Frequently Asked Questions

There are five main reasons why millions of people are travelling abroad for healthcare:

1. Healthcare abroad can be much more affordable than it is in your home country (read more)

   Travelling to another country for healthcare can save you a great deal of money, even when you take into account airfare, hotel bills and food and entertainment costs. The charts below show rough estimates of the prices of popular treatments in selected countries. You can find many more savings on MedicalExplorer.com.

   You might be asking yourself why healthcare abroad is so much cheaper. There are a number of reasons for this:

   a. Lower labour costs (read more)

   The salaries of surgeons, nurses and administrative staff can be less than half the level of those in the UK or USA. This doesn't mean that physicians overseas are any less skilled or talented, but rather that they live and work in countries with much lower living costs and therefore wage rates in general.

   b. More efficient clinics and physicians (read more)

   Some foreign healthcare providers operate highly efficient practices that focus on only a handful of procedures. They become very good at carrying out these procedures efficiently and to a high standard. The most efficient clinics and hospitals use the latest computerised management systems to reduce bureaucracy, paperwork and unnecessary administration. Such factors combine to reduce costs and enable healthcare providers to offer procedures at lower prices.

   c. Drug and equipment discounts (read more)

   Clinics and hospitals in countries with lower average salaries and living standards cannot afford to pay the prices charged for medication and equipment in the UK, US and some EU countries. This forces pharmaceutical and medical device companies to discount their products in these countries. They can do this because the marginal revenue from selling these products exceeds the marginal cost of producing them. This helps lower the cost of healthcare in some countries.

   d. Lower R&D costs (read more)

   It is often the case that healthcare research and development costs are borne by the governments and private companies in the most developed nations, especially the USA, UK and some EU countries. These costs are passed on to consumers in these countries and, as a result, healthcare costs are higher than in other countries.

   e. Lower legal insurance costs (read more)

   It is often the case that countries abroad tend to be less litigious than the UK, the USA and some EU countries. Citizens of these countries are less likely make frivolous claims (like suing McDonald's because the coffee is too hot). Therefore, the cost of legal insurance in general is lower, and surgeons in such countries do not need to pay as much to insure themselves.

   f. Fewer and lower third party payments (read more)

   Markets are inefficient when third parties (insurers, employers and governments) pay a high proportion of healthcare costs. In the US for example, third parties pay for over 80% of healthcare costs with patients contributing less than 20%. Therefore, US patients are not very sensitive to the price of the treatment. As a result, healthcare providers do not need to compete for patients on the basis of price.
   
   In some countries, consumers pay for a much higher percentage of healthcare costs out of their own pockets. Patients pay over 50 percent of healthcare costs in Mexico out of their own pockets and over 75 percent in India. These countries therefore have more competitive private healthcare sectors with providers of healthcare trying to attract consumers using more efficient business models and offering lower prices.

   g. Fewer cross-subsidies between hospital departments (read more)

   In large hospitals, the revenues from some treatments are used to cover the costs of providing other treatments. This is possible because some procedures produce more revenue than it costs to provide them. If there is no competition for patients of the 'cheap to provide' procedures, the hospital can charge a high price for these procedures. It can then use the surplus revenue to subsidize the 'expensive to provide' procedures without losing revenue. A provider who does not need to cross-subsidize could offer the 'cheap to provide' procedure for a lower price. Many healthcare providers abroad do not cross-subsidize and are therefore able to offer some procedures at lower prices.

   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Waiting lists and time restrictions can be non-existent abroad (read more)

   Patients (in the UK in particular) are often faced with long waiting lists for certain treatments. These delays are driven by under-funding and the resultant lack of facilities and professionals.

   Numerous private clinics have been established around the globe in recent years. These clinics have attracted surgeons from the UK, EU and USA and focus much of their effort on providing healthcare to UK, EU and US citizens. The availability of highly trained professionals and first class facilities abroad usually means that patients who travel for healthcare do not have to wait long to be treated. If you travel abroad for healthcare you should be able to have treatment when it suits you.

3. The standard of healthcare abroad can be comparable to, and is often better than, healthcare in your home country. There are three reasons for this: (read more)

   I. Clinics and hospitals who focus on international patients must achieve the highest standards to attract them (read more)

   The idea of serving international patients in overseas clinics and hospitals has grown into a multi-billion dollar business. In order to attract patients from places like the UK, USA and EU, the best clinics and hospitals must offer customers a world class healthcare experience.

   The standard of healthcare around the world can vary but the leading clinics abroad have done a number of things to achieve high standards:

   a. Hired the best domestic and international surgeons (read more)

   Many of the best and brightest surgeons abroad end up working either in the clinics and hospitals in their home countries that focus on international patients, or in the UK, USA or EU.

