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. 

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. 

Is Medical Tourism and Travelling Abroad for Treatment the Same? 

Follow this table to get a clear idea of why travelling for treatment and medical tourism are not the same: 

What are the Risks of Medical Tourism? 

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: 

• Antimicrobial Resistance 

If the healthcare facilities of your choice do not have sufficient infection control practices there are chances to get a drug-resistant infection.  

• Infectious Diseases 

Complications from treatment procedures such as bloodstream infections, wound infections, donor-derived infections and diseases like HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C can arise. 

• Air Travel 

Air travel immediately after surgery enhances the possibilities of blood clots which can lead to conditions like deep vein thrombosis. 

• Communication Challenge 

The inability to communicate accurately with the staff at the treatment facility can lead to misunderstanding about the care you need. 

• Quality of Treatment 

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. 

• Continuation of Treatment 

If you develop any complication after the medical tour you may require healthcare in India. This may lead to greater medical expenses. 

What are the Things You Need to Know Before Your Medical Tourism to Minimise Risks? 

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: 

• Choose an Operator with a Considerable Reputation 

It is necessary to have a reliable operator who has access to the best medical professionals and hospitals. If you have an international health insurance cover your provider can connect you with a hospital within their own network. For instance, insurance providers who have zero or do not have a high waiting period for health insurance, must be the one to select.

• Bring a Relative 

No matter how you look at medical tourism, if you have to do it alone, it may be unbearably nerve-wracking. If you have international health insurance it will at least cover one person to travel with you. 

• Consult Your Insurance Provider 

If the treatment procedure is outside of your international health insurance coverage zone you need to consult it with your insurance provider who may help you bear the expense of treatment. 

• Arrange for Follow-up Care 

Prepare for follow-up care (in India) before you travel by carefully reviewing your health insurance policy and considering how its coverage can benefit the follow-up care that may be necessary if complications arise after the medical tour. 

• Get Pre-Travel Consultation 

See a travel medicine clinician or your healthcare provider and discuss the whole process including specific risks, treatment procedures, and so on. 

• Research the Facility and the Clinician 

Research and ensure that you are satisfied with the qualification of the clinician who will be responsible for the healthcare procedure and with the credentials of the facility where the treatment will be done. 

• Maintain Your Medical Records 

Keeping copies of your medical records is a no-brainer, but you should also have a travel health kit containing prescriptions and medicines that will last the whole trip. 

• Opt for Specific Coverage 

It is beneficial to get international health insurance that covers medical evacuation back to India. It ensures financial support in case you fall unexpectedly ill. 

The Bottom Line 

Overall, we hope now you have a clear idea of how health insurance, or to be more specific international health insurance, is closely related to medical tourism and how integral it is. International health insurance schemes ensure access to the best quality treatment while saving you from the unbearable expenses of such healthcare. 

If you are in search of excellent health insurance plans, you can browse policies from ACKO General Insurance as they are one of the most reliable insurance providers in India. 

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