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Health insurance and medical tourism: what you need to know
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If you are thinking about visiting a foreign country for medical purposes, staying ready for any healthcare needs must remain your primary goal to avoid draining all your money during the trip. As you dig deeper, you will find out that health insurance plans can play an important supporting role in such purposes. Make sure to properly plan out your requirements to avoid feeling stressed during your medical tourism.Â
Before you go on such ventures, let this article remind you of some of the important things about medical tourism and how insurance companies like ACKO General Insurance will help to stay secure.Â
Is Medical Tourism and Travelling Abroad for Treatment the Same?Â
Follow this table to get a clear idea of why travelling for treatment and medical tourism are not the same:Â
| Travelling for Treatment | Medical Tourism |
| Generally, healthcare professionals refer for treatment that is unavailable in the patient’s home country | Usually elective treatments such as dental veneers, plastic surgery, weight loss surgery, etc. |
| Usually, with reference from insurance providers or medical professionals, patients are going to spend their time in healthcare facilities and tourism is not what they are looking for | These trips are often arranged by patients through a third-party provider and usually include a sightseeing break and a short holiday |
| If patients cannot afford the healthcare expenses in their home country they may be forced to seek it abroad | Patients travel abroad to benefit from a better deal |
What are the Risks of Medical Tourism?Â
Apart from risks related to the quality of the treatment facility, medical tourism destination, and the health condition for the specific treatment, the following are some risks that you may face during such visits:Â
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Antimicrobial ResistanceÂ
If the healthcare facilities of your choice do not have sufficient infection control practices there are chances to get a drug-resistant infection. Â
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Infectious DiseasesÂ
Complications from treatment procedures such as bloodstream infections, wound infections, donor-derived infections and diseases like HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C can arise.Â
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Air TravelÂ
Air travel immediately after surgery enhances the possibilities of blood clots which can lead to conditions like deep vein thrombosis.Â
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Communication ChallengeÂ
The inability to communicate accurately with the staff at the treatment facility can lead to misunderstanding about the care you need.Â
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Quality of TreatmentÂ
A country’s requirements for maintaining accreditation, credentialing, and licensure can be less than India and it can also use low-quality medical devices and counterfeit medicines.Â
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Continuation of TreatmentÂ
If you develop any complication after the medical tour you may require healthcare in India. This may lead to greater medical expenses.Â
What are the Things You Need to Know Before Your Medical Tourism to Minimise Risks?Â
Whether you are a medical tourist or a medical professional has referred you to a specific treatment abroad, you need to keep these things in mind:Â
I once helped a relative arrange surgery abroad. It turned out that the main challenge wasn’t the trip itself, but rather trying to understand how the insurance would handle a non-standard situation. We spent hours comparing terms, looking for real-life examples, and at some point I came across Globe Life Insurance reviews , which provided more clarity than any official brochures. People described in detail how they resolved disputes and secured payments, and it was these stories that helped us formulate a more confident plan before buying tickets and negotiating with a clinic.