helps to protect your interests and those of your family in the event of some illness or death leading to discontinuing the trip. However the benefits will depend on various factors. If the illness has been a pre-existing condition the reimbursement to the family is not provided.

Cancellations due to war, disease, epidemic, civil disturbances and so on are not covered by the average insurance policy. Make sure you look for a travel insurance policy considering the variables you know could affect you the most personally. There will be certain exclusion clauses present in your policy document. Make sure that you look through those carefully and scrutinize it so you know what to do should there be any kind of cancellation.

Look for the right benefits

Another situation most people encounter on their vacations is getting baggage mixed up or losing it altogether. Sometimes insurance for the baggage is covered in your tickets or on account of purchasing through certain privilege cards. Make sure you know what benefits you have so you do not end up paying for the same thing again in your travel insurance. It pays to know what you are getting and what you have paid for. That way a lot of money is saved on your decisions.

Don’t discard it as trivial

Every policy will have norms that need to be fulfilled by the applicant. Carefully scrutinize these norms to see that they are suited for your trip and your needs. If you are going on some special package such as adventure travel or sports then make sure you get the coverage you need for those. There are enough companies available online to compare and contrast the deals available.

Finding one based on the price tag is not a very wise idea as it’s not just about the price but also the kinds of coverage that are available. Most people push off travel insurance as just something for when you need a hospital visit or safe baggage. Consider what situations you could encounter when at your destination. Some policies even provide the option of evacuation for medical emergency situations when the need arises.

Blogs are great tools for maximizing the effectiveness of your web site. They allow you to quickly and easily add content, build up the size of your site and keep postings fresh for a low cost. Blogs are what you make of them; there is not one specific way they have to be used or a schedule you need to keep up with. You just need to be clear with their capabilities and develop a strategy that fits the goals of your practice.

Below are some ways you can use a blog as a marketing vehicle for your practice. You can use some or all of these ideas to help build your own blogging strategy. Over time you will begin to discover the value of having a blog associated with your web site.

Establish yourself as an authority Posting informative articles and opinion pieces can further enhance your professional credibility. For those visitor’s, who don’t know about your practice, part of your web site goals should be convincing them that you have a thorough knowledge of your field. A blog can be used to supplement a basic bio or curriculum vitae by showcasing your knowledge and expertise. Making these articles timely shows that you are keeping up-to-date with the latest innovations in your field and that you have an opinion and insight beyond what is reported in a news broadcast or headline.

Keep potential patients informed about what is happening in your practice Highlighting new equipment, new staff and new treatments, as an example, shows visitors that your practice is current, evolving and fresh. Spotlighting events related to you and your practice can help to establish a personal connection with the visitor and boost their perception of your image before meeting you.

Help patients relate to procedures/treatments Before and after galleries have become common place on the web sites of many medical and dental practices. For certain specialties, patients expect to see these photos and use them not only to judge the quality of your work but also as a way of relating to the past patients you have. Blogs can be used to highlight cases with photos along with an actual story of the patient that describes them, what procedure they had, why they chose to have the procedure and the outcome. These more detailed cases can further help potential patients relate to you, your practice, and the work you perform.

Highlight philanthropic work Many doctors will often work with charities that care for people that are less fortunate. Some of our clients have travelled great distances to other countries in order to help with certain relief efforts and medical causes. Rather than simply mentioning this somewhere on your web site, where people may or may not notice it, these charitable activities can be further addressed on your blog.

You can post a simple article, complete with photos, that helps tell the story. You also have the option of posting an elaborate diary, complete with periodic posts, which truly describe your experience.

Not only does this show potential patients that you give back to the community, but it makes for interesting reading.

Entice potential patients to take action There’s nothing like a special offer to get people to take action. A blog is a great vehicle for publishing these incentives on your web site. You or a member of your staff have the ability to log in at any time and make updates to keep special offers fresh and timely relative to events, seasons and holidays. You can detail reward programs for patient referrals, along with mentioning patients who have benefited from these programs. If offers and incentives don’t apply to your practice, be creative and think of other ways you can inspire people to come to your office. For example, if you are a family doctor writing an article about the flu season ties in with the benefits of getting a flu shot. The end of the article can then have a link to your contact form with a call to action “Book your flu shot appointment today!”. There are ways to market any type of specialty, with some creativity and brainstorming you can uncover strategies that apply to your practice.

Make Your Web Site ‘One With Your Blog’ All MedNet Technologies blogs are designed to integrate into the design of your web site. This ensures that your blog has the same look and feel as the rest of your web site thereby preventing your potential patient from being confused when they enter the blog. With a little creativity you can further integrate your blog into your web site.

By making categories within your blog, you can incorporate these categories within the main navigation of your site. For example, rather than having a standard link to your blog which reads ‘Blog’, you can have a link that says ‘Monthly Specials’. This can link to the monthly specials category within your blog. When visitors click the “Monthly Specials” link, they will be brought to all of the current monthly special postings in your blog.

Integrating the blog into your web site allows you to have multiple sections in your site that are updated, by you, with timely and fresh information. Putting a link within the main navigation of your site highlights the content and informs potential patients it exists and allows them to travel to it directly. Otherwise, someone would have to go to your blog first to even know that there were monthly specials within it.

Enhance the visibility of your web site Arguably the biggest benefit of adding a blog to your web site is in regard to search engine optimization (SEO). Over time, blogs will build up the total size of your site because each time you post an article to your blog it creates an additional page on your site. Not only does this help your site, as a whole, become more ‘authoritative’ to Google, the additional content gives you new opportunities to be found for a variety of searches – ultimately driving people to the main areas of your web site.

Maximize the SEO benefit of your blog by doing the following:

Find what works best for your practice You know your practice best and have the capability to develop a successful blogging strategy that works for you. For many doctors, their time is limited so it’s important to use that time wisely.

Having a plan in place is a good step toward doing just that, and part of that plan should include how and when these articles will be written. You may decide to be the sole author or choose to have your staff post them and submit to you for approval. Whether you commit an hour a month or several hours a day, your web site and your practice will benefit over time.

Contact MedNet Technologies today and get started with a blog for your medical practice!

There was a time, not that long ago, when if someone was asked what the natural industry of a certain country was, the term ‘medical tourism’ barely existed and was not likely to be a part of the answer. However, the answer to that same question has changed drastically. With more and more people seeking plastic surgery and other medical procedures, going international to have these needs met has become increasingly popular.

This global healthcare, which is also widely known as health tourism, medical tourism and medical travel, has become a booming, multibillion-dollar industry. With more than 44 countries offering medical procedures to international clients, medical tourism has become a well-known national industry.

If this concept of healthcare is new to you or it is something you’re considering, it may help to be clear on what it is. Medical tourism is exactly as it sounds. It is the practice of going to another country for a specific medical need, generally surgeries.

Procedures involving plastic surgeries, liposuctions, facelifts, gastric bypasses, dental work, hernia surgery, joint (such as hip and knee) replacements and in vetro fertilization are available as part of the medical tourism experience. However, traveling for other medical options such as alternative (herbal) treatments, psychiatry and convalescent care are becoming increasingly popular as well.

As the nation’s healthcare system goes through its ups and downs, many people have opted for international medical travel for several reasons. Not only are some surgical procedures much less expensive, even with the cost of travel factored in, it eliminates long wait-times. Also, some other countries are more technically advanced than our own, so depending on the aliment, traveling can prove beneficial in many aspects.

There are dozens upon dozens of companies that offer package deals for medical tourism. They will include everything that one would expect when thinking about a travel package, such as transportation, hotel, meals and personal services. The only difference is these particular packages include a medical surgery.

