It would have to depend on what you were having done and what country you are talking about.  Also, who is the doctor.  We have bad doctors right here (not many but there are a few).

I don't think I'd go to Mexico for plastic surgery like a lot of Americans do.  They do not have the same standards in those border clinics that we have here.  Heart surgery in India?  Maybe.  I would have to know more about the hospital and the staff and it's record but to save $88,000 I might if I was convinced it was safe.  Heck, that same doctor who might operate on me in India in 5 years could be the surgeon I would see today at University Hospital.

I would!  But then again, I know how safe it can be!  =)  I have "been there, done that" and started my Medical Concierge, Medical Tourism as it is now called, services more than 5 years ago in Brazil after my own plastic surgery procedures and body reconstruction following gastric bypass and a weight loss of 170 pounds!  

I not only orientate my North American peers now through the whole process, from initial inquiry about techniques, preparing and receiving pre-op lab work and screening, creating individualized Treatment Plans for them and helping them with tix, visas, the trip, etc...  but we also have created a total infrastructure of care for the patient, in English, that not only includes medically necessary transportation, but a true medically thorough post op care system including private nursing, daily home health care for sterile bandage changes, and post op therapies that speed healing and get you home sooner and with less chance of complications.  Yes, it's less expensive than the US or Canada, and yet most could not afford the level of service and medical accompaniment that we provide our patients with MedNetBrazil.com.  We do NOT emphasize the "tourism" aspect at all and want you to go home in  timely fashion and totally satisfied with your results and experience with us.  Let's face it, you can go to THE best surgeon in the world, but if you do not have proper aftercare, post op support and sterile bandage changes and you end up with a popped stitch or infection, your healing, your length of stay, your RESULTS are now compromised.  That's NOT satisfaction is it? =(  We have been doing this for more than 5 years now and have helped hundreds of our peers, so we have seen it ALL and have dealt with it all, personally and one-on-one.  Make sure you ask YOUR Medical Tourism Agent if s/he has either had the procedures or held another patient's hand through the whole process...  and then decide.  =)
Blessings,
Christi
www.MedNetBrazil.com
877-9-MedNet

I would not travel to India or Thailand, or oversees, because the length of travel alone would be miserable after a serious procedure and the chance for blood clots or infection after surgery is significant for all patients (even in the states).    I would travel to Mexico either to Monterrey or Saltillo, which are a short plane ride away, where the hospitals are beauitful and some are even accredited by Joint Commission which governs the quality of hospitals here in the US.   I think US citizens would be shocked at the high quality of medical care in other countries and the level of medical training the physicians have, with much of it being at American medical schools and residency programs.    I think research is important whether you are having a procedure a mile from home or 1000 miles from home -- research the facility, the physician, talk to past patients, review quality data on the net, etc.  

Not in a million years.  I can't even believe people go to Mexico to have dental work done!  My health is not part of a 'tourism package'.  If other people are willing to take the risk then they should be free to do so, as long as the American taxpayer doesn't end up footing the bill for any problems they experience - like emergency room visits or other care.  If they are willing to take the risk then they should be willing to take on ALL of the risk.

If it was a fraction of the U.S. cost...heck yea, at the drop of a dime, I would go to any other country that would perform whatever medical specialty I or any of my family needed.   For Public Health welfare/concerns...the cost/prices for medical attention should NOT be extremely high!  Hospital Room costs are way TOO high.  Lifesaving procedures are unaffordable (heck just about everyone has to beg for fundraisers, donations and then wait till hospitals can accept you)  What's wrong with this picture?  Medical attention be it minor or major should be affordably available to ALL Americans.  What makes costs rise ever so high...WE DO...We are TOO greedy and then we expect the President of U.S. to do something about it.  Well everyone in this country...if you lower your costs/rates/charges/fees for all Goods or Services you have to sell here...we wouldn't have to worry about recessions and such.  Everyone Lower your costs!  

Why does MacDonald's charge $3.99 for a burger?
Why does Coca Cola charge $1.50 for a can of coke
Why do the gas companies charge $ 3.00 and over for gas?
Why does it cost BIG BUCKS for medical care and prescriptions drugs?

All these do not need to be this high and unaffordable.  All of these should be the lowest of all

Our expenses are too high because the cost of those who will not and do not pay, is built into our bill, our doctors are overpaid, prescription prescription drug companie's windfall profits, and high malpractice fees.  The canidates addressed only about half of these that I mentioned, in their blogs.

My name is Dr. Tony Karmell from Tempa Bay, Florida I went to Wockhardt Hospitals in India last year for a Hip Resurfacing Surgery. This hospital I can bet is better than any best hospital in US in terms of the clinical skills and the technology they have, and the quality of care and warmth of its staff ...I have no words

About 10 years ago due to Arthritis my hip pain went up just all of a sudden, and it was just horrendous, it was like 3 stake knives in my right hip at the same time and from then on it's been 10 yrs and it has never been the same.

In the United States I was essentially offered three options - one was learn to live with it, two, have the standard hip surgery and be active afterwards and three take pain killers. So, I did a lot of physical therapy and took a certain number of painkillers to sort of live with it.

About seven years ago, I read about the Hip Resurfacing procedure, and I discovered it wasn't available in the United States and was probably being done only in one hospital, but it was really very expensive and it wasn't covered by the health insurance.  

