Secret to World-Class Medical Care for Less Medical ...Secret+to+World-Cla… · procedures from gastric bypass to chronic back pain, for less than half of what they would pay at

Independent Living

Presents

TTHHEE SSEECCRREETT TTOO WWOORRLLDD--CCLLAASSSS

MMEEDDIICCAALL CCAARREE FFOORR LLEESSSS::

MMEEDDIICCAALL TTOOUURRIISSMM

Published by American Lantern Press, Inc. www.IndependentLivingNews.com

The Secret to World-Class Medical Care for Less

www.IndependentLivingNews.com www.SurvivalProShop.com

1

The rise of politically controlled medicine has many smart Americans looking for better care going forward. So it is no accident that medical tourism has become a thriving business with numerous organizations, companies, web sites, and magazines involved. Even if you have no intention of using this information, sooner or later someone you care about probably will. Learn about this now before the public catches on. Medical tourism means travelling to another country to receive medical, dental or surgical care because of the affordability, better access to care, or a higher level of care. The most common reasons for medical travel are cosmetic and obesity surgery, fertility treatment, dentistry, orthopedics, cardiovascular treatments, cancer treatments, and other non-insured procedures and alternative therapies such as stem cell treatment not available in the U.S. Josef Woodman is CEO of Patients Beyond Borders, a company that produces guidebooks for medical tourism. He estimates that in 2012, more than 600,000 Americans travelled abroad for treatment, and 80% were Baby Boomers.

Getting Medical Work Done Abroad: A Real Alternative to Obamacare

Patients Beyond Borders lists the top ten destinations for medical tourism (in alphabetical order) as Costa Rica, India, Israel, Malaysia, Mexico, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and Turkey. These destinations offer modern healthcare infrastructure, international accreditation, transparency of outcomes, healthcare innovation and achievement, experienced medical staff and cutting edge medical technology, to name just a few of the criteria. Costa Rica and Mexico also have the advantage of being easy to reach from the U.S. Border towns in Mexico have lured Americans to cheaper dental care, as well as surgical procedures from gastric bypass to chronic back pain, for less than half of what they would pay at home. Health Travel Technologies processes more than 600 inquiries a month and sends more than 100 dental patients abroad each month. Dental services presently account for 40% of medical tourism. In Yuma, Mexico 350 of the 5500 residents are dentists. They serve tens of thousands of tourists every year. If you are travelling to Mexico, pay very close attention to your personal safety and security; thoroughly research the area you hope to visit before making any firm travel plans.

Dental services account for about 40% of medical tourism.

Medical Tourism

INDEPENDENT LIVING www.IndependentLivingNews.com

877-371-1807

2

Vacation While Receiving Cheaper Medical Services... Here Are A Few Examples From 2011:

A coronary bypass graft costs $88,000 in the U.S. and $9,500 in India.

A hip replacement averages $33,000 in the U.S. and $12,500 in Mexico.

A heart bypass costs $144,000 in the U.S. and $14,082 in Colombia.

A knee replacement is $50,000 in the U.S. and $6,500 in Colombia.

Breast implants $10,000 in the U.S. and $2,500 in Colombia.

A facelift is $15,000 in the U.S. and $5,000 in Colombia. In Colombia and other foreign countries, many people opt for surgery packages, which include transportation, accommodations, and the surgery itself. One in five patients choose the services of a medical tourism facilitator who will arrange your trip, surgery and in some cases any required after care when you return home.

Internationally Trained Staff and Facilities Are Waiting... In 2012, World Health Organization's World Health Report showed Colombia as a world leader in health care surpassing developed countries like the U.S., Switzerland, Canada, and Germany. Over 30% of medical graduates in the U.S. are international students, many returning home after training. Numerous websites provide listings of doctors in foreign countries that speak English and/or provide translation services.