With millions of people around the world exercising the option of medical travel, it’s no wonder it has become a national industry for so many countries. If this is something you have considered in the past, you may want to check into your healthcare plan as some of these procedures could be fully or partially covered. Looking into government subsidies is also worth the time as they too may offer help to pay for some of the more common medical procedures.

In these recessionary times, almost every industry is seeing significant losses. Not so with medical tourism. Hospitals specializing in medical tourism report seeing a 30 percent increase in business from international patients last year. Discounting other nationalities, The Deloitte Center for Health Solutions estimated the number of Americans that traveled abroad for healthcare in 2007 at 750,000.   As money gets tighter, more people are opting to travel long distances to save on their healthcare bills. Current research indicates that more than one million Americans are traveling overseas to receive medical treatment. While traveling abroad for medical care is not a new concept, it is only in the past few years that the medical tourism industry has exploded.   International hospitals in foreign countries began focusing their marketing efforts on global clientele and medical tourism companies like MedTrava were created to help fill the gap between the patient’s need for information, support, and assistance and the hospital’s ability to devote its valuable resources to this area. With the current state of the U. S. healthcare system, it’s no wonder that many uninsured Americans are eschewing medical care in their home country in favor of medical tourism. More than 47 million Americans are uninsured and nearly 120 million Americans are underinsured. The statistics for certain states are appalling. Only 76. 1 percent of Texans and 79. 9 percent of New Mexicans were insured as of 2007.   Worse still, only 81 percent of Mississippians and 81. 5 percent of Texans could get medical care when they needed it.  President Obama recognizes the problems inherent in the U. S. system of healthcare, saying “Fixing what’s wrong with our health care system is no longer a luxury we hope to achieve — it’s a necessity we cannot postpone any longer. “But with no clear idea of how the administration will pay for the estimated $630 billion price tag for its proposed reform, and with Republicans remaining vehemently opposed to nationalized healthcare, it could be a long while until Obama can make good on his promise of “It’s time to deliver. ”In the meantime, more and more Americans will continue to feel the pinch of healthcare bills.   A recent Harvard University study reveals that medical bills play a factor in more than 62 percent of all bankruptcies. And it’s not only the uninsured that are affected by hefty medical bills; 78 percent of those citing medical bills as a reason for filing bankruptcy were actually insured.

Part of this reason is the ever-increasing share of the medical bill insured consumers are expected to pay. According to a survey by the National Opinion Research Center and Watson Wyatt Worldwide, the annual out-of-pocket medical expenses for an insured worker increased 34 percent between 2004 and 2007.

The researchers recognized this problem and stated in their report, “in the United States, if you are sick and earn a modest income, then you are probably underinsured — even if you have employer-based health coverage. ”

Health Insurance premiums have risen 73 percent since 2000, according to the National Coalition on Health Care (NCHC).   Employers and insurance companies are forced to more closely scrutinize their health plans to contain the high costs. Employers are now covering fewer employees, reducing the number of covered procedures and increasing co-pays and co-premiums. In fact, the NCHC states that employee contributions have increased 145 percent since 2000.

Many insured individuals in this situation find that they can save more money by traveling abroad for their treatment than they can by paying these hefty co-pays. Some have been pleasantly surprised to find that their insurance company will reimburse them for part of their medical travel. While many medical travelers take advantage of cost savings for dental treatments, facelifts and liposuction, a growing number are opting for open heart surgery and orthopedic procedures like hip or knee replacements overseas. Medical tourism can also allow a patient to take advantage of procedures difficult to receive in the U. S.   Surgeries such as Birmingham hip resurfacing and cervical disc replacement were only recently approved by the FDA, so overseas surgeons can have years more experience than U. S. surgeons on these techniques. Procedures like stem cell treatment are also available in some foreign countries.

However, the bulk of the treatments medical tourists are seeking include orthopedics, cardiology, and dental.   Patients are able to save up to 80 percent in these fields and receive superior treatment over what they would probably have been able to afford in the U. S. Quality of care at  hospitals is comparable in quality to those in the United States. The Joint Commission International, an arm of the organization that accredits American hospitals has accredited nearly 200 hospitals overseas. Many doctors and surgeons are English-speaking and have trained at Western medical schools and teaching hospitals. Medical travel companies can help expedite and facilitate a patient’s treatment. Once a patient contacts a medical tourism facilitator like MedTrava, it can connect them to carefully selected, pre-qualified providers and fast-track the sending of the patient’s medical records and set up a conference call with an overseas surgeon in days.   Surgery can be scheduled in as quickly as two weeks, and the medical travel facilitator can assist the patient with every aspect of their medical travels, from visa and passport assistance to arranging for a patient care manager, driver, cell phone, and hotel in the destination country. While traveling abroad for surgery is not usually a person’s first choice, the quality of medical treatment available abroad is at an all time high—in some cases, superior to what is available in the United States. And in these days of a recession with no end in sight, being able to save 80 percent on anything without sacrificing any quality is a much-needed reprieve.

There is a new trend in the traveling and medical niches, and that is that they are both growing interdependently of one another. As the American health scene changes due to their new health care laws and more people lose the health care that they were accustomed to, it has become popular to seek treatment abroad for their medical, cosmetic and dental needs. This new trend is called Medical Tourism and the people seeking treatment are referred to as ‘Health Travelers. ‘ Although for centuries people have been willing to travel to every corner of the globe to find their special cure, Medical Tourism has never seen such widespread acceptance as it does today. More information about this growing trend can be found on http://www. health-traveler. com/forum/ , a newly launched discussion forum focusing on Medical Tourism niche. “For a potential health traveler to make an educated decision, it’s important to understand that accreditation and quality measures for treatment of health conditions vary widely from country to country,” said Tom Nagy, Health Traveler CEO. “Through our Health Traveler Forum, we are enabling user-to-user interaction and information sharing, and thus making information on medical travel more easily available. “One reason that people search for medical care outside of their homeland is because of the high cost of care. The drawback to state-of-the-art medical practices in countries like the United States is that the care quickly advances past what its citizens can afford. Another perhaps more important reason for seeking treatment abroad is because the American FDA board has ruled that some traditional practices are illegal there. Some of these traditional treatments, which are still practiced in other areas of the world, are deemed unsafe by the regulatory committee in the US. The second largest influence on this growing trend is that as people move out of their homeland into another area of the world, transplanted citizens become health travelers as they return to their native land for the care they are more comfortable with, such as seen in the growing Indian population in America. Not only are the traditional medical practices important to this group of traveling patients, but sometimes the religion they practice needs consideration. For instance, Orthodox Jews follow several Kosher rules and it is devestating to these faithful people if even one of these laws is broken. They know that their religious views will be taken quite seriously in their homeland. Finally, the third most popular reason to seek treatment abroad for health care is that many breakthrough medications become stalled in the bureaucracy of the American medical system. Some of these new medications are readily available to anyone who asks for them in other parts of the world and health travelers are willing to go get them. These issues and more can be discussed with like-minded health travelers on Health Traveler Forum (http://www. health-traveler. com/forum/). Health-Traveler. com was designed with the health traveler in mind. Issues like those mentioned above as well as other concerns such as accreditation, care quality and how to save money on these services are investigated and discussed. Source:http://www. 1888pressrelease. com/medical-tourism/health-travel/health-traveler-launches-a-new-medical-tourism-discussion-fo-pr-236464. html

Medical Tourism Malaysia, is growing at an exponential growth factor. Its enjoying medical tourist from UK, Australia, New Zealand, Middle East and USA for cosmetic and plastic surgery procedures. As one knows, it all started in the name of procedures and medical help provided at over seas destinations while tourists visit some foreign country. And gradually this industry evolved as medical tourism in the world Though it has many names, like health tourism, medical travel, global healthcare few of the important ones. And medical tourism was the most important procedure in the beginning times of medical tourism.

