By Jessica Yarbrough, Marketing & Communications Manager
Satori World Medical

More and more American consumers are seeking high-quality healthcare outside the U.S. in order to dramatically reduce their medical expenses on certain high-cost surgical procedures.  This trend, most commonly referred to as medical travel or medical tourism, has also propelled a national interest among U.S. employers seeking innovative ways to reduce their employee healthcare costs.  By including a global healthcare benefit option, employers can save 40-80% on high-cost surgical procedures.  The savings are so dramatic that the employer or financial sponsor will waive any out-of-pocket expenses for the employee receiving care.  For many Americas, medical travel is an appealing and cost-effective option to receiving care.  But what items should consumers look for when considering a medical travel company?

• Quality Assurance: While high-quality care is available at many hospitals around the world, not all medical travel programs offer the same level of quality. Therefore, it is important to be familiar with all aspects of the company’s quality assurance program. For instance, as a baseline, choose a medical travel company that only contracts with international hospitals accredited by Joint Commission International (JCI), an arm of the U.S. hospital-accrediting body, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).   JCI sets over 350 standards of excellence for international hospitals to meet that ensure the quality and safety of patient care.
• Out-of-Pocket Costs: Not every medical travel program is all-inclusive. Therefore, it is essential to understand what is included in the cost of your care.  For example, does the cost include roundtrip airfare and hotel accommodations?  What about travel costs for a companion?  Are there any out-of-pocket costs such as deductibles or co-pays that you may incur?
• Current Coverage: There are now medical travel programs available to U.S. employers, which can be easily added as a benefit option to their employees’ existing health plan.   Many programs can be added without any recurring cost or network access fee to the employer.  Ask your HR manager or benefits advisor if this is a covered benefit.  If you don’t already have a medical travel/global benefit option, ask about adding one to your company’s benefit plan design.  
• Patient Support Systems: Making the decision to receive surgery outside of the U.S. can be a challenging decision, therefore, it is important to work with a medical travel company that has a strong patient advocacy and support program in place. Specific attributes to look for include access to registered nurses who can guide you through the process in coordinating your care, facilitating your medical record transfer and scheduling your follow-up care with your U.S. physician.