Hospital Punta Pacifica In 1999, the U.S. launched the Joint Commission International (JCI) to set rigorous standards that international hospitals must meet for accreditation. There are currently over 700 accredited facilities and the number is growing steadily every year. Currently, six JCI accredited organizations were named on the list of the 25 most amazing hospitals in the world (listed #2 was



3

Hospital Punta Pacifica - Panama City, Panama affiliated with John Hopkins Medicine International). Many hospitals also have International Patient Services Certification. If you chose a plastic surgeon who is an American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery member, this doctor is exceptionally trained with outstanding credentials and knowledge of innovative cosmetic procedures … no matter what country he is working in. In the Cayman Islands, local and international investors have committed $2 billion in a 2,000-bed hospital targeting U.S. medical tourists. Pro-med from Costa Rica reported patients and families stay longer and spend six times as much as the average tourist. In 2011 the average medical tourist paid $7,000 per stay of 15 days with total annual revenue from medical tourism of $337.7 million. In Ecuador, the results and records of medical treatments belong to the patient and are delivered to you. A hospital stay in Santa Ana Hospital in Cuenca offers a private room with an extra bed for family members for $50 per day and a private suite for $75, including meals. Dr G. Richard Olds, dean of the medical school at the University of California stated, "We'll have a 5,000 physician shortage in 10 years no matter what anyone does." A growing shortage of doctors, longer hospital waits, and the possibility of insurance companies extending coverage for Americans international medical bills is making medical tourism more popular every year. With more countries depending on medical tourism they are making sure their patients receive the best treatments possible. The 2015 Milliman Medical Index estimates the annual medical care for a typical American family of four to be $24,671… more than double the costs of a decade ago. The Commonwealth Fund reported over 25 million Americans are underinsured. Maybe you're one of the underinsured adults who doesn't want to refinance your home or deplete your savings to pay for surgery.

Before Venturing Abroad For Medical Treatment... Remember First To... Research, Research, Research...

Determine all costs involved with the medical procedure in the U.S. so you can compare.

When will you be able to have the procedure done at home compared to away?

Search for the best countries to have your procedure done overseas.

Check on the qualifications of the doctors, hospital (JCI accredited) and medical staff.

The Commonwealth Fund reported that over 25 million Americans are underinsured.

Medical Tourism


877-371-1807

4

Do they speak English?

Do you want or need to use the services of a medical tourism facilitator and what services do they provide?

What will be the costs for travel, for yourself and a companion – air, hotel, and meals?

Medical costs – doctors, hospital, medications, ask for a list of all costs involved.

Length of time you'll need to be in that country for treatment and recovery.

Will you need after care when you return home and what will that cost? Next time you're going on vacation consider what dental work you may need done or that nip and tuck you've been considering. The money you save could easily pay for your trip.

The United States still has some of the best healthcare

facilities in the world, but medical inflation is running rampant, due to ever-increasing regulations, lawsuits, and paperwork requirements imposed by Obamacare, Medicare, and insurance companies. Cost-cutting is increasingly taking precedence over quality. Many prescription drugs are priced well outside the means of the typical American, and that’s why many Americans are turning to foreign providers of medical care in increasing numbers.

The continued pressure on the U.S. medical system will have dire consequences for all of

us who have come to rely on receiving world-class health care in the United States. Local hospitals will shut down, forcing patients to travel to mammoth and crowded regional health centers.

Doctors will find other professions. Many categories of prescription medication may

become cost prohibitive, if you can find them at all. The United States, once the world leader in medicine and health care services, will destroy its own medical system through burdensome regulations and red tape.

This will leave the typical medical consumer – you and me – with few good options for

serious care.

The continued pressure on the

U.S. medical system will have

dire consequences for all of us who

have come to rely on receiving world-class health care in the United States.



5

Finding Answers in a Global Health Care Economy We Americans are accustomed to

being number one at everything. This leads us to forget that the health care market is a global one. If you can’t find practical or affordable treatment for your condition in the United States, chances are you can find it in another country. And while the quality of care often isn’t quite as good, the availability and relatively low cost of overseas medicine often makes it worthwhile. Even before the medical system in the U.S. becomes very difficult to access, it may be your best option.