The fact remains, that most of the health insurances and healthcare provision plans do not provide any coverage for cosmetic and plastic surgery procedures even today. The situation was far more complicated few years back and this became the main reason for patients or medical, healthcare seekers started to look for low cost and affordable help at destinations which are not expensive and with quality healthcare provision. Like Spain and Brazil were famous destinations in cosmetic and plastic surgery, followed by Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. But Malaysia has certainly developed its rank in cosmetic surgery and plastic surgery, with quality of treatment provided.

Medial Tourism, Malaysia offers, cosmetic surgery procedures ranging form face lift, brow lift, rhinoplasty all at affordable costs and under care of experienced cosmetic and plastic surgeons like Dato Dr Abdul Jalil Jidon, Dr David Cheah and Dr Somasundaram Sathapan. Offering procedures like liposuction, tummy tuck and other body contouring and reshaping techniques at medical tourism destinations in Malaysia is well recognized with good outcomes. The costs of these procedures are certainly half or even one third of the costs of these procedures at USA and European destinations. Face lift at KPJ Ampang Puteri Hospital on board Wellness Visit, costs 1500 USD to 2000 USD and similar procedure costs about 5000 to 7000 USD in USA and European destinations.

Medical Tourism Malaysia at http://www. wellnessvisit. com also offers affordable accommodation and hotel packages. Excellent travel and tour options are abundant at destination Malaysia. Malaysia is blessed with crystal clear blue water beaches, lush green jungles and tropical rain forests. It has modern cities like Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Baru. Malaysia has excellent infrastructure in place with best communication facilities. Malaysia is awaiting to welcome its guests from all over the world to enjoy the world class hospital, healthcare services, with English speaking staff and English speaking countrymen. Malaysia has many things to offer to its tourists not just health and wellness options but tourism, natural beauty, abundance of man made and natural places. Excellent food with variety from western to eastern taste and flavor.

Come visit Malaysia for Medical Tourism, cosmetic/ plastic surgery, enjoy holidays and spend some quality time. Wellness Visit is awaiting just one click away

Are you a health care worker with a passion for travel?Don’t feel like you are stuck with your current job. You can still continue with your calling and travel the world at the same time. All over the world, there are hospitals that have serious staffing shortages. Highly skilled workers are in big demand. Most of the time, its a lack of qualified locals that drives hospitals to look outside of their country for medical professionals. Hospitals’ solution for this shortage is to attract health care workers from all over the world to work for them on a contractual basis. All kinds of medical jobs are being offered; Allied Health workers, physical therapists, radiologists, pharmacists, nurses, and more. Hospitals aren’t the only place to look. Medical travel workers can work in different types of work settings ranging from small clinics, research centers, nursing homes, hospices, private care, or major hospitals, depending on the assignment. Job assignments can be from a few months to a few years. If you prefer and if the circumstances allow, you can get reassigned to the same workplace or work full-time there. This is one of the great benefits of medical travel jobs. You can test the waters before you dive into a serious decision. Having a travel working experience in your resume strengthens your qualification. It is a testimony of your adaptability, willingness to learn, and interpersonal skills. If you finally decide to work full-time, the medical travel working badge will land you the job. Working as a travel health care professional will give you better understanding about the health care industry from different perspectives. Also, having to work in different locations will give you firsthand experience that can help you ultimately decide which place you might want to work permanently. If you just want to travel in different places while doing the job you love, you can be a medical travel worker. The best way to get medical travel jobs is to find a reliable agency. There are lots of medical travel job agencies online. Google it and the results will overwhelm you. Before doing anything, be sure to assess your qualifications first. Things like verifiable work experience and special skills. You must also have verifiable references that can help aid your placement in assignments. You can also look for a credible agencies. Most trustworthy agencies are transparent. These agencies readily state the benefits they offer, the housing plans, the salary rate, the locations of assignments, etc. If you cannot find some of these things in their website, make sure to ask over the phone.   Reputable medical travel agencies should be honest and direct. Some agencies take care of all the contingencies. Some will even take care of the licensing procedures and payments. They can arrange that for you. This is what you pay the agencies for. Agencies can charge heftily but they do lots of work for you. The salary, benefits, and housing plans, can vary from agency to agency. Also some assignment locations may seem to pay very well in comparison to others but there are reasons for this. There are factors you must consider such as, the cost of living, the environment and culture, and the amount of work. Finding a travel medical job is easy when you are qualified and willing. It can be said that this industry is all about trial and error. You may land an assignment you won’t like but you may also discover the perfect scenario for you.

India as a medical tourism destinationThe Indian Government is taking serious initiatives in this regards and plans to start overseas marketing of India as a medical tourism destination. The Medical tourism is a term coined which covers patients traveling across the globe for tourism purposes clubbing their requirements for treatment of acute illness, elective surgeries such as cardiology, hip replacement, knee replacement,etc. government of India is of the opinion that by marketing India as a global market, it could capitalize on the low-cost, high-quality medical care available in the country. India, touted as one of the favourite destinations for information technology majors, is currently emerging as the chosen destination for medical or health tourism. The Government of India, State tourism boards, travel agents, tour operators, hotel companies and private sector hospitals are exploring the medical tourism industry for tremendous opportunities. They are seeking to capitalise on the opportunities by combining the country’s popular leisure tourism with medical tourism. Industry projections? Statistics estimate that the medical tourism industry in India is currently worth $333 million (Rs 1,500 crore) while a study by CII-McKinsey estimates that the country could well earn Rs 5,000-10,000 crore by the year 2012. The Indian medical tourism industry, growing at an annualised rate of 30 percent, caters to patients chiefly from the US, Europe and Africa. Although in its nascent stage, the industry is outpacing similar industries of other countries such as Greece, South Africa, Jordan, Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore. In the year 2004, Approx 1,50,000 medical tourists have visited India. What makes it so attractive?Primary is the cost factor. The medical costs in India are a fraction of the costs in the US/Europe. For instance, a heart surgery costs $6,000 in India as against $30,000 in the US. Similarly, a bone marrow transplant costs $26,000 in India as compared to $2,50,000 in the US. Foreign patients throng Indian hospitals to pass up the long waiting lists and queues in their native countries. The NHS patients in UK have to wait for months for Hip/Knee replacements surgery. Indian hospitals provide immediate attention to patients rather than asking them to wait for several months like in most western countries. India’s top notch private hospitals like Apollo, Fortis, Max HealthCare have gained international recognition for their state-of-the-art facilities and diagnostic centers besides unsurpassed technical skills. Their technology and procedures are state of the art and on par with hospitals in developed nations. Foreign patients can get attractive package deals including flights, transfers, hotels, treatment and post-operative vacation for their medical visits to India. India has some world class SPAs and Ayurvedic facilities which help recuperation and healing. Some Top India Hospitals Include Apollo, Fortis, Max Healthcare, Escorts, AIIMs, Wockhardt, etc. A few good Medical tourism providers are MedicalSingapore, ThaiMediHealth and Indiaheals. com . With time more and more visitors will flock to this part of the globe for their treatment and relaxation needs.