   In the UK, almost half of the ~280,000 NHS surgeons now registered with the General Medical Council, obtained their degrees in India, Pakistan, South Africa and Australia. This illustrates the strength of medical training in these countries.

   Many of these physicians end up returning to their home countries and working in private practices focusing on international patients. They join the most qualified and experienced domestic surgeons who elected to stay in their home countries to earn higher wages by focusing on international patients.

   b. Installed the latest equipment (read more)

   The leading hospitals and clinics overseas often buy the latest machines and equipment when they become available. They do this to become leaders in their fields and attract international patients. They might also receive discounts not available to institutions in more established nations (see above).

   c. Paid attention to customer service (read more)

   Doctors and dentists abroad who focus on international patients rely on their customers being satisfied. If patients stopped coming to them, they would go out of business. The best clinics and hospitals will offer various services to ensure that the patient feels comfortable, confident and happy during their stay. These might include: picking you up at the airport free of charge; booking or providing you with first class accommodation; offering free accommodation to a travelling companion; providing you with a mobile phone for the duration of your stay; enabling you to call the surgeon direct at any time before and after your procedure; providing a 24 hour personal concierge service.

   d. Built affiliations with some of the world's leading hospitals (read more)

   Numerous clinics and hospitals overseas have built affiliations with institutions such as the Mayo Clinic, John Hopkins University and Harvard Medical School. In order to build such affiliations, foreign medical institutions have had to prove that their quality and patient safety credentials are world class.

   e. Gained accreditation with domestic and international healthcare standards bodies (read more)

   There are a number of internationally recognised accreditation bodies who seek to ensure that clinics and hospitals offer world class treatment, patient safety and customer service. Becoming a member of these organisations involves passing a quality assessment undertaken by an independent accreditation organisation. Accreditation organisations strive to ensure that healthcare institutions adhere to established quality and patient safety guidelines.

   II. The incidence of disease and medical errors may be lower abroad (read more)

   Hospitals in the UK and US in particular have suffered in recent years from high incidences of deaths through medication errors and neglect, and high rates of antibiotic-resistant infection e.g. C-difficile and MRSA. Figures vary by country but facilities in many nations offer more attractive patient safety statistics.

   III. The latest treatments and techniques might be more readily available abroad (read more)

   Clinics and hospitals operating in less litigious and less bureaucratic healthcare regimes can often offer the latest, cutting edge procedures long before institutions in other countries. The approval process for new procedures in these countries is unencumbered by excessive regulation and they 'come to market' quickly.

4. You're travelling anyway (read more)

   If you're abroad on vacation or business already, you may consider visiting a surgeon or dentist. Many dental and cosmetic procedures don't take long to complete but can save you time, energy and a great deal of money.

5. You want privacy (read more)

   You might want to 'get away from it all' when you're having medical treatment. Travelling overseas can offer privacy and an opportunity to relax both before and after treatment.

The standard of healthcare overseas can be comparable to, and is often higher than, that found in your home country. There are three reasons for this:

1. Clinics and hospitals abroad who focus on international patients must achieve the highest standards to attract them (read more)

   The idea of serving international patients in overseas clinics and hospitals has grown into a multi-billion dollar business. In order to attract patients from places like the UK, USA and EU, the best clinics and hospitals must offer customers a world class healthcare experience.

   The standard of healthcare around the world can vary but the leading clinics abroad have done a number of things to achieve high standards:

   a. Hired the best domestic and international surgeons (read more)

   Many of the best and brightest surgeons abroad end up working either in the clinics and hospitals in their home countries that focus on international patients, or in the UK, USA or EU.

   In the UK, almost half of the ~280,000 NHS surgeons now registered with the General Medical Council, obtained their degrees in India, Pakistan, South Africa and Australia. This illustrates the strength of medical training in these countries.

   Many of these physicians end up returning to their home countries and working in private practices focusing on international patients. They join the most qualified and experienced domestic surgeons who elected to stay in their home countries to earn higher wages by focusing on international patients.

   b. Installed the latest equipment (read more)

   The leading hospitals and clinics overseas often buy the latest machines and equipment when they become available. They do this to become leaders in their field and attract international patients. They might also receive discounts not available to institutions in more established nations (see above).

   c. Paid attention to customer service (read more)

   Doctors and dentists abroad who focus on international patients rely on their customers being satisfied. If patients stopped coming to them, they would go out of business. The best clinics and hospitals will offer various services to ensure that the patient feels comfortable, confident and happy during their stay. These might include: picking you up at the airport free of charge; booking or providing you with first class accommodation; offering free accommodation to a travelling companion; providing you with a mobile phone for the duration of your stay; enabling you to call the surgeon direct at any time before and after your procedure; providing a 24 hour personal concierge service.

   d. Built affiliations with some of the world's leading hospitals (read more)

   Numerous clinics and hospitals overseas have built affiliations with institutions such as the Mayo Clinic, John Hopkins University and Harvard Medical School. In order to build such affiliations, foreign medical institutions have had to prove that their quality and patient safety credentials are world class.

   e. Gained accreditation with domestic and international healthcare standards bodies (read more)

   There are a number of internationally recognised accreditation bodies who seek to ensure that clinics and hospitals offer world class treatment, patient safety and customer service. Becoming a member of these organisations involves passing a quality assessment undertaken by an independent accreditation organisation. Accreditation organisations strive to ensure that healthcare institutions adhere to established quality and patient safety guidelines.

