Medical tourism is taking off. According to Treatmentabroad.net, a specialist
website, 50,000 Britons headed overseas last year to have private medical or
dental work at knockdown prices. The savings can be huge – more than 60 per
cent off the cost of common procedures, with travel and a beach break
included.
Websites such as RevaHealth.com and Treatmentabroad.net list hundreds of
providers. In Croatia, dental implants start at £550 each, more than £1,000
off the average price at home. In Belgium, a facelift costs about £3,000,
including flights and hotel, saving £4,000. In India, meanwhile, a heart
bypass is £5,000 all-in, saving a hefty £10,000.
Keith Pollard, of Treatment-abroad.net, says that most medical tourists do not
have private medical insurance and cannot get the treatment on the NHS when
they want it, if at all. The appeal of a quick, cheap, fix in the sun is
obvious. But the British Medical Association (BMA) urges caution, so what
are the hidden costs?
A first spanner in the works is that standard travel insurance does not cover
medical tourism. Exclusions target preexisting conditions, nonemergency
dentistry and cosmetic surgery. Uninsured travellers face costs of tens of
thousands of pounds or more in the event of disaster.
Paul Walker, of Essential Health, the specialist broker, says that finding
cover is “very problematic”. However, he says that some small insurers will
cover minor procedures close to home – a nose job in Western Europe, for
example – for £30 to £40 on top of a basic travel policy. Bigger names, such
as Direct Line, may cover travel risks that are not connected to the
procedure, if notified. Mr Walker adds that medical tourists should not
expect life insurance to pay out in the worst-case scenario. “Insurers would
see that as an avoidable risk.”
Reducing the risk takes research. Mr Pollard says that medical tourists should
check that a surgeon or dentist is registered to his or her country’s
equivalent of the General Medical Council (GMC) or General Dental Council
(GDC). Contact details of these bodies are listed on his website.
But Hamish Laing, of the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and
Aesthetic Surgeons, says that credentials alone are of limited value as no
operation is risk-free, however competent the surgeon. His concern is that
medical tourism deals do not offer the levels of pre and postoperative care
that are standard in the UK. For example, some firms offer a chat with a
salesman in place of a consultation.
The BMA and British Dental Association advise medical tourists to speak to
their GP or dentist before booking treatment. Corrective work can cost more
than an initial botched procedure. The NHS will step in for an emergency,
such as an infected wound, but it will not touch up cosmetic work that does
not meet expectations. The level of redress from overseas clinics varies.
Consider the cost and hassle of legal action in a foreign system if the
provider fails to deliver.
There are no wide-scale studies on medical tourism risks. However, research
published in the Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive and Cosmetic Surgery indicates
that in the six months to November last year at least 50 people were seen at
NHS plastic surgery units in the Thames area with complications after
cosmetic work overseas. Most were emergencies requiring inpatient treatment.
Websites, such as Treatment-abroad.net, list average treatment costs with
flights and accommodation. But other expenses, such as meals, visas and
inoculations, could bump up costs. Many procedures also incur standard
follow-up expenses, such as check-ups and maintenance. You should research
these and consider whether you will be able to travel abroad, or face a
number of full-rate bills at home.
The State may pay for essential treatment in Europe for those who cannot get
it in the UK, or who experience “undue delay” with the NHS. For details, see
the E112 form and “article 49” on the Department of Health website at www.dh.gov.uk
.
Checklist
Speak to your GP or dentist before considering medical tourism. He or she
should be able to offer initial advice.
Compare clinics at websites such as Treatmentabroad.net and RevaHealth.com
. Don’t forget to check the competition in the UK – it may be no more
expensive.
Ask to speak to previous patients.
Check qualifications and registration with the relevant bodies.
Establish exactly what the quoted prices cover. Will there be follow-up costs?
Is there redress if the surgeon or dentist fails to deliver?
The BMA advises patients to have an advance consultation with the surgeon who
will operate. If this is only possible abroad, you may have a wasted trip –
a good practitioner may advise against work.
Contact a specialist insurance broker, such as Essential Health (0870
4281005), for advice on cover.
Do not be afraid to drop out at the last minute, even if it costs you money.
The “tourism” side should be a bonus. Do not put standards of nightlife or
cuisine before quality of care.
CASE STUDY: Prague gamble paid off
Anthony Elflain, of Bedford, was shocked when he saw the photographs of his
and Arthur Sullivan’s civil partnership ceremony in December 2005. “I looked
knackered,” he says The 49-year-old human resources consultant decided that
a facelift, necklift and eyelid surgery would help, and set to comparing
prices in the UK and abroad. He found that prices at home ranged from £9,000
to £13,400. Unimpressed, he did some research online and decided that the
Czech Republic offered a safe, cheap, alternative. He compared clinics at
Treatmentabroad.net and checked credentials with the Czech Medical Chamber.
In August he travelled to Prague, paying £4,400 for flights, accommodation and
surgery at the Beauty in Prague Clinic. He bought standard travel cover with
the understanding that his insurer would not pay out if the operation went
wrong. The surgery was a success and Mr Elflain was able to enjoy the rest
of his 23-day stay in Prague. He says that his GP was happy with the results
and there have been no complications. “I would definitely recommend it,” he
says.
Here and there
Breast augmentation
UK ........................................... £4,350
Poland ..................................... £1,920
Tummy tuck
UK ........................................... £4,810
Czech Rep ............................. £2,009
Hip replacement
UK ........................................... £8,000
Malaysia ................................. £3,205
Dental implants
UK ........................................... £2,000
Turkey ........................................ £988
Source: Treatmentabroad.net,
comparing average prices in the UK with prices abroad including flights and
hotel accommodation