This is already happening on our northern border. Even though the medical system here is

still functioning, millions of Americans have found good reason to head to Canada to receive some form of medical treatment. And while Americans aren’t covered under Canada’s health care system, the treatment usually comes at a far cheaper cost. As Bill Mann, a political writer, testified, “Our son was born at Montreal's Royal Victoria Hospital. My wife got excellent care. The total bill for three days in a semi-private room? $21.” Of course Canada’s economy is highly dependent on America, and Canada’s single-payer health care system has degraded its quality of care. But the point is that millions of Americans already cross a national border in search of affordable and accessible medical treatment.

Medically self-reliant Americans have already

begun to think of the world as their hospital. Doctors in many different countries are fully qualified to treat your ailments – not just in Canada but across the world. Becoming familiar with the international health care market will be crucial to surviving the looming medical crisis.

Obtaining Healthcare on Foreign Soil at a Discount

Things are already looking bad for the American health care system. Medicare is functionally bankrupt (and is on track to be officially underwater before 2020, at which point it will be too late to do anything about it short of drastic benefit cuts). Extreme cost-cutting measures will undoubtedly be implemented in the near future as the inevitable crisis looms. This will effectively ration seniors’ health care coverage, forcing them to look for options elsewhere.

The government is going to be more heavily involved in

healthcare issues in the coming decade under Obamacare. And that means smart Americans need to have their own personal,

If you can’t find practical or affordable treatment for your

condition in the United States, chances are you can find it in

another country.

Doctors in many different countries are fully qualified to

treat your ailments – not just in Canada but across

the world.

While most medical insurance does not

cover ex-pat medicine, it may well

be to your advantage to ditch

your insurance company’s provider

network.

Medical Tourism


877-371-1807

6

global medical plan in their hip pocket. In many cases where insurance does not cover dental expenses, for example, you can save a

fortune going to an exotic location and getting the work done. And while most medical insurance does not cover ex-pat medicine, it may well be to your advantage to ditch your insurance company’s provider network. It might seem a little strange flying to an island nation for a medical operation, but in many cases it could save you a ton of money and stress.

In the U.S., many forms of alternative medicine are precluded by Medicare and the big

insurance companies, even if you and your doctor agree it’s in your best interests. But other countries embrace these alternatives. True, some unconventional treatments are less effective than conventional ones or even dangerous. But for certain individuals with peculiar ailments that are either super-expensive or impossible to treat conventionally, alternative medicine represents their only hope for betterment.

Global Medical Tourism Growing by Leaps and Bounds

With health care costs skyrocketing and red tape from government and insurance companies restricting treatment options in the U.S., medical tourism is booming. Americans are increasingly venturing to places such as Costa Rica and India for deeply discounted surgeries; to Israel for cutting-edge cancer treatments; and to places such as Thailand for exotic alternative therapies.

Medical tourism opportunities range from the conventional to the controversial to,

admittedly, the absurd: A 28 year-old Texas woman flew to Brazil in 2010 to become the recipient of the

world’s largest breast enhancement (size 38KKK) after American surgeons refused her request.

A recent PBS Frontline episode, “The Suicide Tourist,” profiled the final days of a

man incapacitated by ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). He traveled to Switzerland, where assisted suicide is legal, to end his suffering.

However, most medical tourists are merely trying to get top-quality, conventional medical

services for a discounted price – indeed, often a fraction of the cost of what U.S. hospitals would charge for similar services.

Medical Services in India: Certified, Safe, And Cheap

An estimated 150,000 Americans travel to India for healthcare each year. Three hundred thousand more foreigners travelled there from other countries as well. Most commonly, people go abroad for heart surgery, knee or hip replacements, and cosmetic surgery.



7

English-speaking India is a more attractive ‘health holiday’ spot than other countries in Asia because medical surgeries are still only about one third of the cost that others are demanding and they often offer medical procedures in a spa-type environment with beach cabanas doubling as your hospital room. Chennai has been deemed India’s ‘health capital’ because of the thousands of health tourists who flock to India each year, 45 per cent of them choose this southern city.

In order to gain further respect from their international market and reassure potential

patients that their hospitals are highly capable and professional, many Indian medical facilities seek accreditation through international agencies. This will help form regulated standards on safety and healthcare.

