Every year, millions of Americans travel internationally for medical tourism, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
The practice of visiting another country to receive healthcare — including cosmetic and reproductive treatments — that isn’t available or is less expensive abroad has received heightened attention as some share their journeys on social media. This comes as healthcare costs in the U.S. rise and health spending exceeds that of other wealthy nations.
Additionally, there are other reasons people might seek out treatments in other countries, said Jonathan Edelheit, chairman and co-founder of the non-profit Medical Tourism Association. “They could be looking for higher quality, they could be looking for affordability, or there are huge waiting periods,” he said.
If you’re seeking care in another country, the process isn’t always the same as it would be at home. Luckily, there are resources that can help you organize, pay for and protect your trip.
Below, CNBC Select rounds up our top tips and products for those seeking medical attention outside the U.S.
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How to plan for medical tourism
Use a trusted platform to book your procedure
When you expand your medical procedure search from local to international, the options can quickly become overwhelming.
Finding a qualified doctor and hospital is likely your first step, but even that can be complicated. First, you’ll need to ensure you find and vet potential providers. Reading online reviews — especially from other Americans — is a good starting point. However, you should also verify the professionals’ credentials on your own. “Ask for references of patients who have gone there that you can talk to,” Edelheit said.
After you’ve found a few doctors you’d like to work with, you’ll need to keep tabs on your communications with prospective providers — you’ll likely need to send medical records, get on calls with doctors you’re considering working with and compare the quotes you gather as you start to plan.
Finding an online platform to help you with your search can simplify what can be an overwhelming process. But not all are the same.
One of the best platforms we’ve found for finding providers abroad is Better by the Medical Tourism Association (MTA). The platform allows you to create a free account and connect with clinics and providers vetted by the MTA. Users can also use the site to meet with providers, get quotes, and transfer medical records through its HIPAA-compliant system.
Better by Medical Tourism Association
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Cost
Free to make an account, financing costs vary
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Standout features
Better by the Medical Tourism Association is a platform for shopping, arranging, and paying for medical care abroad. The platform includes a database of medical treatment options accredited by the Medical Tourism Association. It also facilitates payments through Mastercard, and offers financing with instant approval for a variety of procedures around the world.
Pros
- Offers secure payments and financing for medical treatment abroad
- Works with a wide variety of procedures, from elective procedures and preventative care to advanced treatments
- Directory of providers is vetted by the Medical Tourism Association
Cons
- Financing not available to all applicants
Pay for medical tourism by credit card
Once you’ve found a provider you’re ready to schedule with, make sure to fund your procedure the right way.
“One thing we tell patients is to pay by credit card, and never pay cash,” Edelheit said, adding that he’s seen some offices ask patients for a cash deposit or payments, usually to avoid taxes. Paying on a credit card could also give you some recourse if something goes wrong, like fraud.
In the U.S., you’d normally want to avoid putting medical debt on a credit card, as these can have higher interest rates — making your procedure more expensive — than financing through your provider or hospital.
Additionally, strategizing your payment method could help you in the long run. For example, if you apply for and get approved for a credit card with a 0% introductory APR, you could pay down the costs over time, depending on which card you select.
Read more: The best 0% APR credit cards
The Better by MTA platform can also help you pay your provider securely. The platform’s partnership with Mastercard’s payment network allows you to use your own credit card. Or, you can apply for financing through the platform itself.
With Better by MTA, patients also have some protection they wouldn’t have otherwise. “If there’s an issue, we’re going to advocate and help take care of it for you,” Edelheit said.
How to cover yourself when traveling for medical procedures
Standard travel insurance policies typically don’t cover you if you’re traveling for medical tourism. Additionally, your U.S. health insurance policy typically doesn’t work for treatment outside the country.
That leaves you vulnerable to overspending if something unexpected happens during your procedure.
“You need to understand that if there are complications, you’re going to be charged for those costs as well,” said Glenn Evans, a general manager at international insurance company AXA Partners and a board member of the MTA based in Panama City, Panama.
Only one insurance brokerage, Global Protective Solutions, offers complications coverage that anyone traveling for medical tourism can apply for. This can help if complications arise up to 180 days after your procedure. During your journey, it can also act as travel insurance that covers cancellations, delays and other travel issues.
Global Protective Solutions℠ Medical Tourism Complications Insurance
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Standout benefits
Available to anyone traveling outside of their home country to obtain medical treatment, Global Protective Solutions℠ Medical Tourism Complications Insurance covers issues arising as a result of an international procedure within 180 days of treatment. This plan also offers features of a standard travel insurance policy like trip cancellation, trip delay and baggage coverage.
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Cost
Pros
- In business since 2008
- Includes coverage for emergency medical assistance
- Coverage also available for a travel companion
Medical tourism FAQs
Does insurance cover medical tourism?
For most people, medical tourism is not covered by health insurance. Typically, U.S. health insurance policies don’t cover medical procedures performed outside of the country. Most people traveling for medical tourism need to self-pay for their treatments or seek out financing.
Can you get insurance for medical tourism?
Medical tourism typically isn’t covered by U.S. health insurance or standard travel insurance. One company, Global Protective Solutions, offers coverage for complications that happen up to 180 days after your procedure.
Meet our experts
At CNBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. For this story, we interviewed Jonathan Edelheit, the chairman and co-founder of the Medical Tourism Association. We also interviewed Glenn Evans, a general manager at international insurance company AXA Partners with over 25 years of experience in the healthcare and finance fields.
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At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every insurance review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of insurance products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.
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