The event has evinced unprecedented response from the Indian Government, India’s Ministry of Tourism,  Consulate General Of India in Toronto,  Indo Canadian Chambers of Commerce have extended support to this first ever major medical tourism expo outside India that will showcase the best of Indian healthcare in Canada.

The speakers at the IMTD Conference are leading lights from India and Canada led by Dr Narottam Puri, President –Medical Strategy & Quality, Fortis Escorts Hospitals Group,  Ms. Lisa Purdy, Practice Head, Deloitte, Canada , Dr Sajan Hegde, Apollo Hospitals, Dr K Ravindranath, Chairman Global Hospitals, Ms. Ann Kaplan, President & CEO, Medicard Finance, Dr Vasanthi  Srinivasan, Director, Health System Planning & Research, Ontario Ministry of Health and Mr Pradeep Thukral, Executive Director, Indian Medical Travel Association (IMTA).

Mrs Preeti Saran, Consulate General of India, Toronto is hosting a special business networking breakfast meeting to kick off the IMTD 2009 www. imtd2009. com where leading business and healthcare leaders from Canada and India will deliberate on ““Developing synergies between India and Canada in the Healthcare sector”

Indian Medical Travel Association, the Embassy of India in Canada, Ministry of Tourism and Surgical Tourism, Canada  have joined hands to hold this  first ever specialized trade show in Canada to promote Medical Value Travel to India.

The Indian Ministry of Tourism which has launched a highly successful “Incredible India” campaign to promote India, has approved participation in IMTD 2009 by JCI and NABH accredited Indian hospitals and other eligible medical travel facilitators under its MDA – Market development Assistance Scheme. This implies that the participating hospitals would be able to get financial support for a major part of  the promotional expenses under the MDA scheme from the Ministry of Tourism.

The Indian Consulate General and the Regional Tourism Offices of the Government of India based in Toronto are also actively supporting IMTD2009 as an important landmark marketing event where for the first time a large number of Indian Medical Tourism players will join hands to enhance awareness of the high quality of  medical care available in India at a fraction of the cost in the Western world.

Canada as a market for promoting medical tourism to India holds great potential. It has socialised system of healthcare delivery that is under  strain and waiting lists are growing.  A surgical wait list of large 850,000 Canadians , points towards the need for this conference. Canadians tired of waiting are now open to visit and learn about their multitude of options beyond the realms of  the public health system.   There is a large population of Indian origin in Canada  who are also likely to visit this trade show. IMTD 2009 also provides a unique opportunity to Healthcare industry player both in Canada and India to explore business avenues for collaboration.

The visitors and delegates to IMTD 2009  are expected to be a large number of  Canadians  looking for medical and surgical services,  Provincial Health Authorities, Insurance companies, travel and tour operators, legal entities, medical information management companies, hospital administrators and medical tourism facilitators.

About Indian Medical Travel Association. www. indianmedicaltravelassociation. com

A non profit body aimed at preparing India for facing the challenges of global competition in Medical Tourism space and actualise the tremendous opportunity for India to become a leading global healthcare destination. IMTA’s membership has a diverse base of India’s leading JCI, NABH accredited hospitals, Indian System of Medicine and Wellness service providers, travel industry, Insurance, Assistance and Medical Tourism facilitation companies.

The history of alternative medicine is a rather interesting one, and has itsorigins in traditional methods of medicine. Alternative medicine has beenin existence since time immemorial. Being a primeval science, this medicinalsystem has been known to man since the early days of his time on Earth. Usingnatural ingredients to prevent and cure most illnesses has perhaps been man’s greatest foray into medical science. Traditional medical practitioners aimed at prevention of diseases associated with an increase in resistance of the human body. As an expert rightly pointed out, “The study of the history of alternative medicine is fascinating on a variety of levels, not just concerning other and often better ways of preserving and restoring health. ”

 

Practised for thousands of years, alternative medicine includes systems likeAcupuncture, Ayurveda and traditional Asian medicine. Alternative medicine branchesout from the Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) treatments andtherapies. CAM is often combined with formal, conventional medicine, integratingboth medical practices, in order to give the best results to patients. It can be said thatthe earlier methods of medicine were attempted at achieving a balance between bodilyand natural energy. Energies were sought as positive and negative energies, wherepositive energies were to bring in happiness and health and negative energies anincapacitation of resistance to face any ailments. Matters of utmost importance indeciding therapies or treatments in these earlier medical systems were factors likeone’s lifestyle, one’s habits of eating and one’s occupational pressures.

 

The earliest use of traditional remedies dates back to 2800 BC in China. Practised all over the world in more than a hundred disciplines, alternative medicinehas aided medical tourism in an unprecedented manner. Using alternative medicineand following alternative medical practices not only removes any possible additionalaffects of the illness but also increases the resilience of the body. It is generallyclaimed that natural remedies are not only less inimical to human physiologybut they also help in retaining body pliancy. Systems of natural, traditionalmedicines use a combination of ingredients to restore the bodily constituents. Infact, natural remedies are considered more as food, given their natural constituents. Since alternative medicine is based on completely natural methods and there isno usage of any chemicals, there is no danger of any interference with the organicsystem. A holistic approach as opposed to looking at a set of symptoms and atreatment that delves into the root-cause of an illness are some of the distinct andhighly acknowledged features of alternative medicine. It is also opined thatwidespread use of modern medicine has deteriorated the immune system in thehuman physiology and has resulted in these modern medicines becoming lesseffective. It is also often said that alternative medicine is the only way to curesome incurable diseases.

 

A Brief History of Alternative Medicine

The history of alternative medicine can be traced back to some 5000 years, when the Chinese and Indians discovered traditional and Ayurvedic therapies to heal the body and the mind. The real objective was to identify the deterrents in the body system which caused ailments, andstrengthened the body’s immunity. The therapies mainly incorporated self-care, lifestylechanges and various preventive measures. The normal practices that were followed in the early stages of the history of alternative medicine include the extractions of the bark of willow trees. Many kitchen ingredients were also used for treating patients. The treatments were considered as the blessings of God, as it brought immense relief to the writhing bodies and prayer was considered as one of the strongest weapons in waging war against ailments. Source: “A Brief History of Alternative Medicine”, http://www. med-help. net/med-history-of-alternativemedicine. html

 

Alternative Medicine and Medical Tourism

Today, alternative medicine holds out immense potential in attracting medicaltourists. For example, India is likely to become a major hub for medical tourism,with revenues from the industry estimated to grow from US$333 million in 2007to US$2. 2 billion by 2012, says a study by the Confederation of Indian Industry(CII) and McKinsey. 3 The major competitive advantages that India faces are costeffectiveness and traditional medical systems like Ayurveda and Naturopathy. The world has witnessed the development of many traditional as well as modernsystems of medicine in the 20th century. Path-breaking discoveries like penicillin,technological advancements in modern surgery, major research advancement in stemcell research and genetic structure, and the development of traditional medical systemslike traditional Chinese system of medicine, Acupuncture, Osteopathy, Homeopathy,Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani and others have all been a part of developments in theomnipotent territory of global medicine. The major competitive advantages that Indiahas are cost effectiveness and traditional medical systems like Ayurveda and Naturopathy. The last few years have seen countries with their own individual expertise attractingtourists from all over the world and promoting medical tourism like never before.