Excellent modern specialized surgery centers are being built overseas where they have to

cope with only a fraction of the red tape now common in the United States. In addition to lower construction costs for state-of-the-art medical facilities, expenses for nursing, administration, and physicians don’t come close to those of the legalistic, politicized, and over-regulated U.S. system.

As a Medical Tourist, You’re in Good Company The U.S already has more than 100 travel

agents specializing in medical travel, but most observers including Independent Living believe that number will explode in the coming years. These overseas medical facilities are certified by Joint Commission International, a not-for-profit subsidiary of the U.S. Joint Commission, which approves hospital conditions here in America.

A double knee replacement that costs $100,000 in the U.S. can be performed in a first-rate

Costa Rican hospital for $20,000, according to the Medical Tourism Association. Israeli hospitals are state-of-the-art and are staffed with some of the world’s best

physicians. As a result, the number of foreigners seeking medical care in Israel has grown exponentially in recent years. They come from neighboring countries with comparatively primitive medical facilities, and from as far away as the United States. Notes the nurse coordinator for the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, “If you are not insured, it's cheaper to fly out here to Israel with your whole family than to get treatment in the States.”

Excellent modern specialized surgery

centers are being built overseas where they

have to cope with only a fraction of the red tape

now common in the United States.

“As the burden of regulations drives U.S. costs

up, expect to see sharply increased travel for

treatments for diseases more severe than dental

problems.”

Medical Tourism


877-371-1807

8

A Truly Global Market for Healthcare

Besides Canada and Mexico, some European, Asian, and Latin American countries offer opportunities for Americans. You can get top-notch care throughout most of Western Europe. According to the Gourman Report, France has 26 of the top 55 medical schools located outside the U.S.

Many Asian and Latin American

currencies are either pegged to the dollar or have not gained much against the dollar in recent years, making their economic goods and services still very cheap in dollar terms. Mexico and other Latin American countries offer loosely regulated health systems where you can obtain care for substantial discounts compared to the U.S. and quite often have the freedom to choose treatments that the government won’t let you have here.

For unorthodox treatments, consider Japan, the Philippines, or even large cities in China,

where alternative medicine is embraced and often practiced by skilled professionals using modern facilities.

Panama has become something of a haven for American retirees, expatriates, and medical

consumers. One leading writer notes the economic advantages of Panamanian medicine: Private health insurance is available and much less expensive than insurance in the United

States because 1) doctors’ fees and hospital visits are much cheaper; 2) malpractice insurance is very low, because the laws do not allow for frivolous lawsuits; and 3) the median income is around $300 a month, so health care cannot be expensive or no one would use it.

Prices for prescription drugs are low as well, because manufacturers price them for the

market. Plus, many drugs that require a prescription in the States are available over the counter in Panama.

Needless to say, you will be incurring significant risks in some foreign, non-English-

speaking environments, but if you’ve run out of options or money for U.S.-based treatment, then the risks may be worth it. You can mitigate the risks by going only to facilities run by expatriates who were trained in first-class American, Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, or British medical schools. You may find English-speaking local physicians who are willing to provide the same-quality services at even lower cost, but great caution should be taken when choosing.

“You can mitigate the risks of overseas medical treatment by going only to facilities run by

expatriates who were trained in first-class American, Australian,

Canadian, New Zealand, or British medical schools.”



9

Find Cheaper Prescriptions Overseas

Prior to 1938, Americans could obtain virtually any drug cheaply and easily at their local drugstore without needing a prescription from a doctor. Since then, the Food and Drug Administration has created a prescription drug cartel that has exploded the cost of obtaining drugs (much to the satisfaction of the big drug companies, who typically fight efforts to make their prescription-only drugs available over the counter). But there are still countries today that have few regulations on drugs. In many of the “emerging market” countries—places like Brazil, India, and China—pharmaceuticals are available over-the-counter or in consultation with a pharmacist. You’ll find looser requirements for obtaining prescription drugs in Europe, and virtually no requirements in more exotic places in Asia.

Before venturing out of the country in search of drugs or medical care, seek the advice of a

doctor here at home who you know and trust. She may be able to refer you to a doctor or a healthcare group in a country you’re interested in. Health insurance companies, foreign medical associations, and expatriate organizations can also be of help in locating quality medical providers.