2. The incidence of disease and medical errors may be lower abroad (read more)

   Hospitals in the UK and US in particular have suffered in recent years from high incidences of deaths through medication errors and neglect, and high rates of antibiotic-resistant infection e.g. C-difficile and MRSA. Figures vary by country but facilities in many nations offer more attractive patient safety statistics.

3. The latest treatments and techniques might be more readily available abroad (read more)

   Clinics and hospitals operating in less litigious and less bureaucratic healthcare regimes can often offer the latest, cutting edge procedures long before institutions in other countries. The approval process for new procedures in these countries is unencumbered by excessive regulation and they 'come to market' quickly.

There are numerous things to consider before travelling abroad or within your home country to undergo a medical procedure. The following questions should help your thinking and planning:

Have I educated myself about the procedure I want to have?

Ensure that you've done your research on the procedure you wish to have:

• What are the latest or best techniques being used to perform this procedure?
• What are the best materials to use in this procedure?
• What is the best equipment to use for this procedure?
• What tests or scans do I need before I have this procedure?
• Which pre-existing medical conditions might prevent me from having this procedure?
• Will I need local or general anaesthetic?
• How long will I be hospitalised for?
• What is the success rate of this procedure?
• Are there any potential side effects or complications associated with this procedure?
• How likely am I to experience side effects/complications?
• Can I travel pre and post the procedure?
• How long after the procedure must I wait before I can fly home?
• How much will the procedure cost?
• How long will the recovery period be?
• How long before I can return to work?
• What medication will I need to take following this procedure? For how long?
• Are there any potential side effects or complications associated with this medication?
• Will I need to see the surgeon or dentist for a follow-up appointment?

Do I want to undergo this procedure in my home country?

There are a number of reasons why you might want to undergo your procedure in your home country:

• I get homesick easily and don't want to be away from home
• I don't want to be alone before and after my treatment and can't afford to take a travelling companion with me
• My medical condition prevents me from travelling safely
• I cannot afford to spend the required amount of recovery time in the country where I can have my treatment before flying home

Do I want to undergo this procedure overseas?

There are a number of reasons why you might want to undergo your procedure overseas: (Read More)

If I decide to travel overseas, what should I think about?

Once you've decided that you'd rather travel overseas to undergo your procedure, you should consider the following:

Questions about travel and logistics

• Which countries are known to specialise in the procedure I want? eg. Hungary is a leader in dentistry
• What is my budget and how much does my procedure cost in each country?
• How much will flights, hotels and meals cost for each country?
• What patient protection laws are in place in each country?
• Which country would I like to visit?
• How long do I want to be overseas for?
• For how many hours am I willing to fly?
• How much will the flights cost?
• How much will the accommodation and meals cost?
• Will I go alone?
• Do I need a visa for the country I wish to travel to?
• Has my country's Foreign Office suggested that travelling to my chosen destination is dangerous?
• Can I afford to spend longer than expected overseas if my procedure requires it?
• Will I take a holiday before and/or after my procedure?
• Do I have travel and medical treatment insurance?

Questions about the clinic and staff

• Is the surgical facility accredited by a nationally or internationally-recognized accrediting body? If so, which one(s)?
• Have the surgeons in this clinics gained internationally recognised qualifications, accreditations and experience?
• Do the staff in the clinic speak English?
• Can I speak to the surgeon who will perform my procedure before and after the procedure?
• Will I have access to the surgeon who performed my procedure during my time at the clinic?
• Can I see the surgeon in my home country before and/or after my procedure?
• Will I be allocated a dedicated nurse during my time at the clinic?
• Will the procedure be carried out in a clinic or in a private hospital?
• Will the clinic provide a bed or accommodation for a travelling companion?
• Will the clinic send me additional information when I ask for it?
• Will the clinic pick me up from the airport and arrange and/or pay for my accommodation?

