Medical Tourism Insurance
While medical tourism insurance is not yet a mainstream product, everyone predicts major changes are in the air. OnlineMedicalTourism.com does not provide advice on medical tourism insurance. We instead will host the conversation about where medical tourism insurance is headed, and how the changes will impact the medical traveler. As with any medical topic, we advise you to consult your insurance provider for information on what coverage you currently have, and what that entitles you to regarding outsourced health care.
Do not assume your insurance covers treatment in a medical tourism facility. It very likely does not. Read your policy or contact your insurance company's customer service.
While medical tourism insurance coverage is not currently commonplace, changes are in the works as mainstream insurers take note of the opportunities created by the recent release of AMA guidelines for the medical tourism insurance industry.
UNITED STATES: Insurer allows medical tourism
More US health insurers are taking baby steps into medical tourism. In an effort to control rising costs, a small but growing number of insurers and employers are giving people the choice to seek treatment in other countries.
Until recently, most Americans who travelled abroad for medical care were uninsured or were seeking procedures not covered by insurance, such as cosmetic dentistry. Now, a handful of plans are beginning to cover treatment overseas for heart surgery, hip and knee replacements and other major surgical procedures.
Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Wisconsin is the latest insurer to explore medical tourism. Beginning in January (2009), the insurance company – in a pilot exercise - will allow employees at graphic arts company Serigraph to travel to India for certain elective surgeries such as spinal fusion, angioplasty, hip and knee replacement and bariatric surgery.
From MedicalNewsToday regarding medical tourism insurance standards:
In 2006, about 150,000 U.S. residents received some form of medical care internationally, and about half of the procedures were "medically necessary," such as open heart surgery or hip and knee replacements, according to AMA.
AMA's guidelines for patients include seeking care from accredited providers, being knowledgeable about legal rights in the country in which they are seeking care and bringing medical records to and from facilities outside of the U.S. In addition, patients should be informed of potential risks following surgeries, such as blood clots that can develop during long flights. AMA said that insurers and employers who are considering covering international care as a way to reduce health costs should not restrict treatment referrals or limit diagnostic tests. In addition, AMA supports allowing patients to choose their own physicians and hospitals and not be limited to an insurer's list of providers. AMA also said that employers and health plans considering coverage of overseas care should cover necessary follow-up care once the patient returns to the U.S.
Recognition of medical tourism as a viable marketplace, and the need for medical tourism insurance are going to stimulate changes that will benefit all the players. It is only a matter of time before medical tourism insurance becomes widely available. When the medical tourism advantages can be leveraged by the mainstream insurers, medical tourism insurance policies will become commonplace.
If you have information about any medical tourism insurance availability, or if your employer offers medical tourism insurance coverage of any kind, please let us know this news. We would like to report anecdotal evidence of real changes in the way medical tourism insurance is viewed by industry.
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