About one year  ago, I made up my mind to go overseas and have the surgery done. Someone told me about a TV show he had seen called Fox 11 healthline  on Medical tourism and I started looking for it on the internet and decided that India was probably my best option because more of the Hip Resurfacing Surgeries were being done here than in any other country. So, I wrote to the company that produces Birmingham Hip Replacement (BHR) implants. They gave me names of about ten doctors in India who did BHR and Dr.Malhan was on top of the list. Then I e-mailed to Wockhardt Hospitals and within a couple of hours Wockhardt Hospitals International Marketing Manager e-mailed me back and started the relationship and I decided within an hour after getting his e-mail that this is the best hospital for me. He then helped me make all the arrangements with the travel, visa required to come to India, all details, answering all my questions promptly.

I arrived at Mumbai and spent a day getting my pre-operative investigations. Its been very nice, in fact it was like going to a hospital in Minneapolis or New York. The x-rays conveyed that my hip was qualified for the Resurfacing surgery; they did the measurements that were necessary to arrange the proper size device implant for me.

I don't remember much of the day of the surgery, I just slept through the day, but I do remember when I entered the surgery suite, ... the place was so huge, with all modern facilities, so bright and amazing ... I have never before seen a surgery suite like that.

When I came out of the surgery I was immediately covered with a warm blanket and the painkillers were started immediately. The IV was kept on for three days. Then they staretd Physical Therapy and my therapist was so very patient with me, though I must have done my best to try her patience. She couldn't have been better leading me to steady progress.

The whole experience has been really good. I went to Wockhardt Hospital in India  expecting the best and anything I found there exceeded it.  It's been a wonderful experience.

Now one year later I'm working full-time in a physically demanding job and my wife says she's never seen me happier. I run three miles every morning and say a little prayer for Wockhardt Hospital my surgeon and all their  wonderful staff while I run. They  have truly given me my life back.

The only problem I have is occasional pain in the other hip so I will take help again sometime in the next couple of years. Hip resurfacing is now available at a nearby hospital in Florida but I'd prefer to have the Wockhardt team do--even though it means paying out of pocket. By the way I save over 50000 US Dollars by going to India and getting this surgery done by a surgeon who is amongst the most experienced in the world on this technique and was treated like royalty. If any one has any doubt considering this option, please mail me at tkarmell@yahoo.com and I shall do my bit to help you

Dr. Karmell, it's not American to seek help from other countries. Only when your health becomes an issue can people with money like yourself have a different view of foreigners. Soon Americans are going to seek help from the very people they criticize coming to this country. All this talk about illegal immigration, and now this country is being sold to foreigh investors...Where are the Lou Dobbs of America now?

I am one of the principals of America's Medical Solutions or America's Medical Tourism Solutions which is located in Bombay, India. The typical knee jerk response and rolled eyes of, "You're going where for major surgery!?" is simply ignorance at it's finest moment. Our concierge services, beginning with the research of the doctors, then the hospitals, presents some of the finest health care in the world, for a fraction of the costs available anywhere else. It is simply a statement of pure fiction that complications are higher in India than in the US. In fact, they are much lower. The death rate is lower as well. The staff infections are not even known here in India while the western world fights a constant battle.

Unions battling companies from sending their people to India for health care are being stupid. I don't think a company should force it, but the patients we have given our free services to and who have been treated here would "crawl back to India" if they had to receive additional medical help. That's their comments, not ours. We have no axes to grind on the issues, but the overwhelming testimony from those who have been here and done it drowns out all but the most fanatical wailing. There are millions of people who can have their health improved dramatically by employing their credit card and boarding the next plane. Furthermore, there are no waiting lines here either.

We three Americans actually live in Mumbai (Bombay) all year round and have directed patients coming for all kinds of procedures to the world's best doctors and hospitals. Eye, dental, orthopedic and other procedures have been practiced longer here in India than in the US, and in case you haven't noticed, Indian doctors and nurses fill our American hospitals. Our drugs are frequently manufactured in India as well. Research the web for real testimonies, but I can tell you that no US hospital has room suites like ours, with polished granite floors and a lounge for a traveling companion to stay in the room, etc. They also boast TV's and entertainment centers and the Internet to keep in touch with those at home.

Let those who have the insurance policies stay with their US health care givers if they wish, even though they're depriving themselves of better health care and better services at savings which even their out of pocket premiums would reflect, but let them not speak down of the services which are available here. Our doctors, clinics and hospitals are perhaps no better than elsewhere, but no one beats them.

Don Wood
www.AmericasMedicalSolutions.com

I think that if the US had a national health care plan for every person then this would be a mute point.  It is so very sad and embarrassing that the richest and most powerful country in the world is so far behind the rest of the modern world as far as taking care of it's people.  Ask the people who are running for office what their opinion is on taking care of the health of EVERY American.  His or her answer will shock you when you realize how little the average politician in this state cares about the health of America.  I will not vote for a person that doesn't care if I go bankrupt because of a simple surgery that should be paid for by a Government that is supposed to take care of it's people.  I'll gladly vote to raise my taxes a little if I can go to the doctor without thinking about getting a second mortgage first.

The main thing that this practice brings up is that the cost of health care in this country is outrageous.

The problem is the insurance companies holding the leash of our criminal politicians and the government getting involved just enough to screw it up.

I have a friend who is English.  His youngest child was born at one of the finest maternity hospitals in the world.  It is in London and people come from all over the world to go there.  He has American health insurance.  He had to pay cash out of his pocket to use that hospital in England.  He told me that it still cost him no more than the co-pay would have cost him here.

How can that make any sense?

My Grandfather was a doctor.  He never even made enough to pay for his equipment before he died in WWII.  How could we have wrecked our health care system so completely in the life span of a single generation.