Dental Tourism

Medical tourism is so popular in the United States that 1.2 million people travel abroad every year for a procedure. The lion’s share of these treatments is for dental work. In the United States, dental insurance is seen as a luxury held only by the lucky few who are willing to shell out hundreds more every year. Dental care is also extremely expensive. A simple tooth filling can run you anywhere from $200-$300 in addition to the costs of other treatments you might need.

It’s no wonder that dental tourism to other

countries has become so popular in the United States. The most common destination is Latin American countries where dentists often have the same amount of training, but will charge you a fraction of the price.

Other popular destinations for dental tourism include Costa Rica and Panama. The website

HealthBase.com can help you determine which dentists and doctors are safe, reputable, and low-cost. Just make sure you factor in everything. Dental tourism isn’t a good option for you if you’re spending more for airfare and travel expenses than for the actual treatment.

In many of the “emerging market” countries,

pharmaceuticals are available over-the-counter or in

consultation with a pharmacist.

The website HealthBase.com can help you determine which dentists and doctors are safe,

reputable, and low-cost.

Medical Tourism


877-371-1807

10

Will Traveling Doctors Return?

If you’ve ever read Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s masterful Sherlock Holmes stories, you probably remember Dr. Watson, a brilliant medical doctor. Watson’s profession led him to travel to people’s homes to perform treatments and check up on them afterwards. Before the advent of fast transportation and the modern medical system, doctors routinely traveled to their patients’ homes or offices to treat them. Today this practice has nearly died off. Because the health care marketplace has become national and international, being a traveling doctor means more than just caring for the health of people in a particular town. You’d have to travel widely for those who need your services – and do all that while juggling medical school and its expenses.

But what will happen when the system changes as a result of Obamacare?

It’s likely that everything that stands between you and

your doctor – health insurance companies, hospital bureaucracy, even the receptionist in the doctor’s office –will disappear. This will force the medical system to reshape itself into something different, with more emphasis put on the direct relationship between the physician and the patient. The logical solution will be doctors who travel directly to see their patients and are paid on the spot. In many ways, this may be one of the few positive consequences of a medical upheaval, as it will sweep away a lot of useless middlemen and reestablish the doctor-patient relationship.

When the time comes, you should seek out a doctor and work out a deal with him. Maybe

you’ll pay him a certain sum per year in exchange for his treatment and assistance when you get sick. The physician will probably have lost a lot in the medical shake-up and be grateful for your business. Sweeten the pot by offering to pay him in cash and partially upfront. Try to develop this business model early on so you can be assured of prompt care.

The Rise of Concierge Medicine

This sort of thing already exists today to an extent. The primary care system in America has disillusioned legions of doctors who have become inundated in paperwork or burdened by medical school expenses. As a result, many physicians have become engaged in something called concierge medicine. Concierge medicine is a relationship between a patient and a primary care physician in which the patient pays an annual fee or retainer. It also goes by the names of boutique medicine, retainer-based medicine, and innovative medical practice design.

It’s likely that everything that

stands between you and your doctor – health insurance

companies, hospital bureaucracy, even the receptionist in

the doctor’s office –will disappear.

The single-best resource for concierge

medicine is the American Academy of

Private Physicians, available on the web at

www.aapp.org



11

Concierge medicine is the way of the future and will become particularly attractive as the U.S. medical system sinks into political mediocrity. These days, doctors are burdened by administrative and insurance costs that force them to focus on paperwork rather than care. Concierge medicine offers them a way to get around all the red tape and practice medicine for the sake of medicine. And while it might be tempting to think that specialists are benefitting the most from concierge medicine, the second most popular specialty in concierge medicine is family doctors. Concierge medicine became particularly popular after the economic collapse in 2009. According to a survey taken in 2010, 59% of concierge physicians said they’d seen an increase in business.

