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For Medical Tourists, Simple Math

nytimes.com

1–10 of 61 posts

Re: For Medical Tourists, Simple Math

#2
So I get that by cutting out the insurer you are saving some funds, but where does the rest of the difference come from? Are the hospital rooms and surgeons so much cheaper because everyone in those countries pay them rather than just the few people who actually use their services?

Re: For Medical Tourists, Simple Math

#3
It would be interesting to see a breakdown of what really accounts for the majority of the price differences. This article mentions some things in passing but ultimately doesn't conclude with the main quantitative insights.

Re: For Medical Tourists, Simple Math

#5
Who's interesting in doing a healthcare tourism startup? Especially if you know the medical system well. Serious. Hit me up.

My wife has gone to Russia twice for dental work (her home country). Was a fraction of the quotes here, including airfare.

Re: For Medical Tourists, Simple Math

#6
post #5

Who's interesting in doing a healthcare tourism startup? Especially if you know the medical system well. Serious. Hit me up. My wife has gone to Russia twice for dental work (her home country). Was a fraction of the quotes here, including airfare.

I second the idea. Had lots of dental work done in latin america a few years ago. Probably saved about 70% on dental costs + we had a nice vacation.

What about liability?

Re: For Medical Tourists, Simple Math

#7
So what are the negatives? This NYT article reads like a PR piece for medical tourism... What about malpractice insurance in Belgium/Poland and what happens if there are problems down the road with TFA's hip implant?

Re: For Medical Tourists, Simple Math

#8
post #3

It would be interesting to see a breakdown of what really accounts for the majority of the price differences. This article mentions some things in passing but ultimately doesn't conclude with the main quantitative insights.

Most of the difference here is that our hospitals have to fob off the money they lose from treating patients without health care onto those that do. They charge a lot more because every 5th or 6th person coming into the emergency room has no health care, must be given treatment, and will never be able to pay for it. Thus, we all take on that burden through a backdoor, round the corner, through the mailslot, rather than just by dealing with it and giving everyone health care....

Re: For Medical Tourists, Simple Math

#9
post #7

So what are the negatives? This NYT article reads like a PR piece for medical tourism... What about malpractice insurance in Belgium/Poland and what happens if there are problems down the road with TFA's hip implant?

I don't know about insurance malpractices but how this malpractice outweigh or even relevant to this topic. And also out of of curiosity does USA hospital give guarantee of not having any problem with implants.

Re: For Medical Tourists, Simple Math

#10
post #5

Who's interesting in doing a healthcare tourism startup? Especially if you know the medical system well. Serious. Hit me up. My wife has gone to Russia twice for dental work (her home country). Was a fraction of the quotes here, including airfare.

It could work if it was accredited/malpractice was covered somehow, then just make a hospital in Mexico or the Bahamas. Of course it would need to be less expensive than the USA, have better outcomes, and have the same level of legal responsibility...we are a very litigious nation.
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