The term "Medical Tourism" simply refers to the act of traveling outside one`s own area of residence to obtain healthcare services.
Also known as medical travel, health travel, health tourism or global healthcare, it is the term used to describe the rapidly growing practice of traveling across borders to obtain healthcare. This can take the form of a couple hundred kilometer drive or it can mean flying half way around the world. Individuals seek travel for virtually every type of health care, including life-threatening, cosmetic and dental treatments.
The reasons are different for everyone. The most common noted reasons range from timely access to care, virtually no waiting lists, access to a treatment or procedure not currently available within your area or even within your own country, to realizing substantial savings on elective procedures such as; cosmetic surgery, permanent weight loss and dental services. Many of our clients combine a holiday in a warm or tropical destination while having a healthcare concern addressed, and, often taken care of.
Our clients are impressed by the quality of care, clean environment, professional caring doctors and personalized attention they receive through our healthcare services network. At minimum, you can expect the same quality, generally better, from our healthcare facilities located abroad as you would find at home. When selecting a healthcare provider from our network, you have the choice of the most experienced professionals in the world, complimented by follow up care with nurses and healthcare providers who have experience providing for and making international travelers feel comfortable.
Yes, we feel you need this information to make an informed decision. We will provide you with a cv or profile outlining their education, training, certification, experience specific to your treatment, and their clinical procedural/success rates, as well as any publications they may have authored.
Yes, a personal consultation can be arranged by telephone, video conference or through Skype. You may also contact both the healthcare facility and treating physician by e-mail, and we encourage you to feel free to ask as many questions as you like. If a video or telephone consultation is arranged, you should be prepared with a list of questions and have your medication and medical history information with you.
Many clients take full advantage of the low costs and receive multiple services such as comprehensive medical exams including, MRI, full cardio work up, screening and early detection of cancer through tumour marker testing, dental exam and an audiology exam.
Surgery has inherent risks and complications no matter where you are. The most important aspect to receiving the best treatment possible is choosing a board certified physician and accredited facility with high success rates. To mitigate risk, we investigate the physician/ dentist / surgeon's credentials and facility accreditations to ensure that you have the best choices available. Our process for choosing healthcare providers takes an average of three months. To further minimize your risk, you need to be prepared, we offer specialty insurance available to clients and their companion(s) when traveling abroad specifically for medical tourism treatment.
The selection of medical centers within our network is based upon a number of criteria. This criterion includes a review of international, domestic, clinical and service credentials, licenses, board certifications and accreditations. We also review the credentials of the physicians and their history of working with international patients. Global Healthcare has personally met many of the physicians and dentists within our network and we have conducted on site visits to many of the medical centers within our network. During our on-site visits, the physicians, use of technology, and the modernity of the laboratory and diagnostic equipment were reviewed and assessed.
This is one of the most important questions. First of all, we have high expectations and we understand the entire process of traveling for medical services. Choosing to work with Global Healthcare Connections will ensure you have immediate access to the best practitioners in their field of expertise. While many of our clients are capable of coordinating their medical travel on their own, we are able to reduce the amount of time, stress and the number of steps involved in order to set up your treatment.
We are able to interview every doctor and facility thoroughly to provide you with any information necessary prior to your arrival. Secondly, the prices we have negotiated with the hospitals, clinics, physicians and hotels are sometimes lower than you may get when going direct, and you get the peace of mind that we will look after all the details and support you every step of the way.
Although our website contains an extensive list of medical tourism treatments, it is by no means a complete list of the full range of healthcare available through our network of providers. Should you have a need for a medical or dental treatment not listed on our site, please contact us, we would be happy to assist you in your quest for information.
Generally you will find that most elective procedures such as cosmetic surgery, permanent weight loss and dental treatments are available at significant savings. You save between 30 and 60% when compared to the costs for the same procedure at home. Prices vary greatly, the level of savings depend on the destination and the procedure for which you seek treatment. One thing you should know, regardless of the savings, our network of providers does not substitute care or experience for cost savings. We would be happy to provide you with detailed costs for your procedure, based on your destination. Simply give us a call at 1-888-974-2470 or request a quote.
The cost advantage evolves from the lower cost of living and wages paid in most destination countries as compared to North America.
Your air tickets, hotels and deposit for surgery must be paid in advance through Global Healthcare Connections Inc. we will be pleased to provide you with specific payment information once you have decided on the service provider, facility and choice of travel date. Full financing for Canadian citizens is available for your medical trip; please let us know if you would like us to help you with financing options.
Not generally and especially if it is an elective surgery. There may be special circumstances; you would have to check directly with your private medical plan administrator for private insurance, and if you are looking for support from the Canadian Government, all requests for support are reviewed on an individual basis and expenses for healthcare outside of Canada must be pre-approved prior to travel.
If you are incorporated there us a legal way to deduct up to 100% of your out of country medical costs. For individuals, your tax relief is limited to the amount by which your expenses exceed 3% of your income. Always seek the guidance from a chartered accountant for allowable income expenses.
Complete and return to us the Request a Quote located on the right hand side of this page. We will contact you if we have any questions or require any further information. Based on your preferred destination, we will forward your request to a healthcare provider within our network. They generally respond to us within 24 hours.
Yes, most medical travelers have a family member or a friend travel with them abroad. When you have a family member or friend with you, you have a sense of personal comfort that only someone close to you can provide.
Please be assured that you should never feel alone. Rather than travel alone, you have options. You may choose to have a personal assistant from Global Healthcare Connections travel with you, or in certain destinations, we offer access to a personal assistant, a native of the destination country, who will meet you on arrival, be your "friend away from home" and support you during your stay. In either case, your personal assistant will arrange for transportation and accompany you to medical appointments, be with you pre- and post- operatively in the hospital and available once you are discharged to your hotel or resort. In addition, they may be available for short excursions or to take you shopping or site seeing when your physician advises that you are well enough to be out and about.
In countries where English is not the first language; the healthcare providers within our network have fully staffed International patient departments with English speaking staff. In most cases, hospital staff and physicians speak fluent English. Many physicians have trained in Canada, the U.S and Europe, and use English to communicate with their colleagues every day. For your added peace of mind, many of our international providers can provide you with a bilingual translator for the duration of your stay.
Reasonable safety precautions must be taken, which is no different than at home. Do not walk alone at night, and be careful of petty theft with personal belongings. We will advise you if there are any known travel advisories regarding your destination.
This depends entirely on your destination and the treatment or procedure for which you are seeking care. Your healthcare provider will advise us when you need to be there and we will plan your travel itinerary accordingly.
Your treating physician will advise you of your expected recovery time and will clear you when you can safely travel home after your surgery. Your travel itinerary will be planned accordingly.
Yes. It is perfectly legal to go outside of Canada and the U.S. to receive treatment.
Global Healthcare Connections Inc. holds all of your personal information in the strictest of confidence. You control access to your health information, and your personal information is provided only to your case manager and your personal assistant on a "need to know" basis to ensure that you are well looked after during your medical travel experience. No further details will be divulged unless necessary and only with your permission. Your health portal and our website are encrypted with SSL and all access is user name and password protected. Your medical tourism information will not be released to any third parties, period. Please refer to our Privacy Policy and our Terms and Conditions for complete information.