The single-best resource for concierge medicine is the American Academy of Private

Physicians, available on the web at www.aapp.org and by phone at 877-746-7301. If you’re a doctor, this site can help advise you on your transition into concierge medicine. If you’re a patient, it can help you locate a concierge doctor near you. Elite Health also provides a database of concierge physicians for you. They can be reached at www.EliteHealth.com or at 866-245-4231.

Staying Healthy While Traveling Abroad

Before going abroad, you’ll want to make sure you have the required vaccinations and inoculations. The shots that you’ll need will vary greatly depending on your destination country. To figure out what you’ll need, point your web browser over to the Centers for Disease Control at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list.htm. Use the interactive map to select your destination and receive a list of recommended inoculations and relevant health warnings.

Your first step will be to catch up on all your routine shots, such as measles/mumps/ rubella

(MMR), diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT), polio vaccine, etc. These can be easily scheduled at your local doctor’s office. Even if you’re only traveling over the Canadian border, the CDC recommends that your shots be updated. A Hepatitis B shot is also recommended for those who might have any sexual contact abroad.

Other inoculations will vary depending on your destination.

For most eastern Asian nations, you’ll want to get a shot for Japanese encephalitis, a

little-known disease that kills 20-30% of those it afflicts.

Malaria is prevalent throughout the Third World, and even in more developed countries such as Mexico. This is a common disease that causes one million deaths per year, and one you definitely want to protect yourself against.

Rabies shots are recommended in Africa, Asia, and Central and South America where

canine rabies is a severe problem. There are three shots a week apart. If you are bitten you get four shots, one immediately and then a week apart. Rabies is almost always fatal if not treated.

Medical Tourism


877-371-1807

12

Typhoid, yellow fever, and cholera vaccines should be administered if you’re traveling to Africa, South America, and parts of Asia. Yellow fever shots are required for many of these areas and must be obtained 10 days before traveling. The shots are then re-administered after 10 years. Cholera requires two vaccinations done a week apart, and should be finished a week before departure.

Many countries in central Africa are afflicted by meningitis. In this area, which

includes Guinea, Mali, Ethiopia, Chad, Niger, Sudan, Nigeria, and others, anywhere from 5% to 10% of the population can carry the disease. Make sure you get the applicable vaccine.

Check with the Centers for Disease Control website for specific details regarding your

destination (www.cdc.gov). Consult your doctor to get her medical opinion on all the inoculations that you’ll need. It will help to bring a full copy of your itinerary from the travel agency so she knows exactly where you’ll be going.

Four Things That Can Affect the Shots You Need

Also bear in mind that merely taking an international flight could place you in close proximity to natives of any of the countries listed above, where you’ll be sharing cabin air and washroom facilities throughout the duration of the flight. Your doctor will make a series of recommendations about what shots you’ll need. Be sure to review them closely. Most of these shots won’t be mandatory and many of them will be expensive. Nevertheless, be cautious and consider the following criteria.

Age. If you’re very elderly, you should get all the shots that the doctor recommends.

Season. Some diseases, such as malaria and Japanese encephalitis, are seasonal. Depending on the season, you may not need the shot.

Duration of travel. If your trip is only three days long, you’ll be less likely to contract

a disease than if its three weeks long.

Urban vs. rural travel. Some diseases thrive primarily in either rural or urban settings.

Once you’ve decided which shots you’ll need, you’ll usually need to find a travel clinic that will administer the shots. Again, make sure you bring your travel itinerary. It may also help if you write down a schedule for the shots that you need. Some vaccines can be given at any time, while others will be required one or two weeks before you leave. Some will also be required more than once.



13

Travel Safely Overseas Even if You Have Special Needs

If you have special needs, or are traveling with someone with special needs, there are other precautions you’ll want to take when traveling, especially if you’re going to the Third World.

Traveling with children. Children are particularly susceptible to diseases like tuberculosis and diphtheria, so make

sure your child gets the necessary inoculations. Children are also more likely to contract serious diseases from close contact, so you may want to keep your child from getting too close to anyone for long periods of time. Children may also experience boredom or homesickness in another country, so make sure you bring along a few toys and books.

