Taking the Cost of Coronary Angioplasty Surgery to Heart

What Medical Tourism Can Do for You

The American Heart Journal recently published a study on the cost of coronary angioplasty compared with coronary bypass surgery.  The results indicate that patients spend approximately $21,113 on average, inclusive of hospital and physician fees, for the initial coronary revascularization procedure.  The mean cost of four years of follow-up procedures was calculated at $51,566.  In stark contrast, health vacation packages, inclusive of hospital stay, lab tests, anesthesia, operation theater fees, doctors fees, transport to and from the hospital or recovery center, medicines, and much more, amount to a mere $3,000 to $8,500 for the initial surgery.  Countries like India, Mexico, and Turkey have embraced medical tourism to cover a wide range of operations with similar cost savings.  India, for example, has been a hot favorite among medical tourists as both a vacation spot and a provider of high-quality treatments.  Prices for health vacation packages tend to vary among tour operators, giving potential patients the opportunity to shop around for the best prices to fit their budget. 

The Indian Advantage

Recent fluctuations in the exchange rate between the Indian rupee and the U.S.  dollar have made Indian prices for medical procedures more irresistible now than ever before.  This is because the sharp rise in the value of the U.S. dollar gives medical tourists the option of getting their planned procedure(s) at still cheaper rates than originally anticipated or getting extra procedures done within their original budget.  As a holiday destination, India also has much to offer the adventurer, the avid shopper, and the seeker of wild, natural beauty.  Each state in this vast country has a unique flavor and culture that impresses itself upon visitors.  Medical tourists, however, do need to consult their doctors prior to planning a hectic itinerary in case their medical treatments restrict them from performing certain activities.  Patients who are not undergoing critical procedures may be able to perform such activities prior to the start of treatment.  Most tour operators will work with tourists to help them plan their combined treatments and vacations to create the ideal health vacation package.  

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