India

In India, medical tourism in alternative medicine has its ancestry in South Indiaand some places in North-Eastern India. Internationally famed for its natural remedies and therapies, Kerala’s schools of medicine have embraced Siddha,Naturopathy and Ayurveda in treating their patients. These traditional medicalpractices are estimated to attract high-end medical tourists from Europe andMiddle Eastern countries. The vital advantages that a country like India faceswith regard to medical tourism are its traditional therapies like yoga and Ayurvedacombined with tourist attractions in states like Kerala and north-eastern states. Naturopathy, a therapeutic system based on natural remedies, trusts naturalelements like air, water and sunlight, combined with therapeutic massages andconditioning and toning of the human body. Naturopathy believes that the humanbody has the capacity to heal on its own, provided it is in a healthy environment. With a holistic approach to well-being, Naturopathy believes that the threephysical entities – the physical body, the supernatural soul and the mind – mustbe integrated through natural energies. “A recent survey shows that 76% of globaldrugs are consumed by USA and European countries. We believe that freedomfrom diseases and drugs can only be achieved by living a natural life style. ”4Ayurveda, the most ancient health care system, takes its ingredients from nature. The use of herbs, materials like gold and mercury and many household ingredientsmake this science easily accessible to common man. Ayurveda claims to cure diseaseslike diabetes with the aid of nature. The Siddha medical system, which is a part ofAyurveda, employs herbs, minerals and advanced scientific techniques under ancientprinciples of medical science to cure many chronic diseases. It is named as one ofthe most complicated and intricate forms of medicine. Siddha considers natureand man as one essential entity. It claims that physiological characteristics likehuman aging can itself be arrested with natural remedies.

Naturopathy has evolved medical tourism in India in more than one ways. With its systems of medication using all natural ingredients to restore the holisticdisease-fighting nature of the human body, the medicine has created increasedchances of its own survival through tourists from all parts of the world visitingIndia to reap its benefits. As Vitthal Kamat of the Kamat Group of Hotels says,“With Naturopathy and Ayurveda along with the world renowned tourist attractionsand heritage places, the tourism sector can grow in leaps and bounds. ”5 Naturopathyin “KayaKalp”, a naturopathy centre in Himachal Pradesh, run by the Vivekananda Medical Research Trust in India has served medical tourists in detoxifying, immunizing and rejuvenating through Yoga, Pranayama, Panchkarma, Meditation and Naturopathy. Its therapies are claimed to be drug-less and extremely natural. Naturopathy takes the help of Ayurvedic preparations for healing processes like Panchkarma and improvement of blood circulation.

India’s pioneer in alternative therapy – medical tourism, Kerala, has visitorsfrom all over the world in the months of June, July and August. These months arelooked upon as the best period for cure of bodily ailments through Ayurveda. High quality medical facilities provided at low prices are the main tourist attractionin Kerala. Mr. M Narayanan, head of Poovar Island Resort says that there aretourists from countries like Australia, Europe and Germany. The packages offeredin these Ayurvedic spas include services like Ayurvedic oil massages, powdermassages, vegetarian diets, detoxification programs and a lifestyle change. In factit is little known that Ayurveda includes not just massages, but a whole gamut ofservices like herbal and natural diet plans, natural healing therapies, and thereforea full-fledged medical system.

Ayurveda Gram, a unique Ayurvedic Institution in Bangalore offers Ayurvedain its wellness form to medical tourists. It offers services like Customized Yoga,Pranayama, Meditation, and a vegetarian diet to boost metabolism. Its sprawlingcampus full of medicinal herbs and natural surrounds helps in the processes ofcure for specific ailments like Arthiritis, Spondilytis, Cholesterol, Sinusitis, PepticUlcer and Obesity. Other therapies by Ayurveda Gram include Stress Managementtherapies, Panchkarma and rejuvenation therapies.

AYUSH, the department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddhaand Homeopathy was formed under the Indian Medicine Central Council Act,1970. One of the most recent awareness activities undertaken by AYUSH was ahealth fair organized in parts of Hyderabad, Chennai, Indore and New Delhi. AYUSH ensured that the major Ayurvedic, Unani and Siddha manufacturers inIndia participated in this health fair.

Another famous Ayurvedic centre in India is the C V N Kalari Centre forAyurveda. Kalari is one of the approved Ayurvedic centres recognized by theKerala Tourism Department. 6 Kalari has its customers from many foreign countries. The centre specializes in Marma Chikitsa (the application of pressure on specificnerve points) and other special practices of healing. Having both therapeutic andrejuvenative aspects in them, these specialized healing procedures take extensive helpof Ayurveda to treat the ailing. Some Ayurvedic resorts have formulated Ayurvedic kitchens that help improvethe effectiveness of oil treatments. Diet regimens, detoxification programs and otherprocesses that give a glowing skin to the customer are very popular. Some of theseAyurvedic resorts also arrange for cooking classes to help their customers acquireand maintain the lifestyle that they are introduced to in these spas and resorts. Ananda, an Ayurvedic Spa in the Himalayas is one of the most famous destinationresorts in India. It offers specialty Ayurvedic packages like Aroma therapy massages,reflexology programs for rejuvenation, stress release programs, personalized Yogasessions, body composition analysis and weight reduction programs through Yogaand Ayurveda. Ananda claims that its packages and therapies cure many ailmentslike headaches, nausea, climatic disorders, facial paralysis, insomnia, asthma, neuralgiaand does general improvement of metabolism.

China

The 3000 year-old method of traditional medicine in China has gained popularityas the world’s most popular medicine, being used by more than a quarter of theworld in treating even chronic diseases like cancer, AIDS, allergies and heart diseases. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) uses medicinal herbs, therapeutic exercisesand acupuncture to cure ailments. TCM diagnoses illnesses based on the five elementstheory and the yin-yang theory. The five elements theory base their evaluation on thefive elements – wood, fire, earth, metal and water to establish a connection betweenhuman physiology and pathology and the natural environment. 7 The movement ofthese five elements constantly rules the functioning of the human body and thusestablishes the interdependence of both.

The yin-yang theory calls for comprehending the bright and dark sides ofthe universe, in other words, the opposite properties of the universe. 8 The relativenature of yin and yang represents the interrelationship between substance and function. As traditional chinese medical practitioners say “Only with amplesubstance can the human body function in a healthy way; and only when thefunctional processes are in good condition, can the essential substances beappropriately refreshed. ”

Chinese herbal medicine is more known as Chinese materia medica. This includesChinese crude medicine, prepared drugs in pieces, traditional Chinese patentedmedicines and simplified Chinese medicinal preparations. Chinese herbology, a majoraspect of TCM addresses the art of combining medicinal herbs. 10 It visualizes theentire human body’s balance of energies and spirit to treat a medical condition. Herbs are combined into different potions of various characteristics for the sake ofdifferent individuals being treated by TCM practitioners. Herbs like Astragalus,Ginkgo, Ginger, Green Tea, Siberian Ginseng and Garlic are used to treat severalailments. Around 300 mineral and animal extracts and 400 formulae are used tocure diseases, in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Acupuncture, as part of TCM is used to unblock the flow of vital energy throughthe human body. 11 One of the oldest healing techniques in the world, this traditionalmethod aims at “restoring health through simulation of specific points on the body. ”12Ailments like nausea, addictions and some kinds of pains are claimed to be treatedwith the help of acupuncture.

Taking advantage of its abundant human resources, China is luring medical touristsinto its web of alternative medical therapies. Wellness packages in China come atlow costs and without any side-effects, thanks to proliferated Traditional ChineseMedicine. Several massages and spas have been set up in recent times that providemental health and physical well-being to medical tourists with the help of Chinesemedicinal herbs. Wellness apartments are established for the purpose of servingsenior medical tourists. These wellness apartments facilitate these tourists inpractising their own hobbies and also conducting medical activities like Taiji.

