Surgery overseas

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Rebecca

Well-known member
Joined
May 5, 2003
Messages
293
Location
Georgia
Surgery overseas

Starting on page 191 in October 2007 ?Good Housekeeping? magazine is a good article on overseas surgery. Heart valve replacement U.S. $150,000, India $9,000, Thailand $10,000, Singapore $12,500, Malaysia $9,000
 
I just found this. I'm really surprised nobody has responded yet.

Isn't it interesting how the cost in the U.S. is so bloated vs the costs in other countries.

I heard yesterday that our life span in the U.S. is not as long as quite a few other countries and found that puzzling since our medical world is so advanced! Or is it? Maybe buying the most expensive tool in the store isn't the best one? However, I am very happy that our medical community did such a good job for me.
 
Here's my $150,000.:) I have chatted with and read post from people all over the world thanks to this wonderful site. And there is no doubt that the US is not the only place to receive top notch OHS. But I have noticed that there seems to be a huge difference in access to medical professionals here and abroad. If I have a problem or concern I have almost instant access to a physician. I have the office, home and cell phone numbers of my PCP and cardiologist, and I have used them.

It seems that there are places where patients have to wait (what seems to me) an unacceptable length of time for consultations, test and even surgery. I know that the total pay out for my OHS was far less than the original bill with all of the insurance discounts. I also know that individuals can negotiate with hospitals, surgeons etc. on charges.

I am not saying that the US is "better" than everywhere else but I am happy with the care that I have received.
 
Cooker wrote:

"I have the office, home and cell phone numbers of my PCP and cardiologist, and I have used them."

UNBELIEVABLE !!!

I have the Cell Phone number of my Cardio's Nurse and I'm lucky if she ever calls me back for a non-life-threatening event or question.

This sounds like a good Question for a POLL:

How accessable is your PCP, Cardiologist, Surgeon ?

'AL Capshaw'
 
There is a lady in our church community that is heading over to India for a hip replacement. I would not rule out such a trip myself if I was without insurance. Articles in our local papers have really had nothing bad to say about the quality of surgery or care given to patients that have made the long trip. I have only had contact with my surgeon once since I left the hospital and that was within the first week or ten days. I think it is a viable alternative and although inconvenient (big time inconvenient:) ) I think it makes corrective surgery possible to some for whom it would otherwise be financially prohibitive.
 
Interesting Issue

Interesting Issue

I think there have been a number of points raise here.
US shouldn't be compared with third world countries, the cost structure is completely different, however US health costs are not even comparable to Western European or Australian costs. Australian costs are only about 33% of US costs and from someone?s post a while ago, their visit to the ER in Germany was also only a fraction of the US cost. As I noted recently the valve prosthesis costs about AUD 4.5K in Australia yet I have read on VR people being charged up to USD 25K, ~AUD 30K and this is for a valve usually made in the US. Manufactures are not selling them in Australia for a loss!! Someone in the US system is making an exorbitant margin!!

hensylee
I heard yesterday that our life span in the U.S. is not as long as quite a few other countries and found that puzzling since our medical world is so advanced!
The average life span in the US must be impacted by the 20% of the population with no insurance and therefore very limited access to medical and pharmaceutical treatments.

bvdr
The only people that go to third world places for surgery from Australia are those wanting cosmetic surgery which isn't covered by the national health system. They are wanting it done cheap. There appears to be a constant stream of horror stories in the media about procedures that have gone wrong especially in Thailand.
 
Every time I read about comparing the US with the rest of the world in terms of medical health care I ask myself....if the US is so bad, how come people from Kings. Prime Ministers, Presidents to CEO?s who can go any place to get the best, come to the US rather than going to India or Thailand
 
Another way of lookig at this cost...Could it be that $10,000 to the average person in Thailand is as much as $100,000 to the average person in the USA?The cost of living here and the wages may be much higher than over there.
 

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