For many people worldwide, medical tourism is quickly becoming the primary method of medical treatment to combat the every rising cost of health care.  For many who live in countries, such as the United States, where health care costs have skyrocketed in recent years, medical tourism is sometimes the only way of receiving costly surgeries and treatments that are desperately needed.

For the last couple years insurance companies have been dragging their feet when it comes to helping cover the cost of abroad treatment.  Many worry about the quality of care their clients will receive, as well as the possibility of being sued later should something go wrong.  On the other hand, insurance companies have begun to feel the effects of the loss of revenue as more and more people travel abroad to receive treatment.  And with more foreign facilities receiving approval from Joint Commission International (JCI), they are beginning to see the benefits of covering this new branch of medical care.  In an effort to recoup some of their losses, they have started offering special policies for those who prefer to travel abroad.  Blue Cross Blue Shield was one of the first to develop contracts with foreign hospitals. Medical tourism insurance often includes traveler’s insurance, full or partial payment of the procedure, and full or partial payment of emergency procedures or evacuations.  There are many new insurance companies that have recently opened their doors and offer services strictly for medical tourist.  Their coverage also includes trip insurance, medical complication coverage, and evacuation coverage.

Some insurance and medical tourism companies are urging employers to offer special packages for foreign treatment that would include airfare, accommodations, and treatment for a single rate; which would still be nearly 50% less than paying for the surgery alone in the U.S.  This would help make medical tourism a more accessible option for many that would never consider it otherwise.

Although it is worth looking into, many insurance companies do not offer medical tourism insurance and, if they do, it probably will not cover much.  There are often many limitations on the type of surgery or treatment they will cover.  Despite the growth of medical tourism, there is still much that is not covered by the insurance companies.  In these cases patients are left to pay out of pocket.  But with prices 50-75% lower than in the U.S., it is not nearly as draining on the bank accounts.

If the price tag still seems a little steep, remember that you are also getting an exotic vacation.  What better way to recover after surgery or medical treatment than relaxing on the beaches of Costa Rica while someone sees to your every need?