Germany

Germany’s alternative medical practices have their origins in Homeopathy, amedical system that was developed by Samuel Hahnemann, a German physician. Homeopathy considers symptoms as disturbances of vital forces that haveconnection with the human body. Homeopathic advocators believe that thismedical system has the ability to cure acute diseases like flu, cold, pains, depressionand fatigue, constipation, irritability other than chronic diseases. It is claimed tocure allergies and allergic disorders like Eczema and Asthma. Moreover, thismedical system is child friendly, in the sense, that the medication given byhomeopaths is sweet to the tooth and therefore acceptable. Homeopaths are knownfor debonair and their hands free treatment of patients. They concentrate moreon the patient’s state of mind and attitude towards life. The preparation of differentpotions in Homeopathy is done mostly with the help of herbs, minerals andanimal extracts. Also, it is often reasoned that since the dosage that homeopathsprescribe is in such minute constitutions and because they come in dilutions ofsubstances like water and alcohol there is no chance of any side-effects. Germany also stands famous for its herbal remedies. Regulated by CommissionE14 on the purity and pharmaceutical activity, these herbal medicines in Germanyhave come a long way in preventing and curing many diseases like cancer, AIDS andother serious ailments. Most physicians in Germany are required to be educated inAlternative therapies, so that it serves complimentary to modern medical treatments. As Mark Blumenthal, chairman of the American Botanical Council points out, “Mostof the clinical research that’s conducted on the leading herbal medicines in the UnitedStates comes from Germany. ”15

With more than 300 spa towns, Germany has become the premier destinationfor health and wellness in Europe. 16 One of the most famous resorts in Germanyis the Baltic Spa Resort in Warnemunde. Situated on the shore of the Baltic Sea,it idealizes the sea as a “homeopathic pharmacy” and claims that “it contains allimportant trace elements and has a similar composition to human blood”17 Sea water is said to have revitalizing effects in treating bodily ailments like respiratoryillnesses, sleep disorders and obesity. Other than these, mental disorders likedepression, anxiety and agony are claimed to be cured with the help of the sea. Sea breeze is said to be specifically effective in treating cardio-vascular as well asdermatological conditions. Major advantages that Germany faces are in terms ofboth cost and quality. As Axel Steller, the CEO of the Arab German HealthFoundation points out, “In the US, operations are four to five times more expensiveas they are in Germany”.

Japan

Japanese medicine is known as Kanpo or Kampo, a herbal medicine that forms partof well-researched modern clinical methods and also traditional methods ofmedicine. A Japanese variant of the traditional Chinese medicine or the Orientalmedicine, Kanpo adheres to the body’s natural instincts and natural mechanismof healing. For this purpose, medical treatment involves diagnosis of the tongue,abdomen and pulse. At each stage of the treatment, different formulae that arenecessary to bring the body back to normalcy, are prepared by the physician. These herbal medicines are regulated by the Japanese Government. Kanpomedicine is used to cure many acute and chronic ailments like cardio-vascular,respiratory, digestive, reproductive and dermatological conditions and immunesystem corrections and even disorders like bedwetting, high cholesterol andhepatitis. Though Kanpo therapies take longer than usual to work, this medicalsystem uses some very natural diagnosis and treatment methods and conceptslike water, blood and air to identify bodily symptoms. Also, it is claimed thatthese herbal medicines produce no side-effects because of their naturalcompositions. Japanese therapists of Anma visit countries like India and Singaporeto help in promotion of health tourism. Anma, a traditional Japanese massage, issaid to be a complete form of Shiastu19 that treats the body to release blood flowin a proper manner to rejuvenate the body.

Apart from attracting tourists for its natural herbal medical treatments, Medicaltourism in Japan has become popular thanks to its volcanic areas that have allowedthe formation of some hot mineral water springs called Onsen. Japanese Onsen serve as places where the ailing can get alternative treatments to modern medicalpractices. These have medicinal properties that heal wounds, alleviate pains andreplenish energy levels. Senior tourists and people suffering from many kinds ofaches and pains come flocking to these mineral water springs. The healingproperties of these springs are accentuated by the surrounding volcanic soil thatis composed of many minerals and curative elements.

Outlook of Medical Tourism in Alternative Medicine

Alternative medicine is here to stay, claim some traditional medical practitioners. Given its perceived advantages over the modern medical techniques and the expensivewestern medicines, alternative medical therapy is gaining ground in many developingas well as developed countries. Practices like Ayurveda and Homeopathy claim thatsurgery may always be the last option in case of treatment of an ailment. Naturalmedicines like herbs and minerals can all be partaken as food and not medicines assuch, since their composition is all natural. Alternative medicine is used in conjunctionwith modern medicine to treat many chronic ailments like diabetes and AIDS. Thishelps modern medical practitioners to evolve a closer relationship with the patientand cure him to a greater extent, thus giving him a new perspective to life. It followsthat one should never overlook the disposition of the traditional cures suggested byour ancestors. These provide a standpoint from where one can comprehend theprofundity of traditional and alternative medicine, and gauge the tremendous potentialof alternative medicine in medical tourism.

Please seek author’s permission for reprint. Send a reprint request to kirrti82@gmail. com.

References1. www. hinduonnet. com2. “Kerala”, www. takekerala. com3. “Prospects of Medical Tourism in India”, www. mpiweb. org4. “Medical Tourism push for Penang and Langkawi”, http://thestar. com. my5. www. wikipedia. com

In the rapidly changing field of medical many advances have taken place. With the passage of time and evolution in medical techniques, technologies and trends medical tourism has become one of the largest and beneficial term in the field of medical health and care. Medical tourism provides a closer view of ever changing medical trends and technologies. Medical tourism has strengthened its roots and has become one the main stream growing industry of the world.  Having considered its benefits over 50 countries have recognized medical tourism as a national industry. It is now easier for people to know the advance medical techniques and facilities. Ever developing system of web has made it even easier to make a plan ready for your medical treatment anywhere in the world. As many companies related to the industry of medical tourism have launched their medical travel health and care packages and programs with the list of renown doctors at their URL. You can start your journey by just sending a simple mail to any medical tourism related company and they are always ready to facilitate your trip for medical treatment.

Many advances have taken place in the rapidly changing medical field. With the passage of time and evolution in the techniques, technologies and trends, medical tourism has become one of the largest and most beneficial sector in the field of medical health technologies. Medical tourism has strengthened its roots and is a ever growing sector in many economies today. Having considered its benefits, more than fifty nations worldwide has recognized Medical tourism as a national industry and continue to support its growth. With the advent of the internet and other social media marketing networks, it makes knowledge even more accessible and choices aplenty. Many companies in the field of medical tourism have long since launched their portals and websites listing renown doctors, hospitals and services available. The initiation of a medical tourism trip today is just a click away! Information at your fingertips!

Through the marketing initiatives of those involved in the medical tourism industry, the world gets to know sooner and clearer about the benefits and advancements in the field of medicine. A patient can have access to much information on various illnesses and treatments available. Because medical tourism is recognized, patients today have the option of choosing where and with whom they would like their treatment to be done. Cost is also a major factor which makes people cross borders for better health. Many travel agents today include wellness packages while promoting a destination and it’s the efforts are not all in vain. This way the patient gets medical treatment as well as a holiday thrown in.

http://www. wellnessvisit. com

Medical tourism industry is growing day by day and with this evolutionary change in medical field now more and more patients are looking forward to locate the destination where they can get the quality and less expensive medical treatment. Now travel for medical treatment is no longer a difficult task to accomplish many medical tourism provider companies are working around the world to give the best possible benefits of medical tourism to overseas patients. And with the competition in the field of medical tourism, sense of cost effective and beneficial medical tourism is also increasing in the patients. www. wellnessvisit. com the leading medical tourism provider company gives you a comprehensive account of what kind of benefits and complications can come in the way of a medical traveler.

