Cross Barrel Racing

Posted April 7, 2010 By admin

Cross Barrel Racing

Use your health savings account to pay for international travel

Medical tourism has started to become popular in the 1990s, when people began traveling in large numbers to Brazil for cosmetic surgery. But costs have continued to rise, thousands of Americans have traveled overseas for real medical conditions, such as knee replacement, the bypass operations, heart valve replacement, and other serious problems. Many countries are seeing medical tourism as a good way to bring in foreign currency.

In many cases the quality of medicines available abroad is equal to the best hospitals in the United States among patients go to places like the Apollo Hospital Hyderabad, India, which is part of a chain of 36-hospital founded by a cardiologist from Massachusetts General. A replacement heart valve may cost $ 50,000 to $ 100,000 in the United States, and only $ 12,000 in India, including travel costs.

Escorts Heart Institute and research Center in New Delhi, India, is another popular medical tourist destination. It was founded by Dr. Naresh Trehan, an authority for robotic cardiac surgery formerly based at New York University.

href = "http://www.health--savings--accounts.com/blue-cross-blue-shield.htm"> Blue Cross Blue Shield has announced it will pay for treatment at Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand for individuals South Carolina. More than 80,000 Americans received treatment last year. The hospital has more than 200 of its doctors are a certificate of the United States, and will perform a knee replacement operation, 20 percent of what it would cost the United States

Who that?

Dodie Gilmore is a 60-year rodeo Racecourse barrel of Oklahoma. It runs a 180 acre ranch, but could not ride, because she needed a hip replacement. His health insurance had an exclusion that does not cover her operation, and she had really do not want to pay the $ 35,000 it would cost. Instead, she and her partner flew to India where she had surgery at the Max Orthopedics and joint replacement.

His doctor is Dr. Maria SKS, which on average a patient American hip weekly. Dodie total coast, including travel, was only $ 11,000. She even managed to take a tour of the Taj Mahal.

Forty to sixty percent of respondents said they would consider surgery abroad if it could save $ 5,000 or more. Exit U.S. (Perhaps only in Mexico), could be a useful strategy if you have a waiver of exclusion on your policy if you have surgery elective are not covered by your insurance policy, or if you have a high deductible plan.

What is the risk?

The Institute of Medicine, over 100,000 accidental deaths occur in hospitals each year. And it is here in the U.S. hospitals is a dangerous place to be, and you want to spend as little of your life in one can. So there is risk everywhere, and probably more risk Outside U.S.

But the magic of free-market does give you some protection. There are a lot of money flowing to countries and international hospitals to practice medicine as high quality. If a hospital does not provide a quality service, you can bet its customers will go elsewhere, especially if they choose from anywhere in the world.

The influx of foreign patients (and money) is more attractive Western-trained doctors to go home, so the choices are actually increasing, and the quality and prices continue to improve. I think if you use care in choosing your provider and the structure of your treatment, the risks are no more than having surgery here in the U.S.

How to Research Your Options

Keep in mind that most health insurance plans will not cover care outside the United States, especially if you travel in particular for medical care. So, check with your insurer if the cost of treatment will exceed your deductible.

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations certifies hospitals here in the U.S. Their division International Joint Commission International, certifies hospitals throughout the world. Make sure the facility you are considering has been certified by them.

Then consult your doctor. Confirm that he or she speaks English, and was trained in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia or Germany.

Finally, consider hiring a consultant to help you choose the best hospital and surgeon for your needs. A good service will not only established treatment, but can also arrange all travel plans, meet you at the airport, and act as your liaison while you are being treated.

If you spend money from your savings account to pay for health care medical international, the amount you withdraw is tax free. Health Savings Account regulations also allow you to cover the cost of your travel, if the purpose of your trip to get medical care are not "for purely personal reasons."

When choosing how to manage your health, you should carefully consider all options. Travel International is a great option for people with health Savings Accounts.

About the Author

By Wiley Long - President, HSA for America (http://www.health--savings--accounts.com) - The nation's leading independent health insurance firm specializing in individual and family coverage that works with a Health Savings Account.

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