By David Badour, Director of Client Services, Satori World Medical

A few weeks ago I attended the Imperial County Office of Education’s 3^rd Annual Health Fair. Satori World Medical had a booth at the health fair and I was able to meet with many employees and discuss their new global healthcare benefit. I was even able to meet up with one of Satori’s former patients; her testimonial video can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dmFIKZSAEw&feature=player_embedded. Check out some of the photos from the event below:

By Kristen Montez, Director of Legal & Regulatory Services, Satori World Medical

A health plan typically chooses a medical travel benefit for 1) the exceptional quality of care accessible overseas 2) and the financial savings.

But “what if there is a complication, or the patient needs additional medical treatment abroad?”, a common question asked by our health plan clients. Will the anticipated savings be absorbed by the additional treatment? The typical lawyer answer “it depends” is incorrect. Depending on the medical travel facilitator, most likely the savings will not be eaten by the costs incurred for the additional treatment.

Satori World Medical offers all its self-insured health plan clients a stop loss insurance policy. This policy provides significant financial protection for the client in the event that the patient requires additional medical treatment stemming from the medical procedure they received when abroad. This type of coverage does not cover a patient’s decision to receive voluntary additional treatment in another country; it only will cover additional treatment that is medically necessary. The amount of stop loss coverage available depends upon the specific policy, but regardless of what you use, your goal to limit the employer’s financial responsibility is achieved.

For example, a medical travel facilitator’s stop loss policy may limit a client’s maximum responsibility to $50,000 in total medical travel expenses. Total medical travel expenses include:

1. The initial approved medical procedure and travel expenses for the patient and companion
2. Any additional required medical treatment and the expenses for the modified travel arrangements for the companion and patient.

In this scenario, once the total medical travel expenses exceed $50,000, the stop loss insurance that the facilitator provides will kick in for the next $100,000 worth of expenses. Therefore, the client will potentially be responsible for a maximum of $50,000 in total medical travel expenses — still far less than the average U.S. cost of $75,000 for a lumbar laminectomy with fusion alone, without additional medical treatment.

To read all of my legal blog posts, click here.

By Kevin Poling, Director of Travel & Patient Services, Satori World Medical

When traveling to another country it is easy to over pack because you want to be prepared for any situation. Some things however are better left at home. Also, you want to make sure you leave certain things behind with friends or family so there is a record if the original is lost.

1)      Jewelry and expensive electronics. Fancy jewelry can make you an easy target for getting robbed and although most hotel rooms have safes, it is better not to risk it. The same goes for expensive electronics; they are at a risk for being stolen and also add unnecessary bulk and weight to your luggage.

2) Social security card. When traveling, remember to take unnecessary items out of your wallet that you would normally carry around, such as your social security card. The less you have, the less you will have to replace if the wallet/purse goes missing.

3) Copies of U.S. passport. In case you lose your passport or it becomes stolen, it is advisable to leave a photocopy back at home so that someone that you know can give you the necessary information you need when trying to remedy the situation. Also you can make another copy and keep it in your safe as an extra precaution. For more helpful passport tips, click here.

4) Copies of credit cards. Like your passport, in case a credit card becomes lost or stolen, photocopies should be made of the credit cards you plan to bring with you while traveling, and given to a friend or family member back home for reference. However, try and bring as few credit cards as possible as a precaution.

5) Travel itinerary. In case an emergency were to happen whether at home or where you are traveling, it is helpful to leave a copy of your travel itinerary with loved ones back home. This way it will be easier to locate you in case you need to be reached urgently.

To read all of my travel tips, click here.

Safe Travels,

Kevin

By Kristen Montez, Director of Legal & Regulatory Services, Satori World Medical

A misconception about medical travel is what I call the “doc won’t touch me myth”. Some U.S. patients seeking medical treatment abroad are concerned their U.S.-based providers won’t see them for post-op care upon their return. I am not sure why this myth exists but I can easily dispel it.

As a former medical malpractice defense attorney, many providers are more than willing to treat patients who are injured, weak and sick as the result of another provider’s negligence. The negligent providers practiced right here in the U.S. and their patients that filed suit sustained significant injury. However, many of these patients sought care by other providers after the negligence occurred. They simply had to in order to heal. Based on my review of the medical records when defending the cases, these providers treated the injured patients without hesitance and often improved their quality of life exceeding the original dismal prognoses.

If these providers are willing to treat a victim of medical negligence, your U.S.-based provider will most likely treat you after you return from receiving treatment abroad. To alleviate any concern about receiving treated when you return, Satori World Medical always schedules your follow-up appointment with your U.S.-based provider—before you even board the plane to receive treatment abroad. So you can be rest assured you will receive the follow-up care you require from a more than willing U.S.-based provider.

To read all my legal perspective blog posts, click here.