One million Americans are expected to go abroad for medical care this year, according to David G. Vequist IV, director of the Center for Medical Tourism Research in San Antonio, Texas. That number is up from around 750, 000 in 2013.
One Million Seek Medical Care Abroad
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One of those going abroad for a new knee was 58-year-old Vince Ellis, an employee of North-Carolina-based HSM Solutions. As reported by HealthNewsDigest.com, an AARP newsletter, Ellis received knee replacement surgery at an internationally accredited hospital, an all-expenses-paid trip to Costa Rica, a two-week stay in a four-star hotel and daily visits from a physical therapist and nurse. Ellis is now back at work and says that he did not “pay out of pocket for anything.”
About one-third of health-related trips abroad are for dental work. Orthopedic procedures, such as hip and knee replacements, account for around 7%.
A 2014 survey by HR consulting firm Aon Hewitt, found that only 5% of employers currently cover those surgeries. However 25% say they may add this in the next three to five years, according to AARP’s research. Ellis’ employer, with 2, 500 employees, claims to have saved nearly $11 million on health care since the company started its medical-travel program in 2010, according to benefits director Tim Eisenhower.
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This is a fascinating development. In my practice we've seen similar outcomes with the revised protocol. The key differentiator seems to be patient selection criteria. Has anyone else noticed the correlation with BMI thresholds?
Great point. I'd push back slightly on the conclusion, the sample size in the cited study is too small to draw population-level inferences. That said, the directional signal is compelling and worth a larger RCT.
We implemented a similar approach last year. Early results are promising but we're still gathering 12-month follow-up data. Happy to share our protocol if anyone is interested.
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