Benefits of medical tourism industry to overseas patients are numerous. First of all one can plan a cost effective medical treatment anywhere around the world through medical tourism. One can find the accredited hospitals with latest equipment and modern procedure through medical tourism. More and more doctors, surgeons and consultants are joining the medical tourism industry, giving consultancy online to educate the patient about the disease, and the purpose is one and that is to meet the challenges of medical health and care in a best available way. Moreover medical tourism companies are integrated information portals on medical procedures. Research articles are being published every day at URL of medical tourism providers, and that helps patients to get a general idea of the disease and its best available treatment.

There are many risks involved in traveling for medical treatment. First of all you have to meet many legal issues while traveling abroad for medical treatment. And if someone has to fly soon after any complex surgery due to the restricted stay several complications are obvious like blood clots and many others. It is a hard procedure to get medical insurance in many western countries for several cosmetic surgery procedures. In several Western countries the medical travel can be very costly due to the visa fee and expensive medical procedures. One should have knowledge the hospital he has chosen for his medical tourism trip is accredited and the surgeons and doctors there are experienced in their field and have proper credentials. Risks can be minimized if one has proper knowledge of his disease and the steps to fallow during medical travel. www. wellnessvisit. com leading source of information about medical tourism Malaysia provides overseas patients chance to come to Malaysia for several modern treatments less expensively, in well equipped hospitals and from the top professional doctors and surgeon of Malaysia.

http://www. wellnessvisit. com

A lot of people go traveling for pleasure while others travel on business and still others go to another country for an extended period of time like the Snowbirds, or to work or to study. Canadians coming back to the country or those who have just arrived in the country may not be immediately eligible for the government medical plan so it would be wise to opt for Canada medical travel insurance in order to get coverage. No matter what the reason might be to be insured, it is very important to opt for medical travel insurance Canada and it would be very foolish to go to another country without taking any kind of insurance. Insurance like the Canada medical travel insurance is an absolute must. If you think you can take a chance and believe that it will never be you who will meet with a crisis you are being very unrealistic. You never know when you might be faced with an emergency situation which requires you to get immediate medical attention or even air-lifting. But if you have planned ahead for such emergencies by taking a medical travel insurance Canada then there is nothing to worry as the premium you will be paying will be just a fraction of the cost that you would normally be asked to cough up if you have no insurance at all. So the key then is to plan in advance and buy the coverage that is right for you. Make sure you do your homework properly to know what your options are. The unforeseen costs that can crop up if you do not have Canada medical travel insurance are enough to ruin the rest of your holiday. The health care system in Canada is among the best that you can find anywhere in the world. You can rest assured that you will be in good hands. Regarding the medical travel insurance Canada there are quite a few packages that you can select from. The Canada medical travel insurance could include ambulances, emergency medical care, emergency returning home or travel with a bedside companion. Besides some of the medical travel insurance Canada might include emergency dental care, accident protection, subsistence benefits and emergency allowance. Most of the medical travel insurance Canada companies provide you coverage as soon as you land in Canada. However, some of the Canada medical travel insurance companies might start coverage right from the starting point of departure in your home country. This could be a good solution for those who travel on long flights with several stopovers. If there is an emergency at home and you have to cut short your vacation, you can get a refund for the unused portion of the trip from your travel insurance Canada company provided you have not made a claim and if you have not made any claims at all, some of them even allow you to extend the plan for up to two years.

Dictionary. com defines outsourcing as “a practice used by different companies to reduce costs by transferring portions of work to outside suppliers rather than completing it internally”. The term which has been generally associated with the automobile industry was popularized during the past decade by the computer or IT industry. But when it is the health industry in question, how does outsourcing work there? What is outsourced and how?

If you are thinking it’s the drug manufacturing that is outsourced, you are wrong. Nor is it the bookkeeping that is outsourced. What is outsourced is the patient himself or rather he chooses to have his treatment done offshore. The driving cause is the high cost of health care in his home country. Or in certain other cases, the long waits before he can get the needed treatment.

So, medical outsourcing or offshore medical which is also commonly known as medical tourism is the practice of seeking health care abroad. But, who provides these outsourcing services?

There are lots of offshore health care providers in the form of hospitals and clinics participating in this business. Some of them can be found on the other side of the border while others may be a few oceans across. Examples include those in India, Singapore, Thailand, Mexico, Turkey, Panama, Costa Rica, Brazil, Argentina, Belgium, and so on. Some of them give excellent service – even superior to what you can get at home using the latest technology and by world-renowned surgeons – while others may not be as great. To show their commitment towards top quality, many providers also have international accreditations like JCI, JACHO, ISO, etc. Some have strategic alliances with well-known US health care providers like Cleveland Clinic, Harvard Medical International and Johns Hopkins.

International health care providers are able to provide you with high quality treatment at an affordable cost mainly because of low labor cost, low administrative cost, low malpractice cost and low living cost in their country. That’s the same reason why IT companies started outsourcing.

Now the obvious question arises – how do you find the right provider for your needs? The answer is do research. There are lots of resources available – news, articles, blogs, forums, testimonials, etc. Many people find it useful to work with a health tourism facilitator or medical tourism facilitator like Healthbase (http://www. healthbase. com). They are specialized facilitators who carefully screen and partner with international healthcare providers that meet up to the high standards of patients from the US, the UK, Canada, etc. They also help patients with all the logistics involved in getting a surgery abroad.

There are a few other things that you will need to do for a successful experience in getting your surgery overseas. Getting into the details of all of them is beyond the scope of this article. Here are some of them: doing a thorough research on the surgery in question to establish your suitability for it as well as for medical tourism, getting to learn about your medical travel destination, arranging all your medical records and sending them to the international hospital, securing passport and visa, booking tickets, and more. You may want to start here: http://www. healthbase. com/resources/medical-tourism/medical-tourism-information.

Earlier, people would go abroad mostly for elective cosmetic procedures which were not covered by insurances. Today, people outsource their orthopedic procedures as well as cardiac surgeries as well as organ transplants. It’s not just individuals who are interested in this trend to save money. Medical outsourcing has also received attention from health insurance companies who have started offering overseas treatment plans to expand their customer base, and from employers who have included it as a benefit to their employees.

At the time of writing this article, neither Merriam Webster nor Dictionary. com had an entry for “medical outsourcing”. But given the speed with which the trend is spreading, pretty soon they will have to update their dictionaries.

You can learn more about medical outsourcing, the details of the process, international healthcare providers and arrange your surgery by logging on to http://www. healthbase. com. Healthbase. com is a medical tourism facilitator committed to providing low-cost high quality medical travel services to the global medical consumer.

When you plan a vacation is important to be prepared for multiple contingencies. A trip can turn bad at any moment and if you are prepared for the inevitable you can deal with things far better. Visitors medical insurance is not something that should be taken lightly, especially if you are someone elderly with a medical condition that needs attention.

When you travel abroad the health care costs will vary. Especially in the U. S. the costs of medical care are quite expensive and if you take a good insurance policy you will find it far lighter on your pockets. When you are a well informed traveler you can protect your family and be less vulnerable in the event of an emergency situation.

When you look at visitors medical insurance coverage for a trip you also need to pay for it based on the days or months for which you require it while abroad. Date from which you are covered can be the day when you leave your home country or a date that you have requested for.

