Medical Tourism in India May Be the Cure For Your Heartache

American Companies Covering Medical Tourism

Medical tourism may be covered by your company’s health plan. Many American companies are beginning to insure medical tourism in large part because an estimated 25% of doctors practicing in the States received their medical training outside of the U.S.  Blue Ridge Paper Company is assessing hospitals in Delhi to see if the quality of patient care for employees merits coverage in order to save on medical costs.  Medical tourism in India for procedures such as open-heart surgery is surprising affordable.  Some procedures are just a tenth of comparable care in U.S. hospitals.  A general contractor from Florida, Wayne Steinard, chose one of the best hospitals in India for heart care to perform a successful double bypass surgery at a cost of $6,650.  Some of the best hospitals in India for heart care are Apollo, Fortis, and Max HealthCare.  These hospitals cater to medical tourism in India by offering specialized assistance to foreigners in the form of escort services and sightseeing packages. 

Quality of Care: Medical Tourism in India

Many consumers may question the quality of care they receive by pursuing medical tourism in India.  The best hospitals in India for heart care report a 98.5% success rate.  India’s $17 billion dollar annual health care industry is increasing by double digits fueled by the quality of care given by highly skilled physicians from India’s top medical schools.  Despite the fact that many Indian doctors are board-certified by the U.S., some American physicians, such as Dr. Bruce Cunningham, are concerned about the risks of medical tourism.  Dr. Cunningham, president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, states that “long flights and surgery combined can further increase the risk of developing pulmonary embolism and blood clots.”  Obviously patients must weigh the potential savings against the inherent dangers of extensive travel.