Questions about costs, payment and contracts

• Which clinics offer the most competitive prices? (Note: you should never compromise on quality to save money. Always read the resumes of the surgeons in the clinics you are interested in and speak to the clinic about their facilities and services. Read what other patients have written about surgeons and clinics you are interested in)
• What do these prices include? (ask whether fees for the following are included: surgeons, nurses, anaesthetists, medication, anaesthetic, materials and equipment used in surgery, lab tests, scans, X-rays, consultations, after care, accommodation, meals, transfers, internet, TV, phone calls, post procedure materials)
• Will the clinic provide me with a contract that details what the clinic agrees to do and at what price?
• What is the clinic's refund policy? (What happens if I change my mind on arrival or are unable to undergo the treatments I agreed to, either because I get ill or because of the discovery of a pre-existing medical condition?)
• Do I need to pay in advance?
• Can I pay by credit card?
• Can I pay in instalments/will the clinic arrange finance?

Questions for your surgeon about your procedure

• With which medical accreditation bodies are you certified/accredited?
• Were you trained specifically in this field (relevant to your procedure)?
• How many years training in this field (relevant to your procedure) have you had?
• Do you have hospital privileges to perform this procedure? If so, at which hospitals?
• Am I a good candidate for this procedure?
• What will be expected of me to get the best results?
• Do you have before-and-after photos I can look at for this procedure and what results are reasonable for me?
• Where and how will you perform my procedure?
• What surgical technique is recommended for me?
• What are the risks and complications associated with my procedure?
• How are complications handled?
• Can I see the anaesthetist's credentials?
• Have you worked with the anaesthetist before?
• Will the anaesthetist carry out a pre and post procedure evaluation?
• What contingency plans does the clinic have in place if complications arise during my procedure?
• How far is the clinic from the Emergency Room or Intensive Care Unit in case of emergency?

Questions about your recovery

• Can I speak to the surgeon who will perform my procedure after the procedure?
• Can I see the surgeon who will perform my procedure in my home country after my procedure?
• Will I stay at the clinic after my procedure or will they take me to a hotel?
• What post-procedure care does the clinic offer?
• How long of a recovery period can I expect, and what kind of help will I need during my recovery?
• How can I expect to look over time? After pregnancy?
• What are my options if I am dissatisfied with the outcome of my procedure?
• Will the clinic make any 'guarantees' around repeating the procedure for free if complications arise? (the best clinics will offer to cover all travel and treatment costs should complications arise for up to a year after treatment)

1. We're 100% FREE to use - we won't charge you a penny for using our services

2. Integrity is our number one priority

• We strive to only work with ethical and professional institutions
• We believe in being open and honest in everything we do
• We never give your information to third parties unless you give us permission to do so

3. We're 100% impartial

• We never accept payment to promote certain clinics above others
• We show you an unbiased range of options, not just clinics with big marketing budgets
• We don't mind which clinic you choose or which country you visit

4. Find and compare medical procedures at clinics worldwide

• We've asked clinics worldwide to display their information with us
• We've built a user friendly site to help you navigate this information
• We present you with a range of options so you can make the right choice for you

5. Find the best price for your treatment

• Clinics display their best prices because they know they're being compared against each other
• We never add fees or commissions to these prices
• You can save up to 75% by travelling abroad for medical treatment

6. Contact clinics easily and receive a professional, no obligation, response

• Making an enquiry is easy: enter brief details on MedicalExplorer.com and press 'send'
• We'll ensure your enquiry goes to the right person who will respond to you within 48 hours
• There is NO OBLIGATION to have or even discuss treatment

7. Read patient reviews and help others by writing your own

• We're compiling reviews so you can read about what other people think of particular clinics
• We believe reviews are important in helping others make the right choice - that's why we incentivise you to write a review
• If you enquire with a clinic and have treatment, you can write a review for the site

If a hospital or clinic has been 'accredited' it has passed a quality assessment undertaken by an independent accreditation organisation. Accreditation organisations strive to ensure that healthcare institutions adhere to established quality and patient safety guidelines in a number of areas: (read more)

No. Our goal is to provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision about whom you would like to speak to with respect to your health. We're 100% impartial and don't mind which surgeon or dentist you have treatment with, nor which country you choose to travel to.

We are currently in discussions with a number of finance partners to secure the best finance deals for you. Please call us or 'live chat' with us to find out more.

We are currently in discussions with a number of insurance partners to secure the best insurance deals for you. Please call us or 'live chat' with us to find out more.

MedicalExplorer.com is registered as a limited company in the United Kingdom. We employ and are advised by accomplished professionals with backgrounds in diverse fields from medicine to law. (read more)

MedicalExplorer.com is 100% free to our customers.

We don't increase the prices clinics and hospitals give us and we don't charge you a penny for using our service.

We are able to provide this service for free because we charge clinics and hospitals a small fee for enabling them to market their services to customers like you. Clinics and hospitals don't mind paying us for this because we enable them to show the services and prices they offer to a large number of customers. We can then invest in our business and make it easy for you to find, compare and contact clinics and hospitals worldwide.