Keep your children away from contaminated food or water. If your child experiences vomiting or diarrhea, lost fluids need to be replaced quickly. You

may want to bring along a few rehydration tablets, available from your local pharmacist, in case this happens. A great rehydration tool is a can of Coke, or other non-diet soda. It has the right mix of salts and sugars to straighten out your electrolytes.

Tips for elderly travelers. As an older traveler, you’ll again want to make sure you get the necessary inoculations.

Also, be certain you pack appropriate doses of all your personal medications in an easy-to-access place in your luggage and store them in a warm, dry place once you reach your destination. Label all your medications clearly and properly. You may also want a doctor’s check-up before you go, just to make sure you’re fit to travel. Record the location of the nearest consulate. This is where you’ll need to go if you fall seriously ill.

Tips for pregnant women. Traveling when pregnant is always a risk, though still very possible. Just make sure you

don’t take your trip too late in your pregnancy. (Some airlines won’t accept a woman more than 30 weeks pregnant.) Traveling to the Third World during the third trimester is not recommended. If you are late in your pregnancy, you should only travel to countries with good medical care. Make sure you avoid contaminated food and water, since illness can be far worse during a pregnancy. Vaccinations are sometimes administered differently for pregnant women, so discuss this with your doctor before scheduling any shots.

Traveling tips if you have diabetes. If you have diabetes before you set off on a big trip, it’s a good idea to sit down with your

diabetes educator and get his advice. You should make sure you stock up on supplies, including insulin, syringes, and batteries for your glucose monitor and alcohol swabs. Keep in mind that certain items, including your specific dose of insulin, may not be available in other countries. Pack about twice the supplies you’ll actually need – just in case. Picking up an insulin pen is a good idea – in the rest of the world, these are used as insulin-delivery devices, while the U.S. is still stuck on vials and syringes for some reason. Pens are easy to carry and use. Insulin should be stored in a thermos to protect it from extreme temperatures. If you line the inside of the thermos with a washcloth, it will help to prevent the insulin from breaking. Also be sure to adjust your

Medical Tourism


877-371-1807

14

insulin schedule if you cross time zones. You’ll have less control over when and what you eat while traveling, so plan to carry some cheese, crackers, and dried fruit at all times.

Travel tips for people with HIV and AIDS (and smart precautions for all travelers). HIV and AIDS sufferers are at greater risk of contracting deadly diseases abroad.

Tuberculosis poses little threat to most travelers, but is a serious risk for those with HIV/AIDS. Bacterial infections such as salmonella will be much more debilitating. And things like traveler’s diarrhea can even be life-threatening. Live vaccines, including those for yellow fever and typhoid, must also be avoided. Before traveling with HIV/AIDS, consult with your doctor and present him with your full travel itinerary.

Remember, there are bugs and germs everywhere. Keep your hands clean at all times. If

soap and clean water are not available always carry pocket sanitizers and tissues. You can then disinfect anything you come into contact with: toilet seats, door handles, light switches, etc.

For More Information

The following resources will help you extend your knowledge of the exciting opportunities for medical care abroad.

Patients Beyond Borders: Everybody’s Guide to Affordable, World-Class Medical

Tourism (2007) by Josef Woodman Patients Beyond Borders is the first comprehensive, easy-to-understand guide to medical

tourism, aimed at the 84 million uninsured and under-insured Americans seeking treatment options abroad for increasingly expensive procedures in the U.S. From Thailand’s American-accredited Bumrungrad hospital to Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Clinic to Johns Hopkins International hospitals, health travelers now have a full array of the world’s safest, best choices in treatment centers and physicians.

International Living magazine (Not to be confused with Lee Bellinger’s Independent Living newsletter) 800-643-2479 www.internationalliving.com Find out about everything from adventures in Panama to the best buys on the Paris

property market...from how to open a bank account in your new country of residence to how to get the best deal on your next airfare...from the world’s best beachfront property bargains to the most reliable local contractors to help you build your new beach home...from island-hopping adventures in the Mediterranean to the best summer fiestas in Mexico.

Documents

Secret to World-Class Medical Care for Less Medical ...Secret+to+World-Cla… · procedures from gastric bypass to chronic back pain, for less than half of what they would pay at