When you wish to claim, you will need to provide all the documents to your insurance company such as doctor’s bills, reports and any other documents that may be required as proof. Make sure you keep all of these safety and with the necessary signatures and seals in place for your insurance company. Do not dispose of any receipts until you have filed a claim and received remuneration for it.

Consider all the factors that will affect the costs involved in your visitors health insurance. You could be paying based on age, type of coverage necessary, how much you are willing to pay as deductible and the rider factor. The rider factor refers to whether you will be undertaking any risky activities on your trip such as rock climbing, paragliding, sky diving and so on.

Discuss the terms with your insurance agent, give them a clear picture and find out all you need to know so there are no unpleasant surprises in the end. You will need to also furnish information such as your medical history so that any preexisting conditions can be ruled out. There may also be certain conditions which are not included under the covered category of your insurance, have good clarity about what this entails.

Check to see how much is the maximum amount the company will pay as coverage for your policy. This will give you a clear picture of where you stand. Visitor’s medical insurance need not be too expensive if you can spend enough time gathering pertinent information before making a final decision on things.

If you are in transition or traveling between offices a six month visitor’s medical insurance can work until you get a full policy. This will work well as a stop gap arrangement. In most cases a visitor’s medical insurance lets you visit any specialist once you are pre-certified by the company.

If you suffer from leaking bladder accidents when you cough or laugh or sneeze, or if you have the urge of going to the bathroom all the time, you are not alone. Millions of people across all ages, both genders and all races are affected by this common problem that is termed urinary incontinence (UI), a loss of bladder control. The good news is that the underlying medical condition causing urinary incontinence is almost always treatable and today it is possible to get affordable treatment overseas through medical tourism.

 

URINARY INCONTINENCE TYPES AND TREATMENTS

Though urinary incontinence can be classified into several types, its three main types are: stress, urge and overflow.

Stress incontinence occurs during certain activities like coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercise, and is most commonly caused by weak pelvic floor muscles.

Urge incontinence or overactive incontinence involves a sudden urge to urinate followed by instant bladder contraction and involuntary loss of urine, and occurs regardless of the amount of urine that is in the bladder.

Overflow incontinence is the constant dribbling of urine usually associated with urinating frequently and in small amounts, and may be caused by weak bladder muscles or a blocked urethra.

Depending on the cause, type and severity of urinary incontinence as well as your lifestyle, treatment approaches available to you may include weight loss, exercises, medications, bladder retraining (timed voiding), biofeedback, electrical stimulation, and if all else fails, then surgery.

 

MEDICAL TOURISM

Medical tourism is the act of traveling from one city to another within your country (domestic medical tourism) or to another country by crossing international borders (overseas medical tourism) to obtain medical care that is either not available or not affordable at your local provider. The popularity of medical tourism is largely due to the availability of high quality care at a highly discounted price.

Healthcare providers participating in medical tourism boast of modern facilities with state-of-the-art equipments and technologies, and surgeons who are trained or educated in the US or Europe – all this at a cost that’s 60% to 90% cheaper compared to typical US hospital rates.

 

SURGICAL TREATMENT OF INCONTINENCE ABROAD

Several procedures are offered abroad for the surgical treatment of all types of incontinence – stress, urge, overflow, mixed, etc.

For curing stress incontinence in women, sling procedures such as Tension-free transvaginal (TVT) sling, Transobturator tape (TOT) sling and Mini-sling procedure are available overseas. Another type of procedure for stress incontinence treatment offered abroad is bladder neck suspension procedure which includes Marshall-Marchetti-Krantz procedure (MMK procedure) or a variant of it called Burch procedure.

To treat severe urge incontinence, procedures offered overseas include augmentation cystoplasty or a newer procedure called sacral nerve stimulation.

For the treatment of urinary incontinence in men, some of the procedures available abroad include artificial urinary sphincter, male sling, and urinary diversion.

 

MEDICAL TOURISM DESTINATIONS FOR INCONTINENCE SURGERY

Some of the most popular countries that patients from the United States travel to for urinary incontinence procedures are Mexico, India, Singapore and Thailand.

Apart from the considerably lower cost of surgery, Mexico is preferred for another obvious reason – its close proximity to the United States. This means shorter travel times and more convenience for the medical tourist.

Singapore’s high quality of care along with the large concentration of internationally accredited hospitals in the country play a major role in its demand in the medical tourism market for incontinence surgery. Furthermore, English being the official language of the country makes communication with your international provider easy.

But, if you want the best value for your money then India is the answer. The medical tourism hotspot offers prices on procedures that are unbeatable. For instance, a TVT or a TOT procedure, inclusive of the hospital charges and the doctor’s fees, costs approximately USD2,500*.

Also note that urinary incontinence surgery abroad typically involves a 2-3 day stay at the hospital followed by a 3-6 day of recuperation or rehab at a nearby hotel before returning home.

 

So, if an incontinence surgery is what your local doctor has recommended and treatment abroad is what you wish to seek, then get your local doctor’s report along with any and all reports of diagnostic tests and then call upon a reputed medical tourism facilitator such as Healthbase for a consultation with an overseas incontinence specialist of your choice.

 

*Note: The price mentioned is for rough planning purposes only. The actual price charged may vary based on your specific medical condition, the provider chosen, currency fluctuations or for any other reason. Transportation, hotel accommodation and food are not included in the price.

The Medical Benefits of a good travel medical insurance policy are probably the main reason in-the-know travelers buy it. Your travel medical insurance policy will have hospital room and board, intensive care, extensive medical expenses, outpatient medical, local ambulance, prescription drugs, emergency room accident and more. It will have all of the elements of the health insurance you have at home plus many benefits designed specifically for travelers.

The hospital room and board benefit should pay up to the policy maximum for the average semi-private room rate. Your Intensive Care will be paid up to the policy maximum. Your Medical Expenses will also be paid up to the policy maximum. Outpatient Medical expenses will also be paid up to the policy maximum. If you use a Local Ambulance it will be paid up to the policy maximum. Your Prescription drugs will be paid  up to the policy maximum. If you go to the Emergency Room due to an accident it will be paid  up to the policy maximum. If you go to the Emergency Room (not due to an accident) and are admitted as an in-patient it will be paid  up to the policy maximum.  If, however, you go to the Emergency Room and are not admitted as an in-patient then there will be a $250 deductible and the remainder will be paid  up to the policy maximum. There is a Dental benefit which will pay  up to the policy maximum for emergency dental treatment when there is an injury due to an accident, it will also pay up to $100 for necessary treatment when there is Sudden Dental Pain.

Notice that you keep seeing “up to the policy maximum”. Just exactly what does that mean? Well, each travel medical insurance policy has a maximum amount that the insurance company will pay out during the policy period. So “up to the policy maximum” simply means that the company will pay until the policy maximum has been reached. That is why it is important for you to select the policy maximum that you feel comfortable with. I usually opt for the $500,000 policy maximum as I feel that it is sufficient to cover whatever may happen. But that’s just me, you might feel comfortable with a lesser maximum or a high maximum. Most good travel medical insurance plans give you the option of selecting a maximum of from $50,000 to $2,000,000 or more.

Given all of the Medical Benefits I’ve mentioned here you can see why a good Travel Medical Insurance policy is an essential for anyone traveling overseas whether it be for a business trip or a vacation. So remember, don’t leave home without a good travel medical insurance policy. You can find out how to get your travel insurance on-line at http://www. globaltravelcoverage. com or contact the agent there using their contact form.

Thank you for your time and I hope that you read more of my articles in the future.