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Old 11-16-2005, 11:12 AM   #1
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More on Overseas Medical Care...

India luring Westerners with low-cost surgeries

10:26 PM CST on Tuesday, November 15, 2005

By JIM LANDERS / The Dallas Morning News

NEW DELHI – After his third heart attack, 60-year-old Carlo Gislimberti faced a terrible choice.

Unable to get health insurance since 1992, the New Mexico restaurateur could get surgery in Albuquerque for $120,000. Or he could "wait on fortune's limb" for five years until he was eligible for Medicare.

Doctors told him he had only months to act.

"Either I'd die of a heart attack or of the financial burden," Mr. Gislimberti said. "You think there's no way out."

<snip>

But he found a less expensive and immediate alternative in India. In contrast to the squalor along urban alleyways here, specialty hospitals offer advanced surgeries in conditions touted as equal to or better than those at hospitals in America, and at a fraction of the cost.

<snip>

...he had a triple bypass. The unclogged arteries freed him to breathe easily for the first time in years.

His wife, Siobhan Gislimberti, paid the $15,000 bill with her American Express card.



http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont....112ac4ae.html
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Re: More on Overseas Medical Care...
Old 11-16-2005, 12:51 PM   #2
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Re: More on Overseas Medical Care...

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Originally Posted by REWahoo!
His wife, Siobhan Gislimberti, paid the $15,000 bill with her American Express card.
Priceless.

Or should that be, "Don't leave home without it"?
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Re: More on Overseas Medical Care...
Old 11-16-2005, 08:34 PM   #3
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Re: More on Overseas Medical Care...

I think this is a great example of the choices that are opening up in the new flat world, and in this case, can benefit ERs.

I'm sure many of us have had the experience of defending early retirement to someone, point by point, but when it comes to health insurance or long term healthcare costs, they feel, "aha! we've got you" -- that they've found some flaw in the plan.

Getting a triple bypass in India for 15k in a state-of-the-art clinic, by a highly skilled Indian surgeon (after all, how many of the physicians in our major medical centers are foreign -- probably about 60%?) is one more answer to the question of how we're going to survive in the long run without a GM-caliber highly-secure corporate healthcare insurance plan to see us through our graying years.
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Re: More on Overseas Medical Care...
Old 11-18-2005, 01:21 PM   #4
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Re: More on Overseas Medical Care...

This is great.* Wonder if they do cosmetic surgery.* DW keeps hinting she wants to go to Costa Rica for such, and I am afraid of something going wrong.* Maybe India would be a better location.
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Old 11-18-2005, 01:32 PM   #5
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Re: More on Overseas Medical Care...

I agree that medical care in the United States is expensive in relation to other parts of the world.

I do question, however, the quality of the care available to the fly in and surgery crowd. It is hard enough to find a good doctor/dentist/medical center in a new state much less another country. I don't know, at this stage with the information available, if I would feel comfortable going to India to have surgery which could be done in the States. As more information (education/hospital standards/facilities/experience, etc) become available I might change on this.

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Re: More on Overseas Medical Care...
Old 11-18-2005, 02:54 PM   #6
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Re: More on Overseas Medical Care...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Eagle43
This is great.* Wonder if they do cosmetic surgery.* DW keeps hinting she wants to go to Costa Rica for such, and I am afraid of something going wrong.* Maybe India would be a better location.*
The answer is yes... and the vacation is 'free' when you consider the savings...
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Old 11-18-2005, 02:57 PM   #7
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Re: More on Overseas Medical Care...

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Originally Posted by uncledrz
I agree that medical care in the United States is expensive in relation to other parts of the world.*

I do question, however, the quality of the care available to the fly in and surgery crowd.* It is hard enough to find a good doctor/dentist/medical center in a new state much less another country.* I don't know, at this stage with the information available, if I would feel comfortable going to India to have surgery which could be done in the States.* As more information (education/hospital standards/facilities/experience, etc) become available I might change on this.

Uncledrz
Uncle,

The program that I saw on this on one of those 'news magazine' shows talked to many doctors... most of them were at the top of their field and had worked in major hospitals in the U.S... they just wanted to go back to their own country and live... they make very good money for their country and you still get a good doctor..

What they did not say is how many doctors are 'bad'... just like here there has to be some there..
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Re: More on Overseas Medical Care...
Old 11-19-2005, 02:16 PM   #8
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Re: More on Overseas Medical Care...

I expect the prices will go up as more Americans go for the foreign option. Get yer bypass now--hurry! hurry!
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Re: More on Overseas Medical Care...
Old 11-20-2005, 09:50 AM   #9
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Re: More on Overseas Medical Care...

"This is great.* Wonder if they do cosmetic surgery.* DW keeps hinting she wants to go to Costa Rica for such, and I am afraid of something going wrong.* Maybe India would be a better location."


I think a lot of people go to Thailand for cosmetic surgery. Venezuela and Argentina might be worth researching too.
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Re: More on Overseas Medical Care...
Old 11-21-2005, 12:33 PM   #10
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Re: More on Overseas Medical Care...

This belongs in this thread...

http://www.escapeartist.com/efam/52/..._overseas.html

Begins with Thailand...
Quote
It’s been two years since you’ve had a physical exam. You need to have your vision checked and your teeth cleaned. But you are one of 44,000,000 U.S. citizens without health insurance.
Who ya gonna call?

Your local travel agency for an airplane ticket to Thailand - or a handful of other developing countries with top-rate medical care at rock-bottom prices.
Unquote... plenty more to the article...
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Re: More on Overseas Medical Care...
Old 11-21-2005, 09:32 PM   #11
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Re: More on Overseas Medical Care...

Guess this would be a good spot for a true life comparison.

Yesterday I had a crown fitted to a rear molar. Last week, I had an initial visit for for preparatory work (about 30 mins), then a 45 minute visit for other bits of stuff and cleaning plus taking the impression for the crown. Then yesterday I had the crown finally fitted in place, took around 15 minutes.

Each appointment was made less than a week before, I was seen by the dentist on time for each appointment, no waiting.

Total Cost: US$500.

The dentist is in private practice here in Hong Kong.

How does this compare with other locations??

Cheers

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Old 11-21-2005, 09:43 PM   #12
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Re: More on Overseas Medical Care...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Honkie

How does this compare with other locations??
~ $900 for one crown a few weeks ago here is the USA.
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Old 11-22-2005, 06:59 AM   #13
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Re: More on Overseas Medical Care...

$1100 or $1200 for a gold crown here (NY Suburbs) on the same schedule. $120 to glue it back in if it pops out when I am flossing. Fits great, though.
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Old 11-22-2005, 07:04 AM   #14
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Re: More on Overseas Medical Care...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Texas Proud
Uncle,

The program that I saw on this on one of those 'news magazine' shows talked to many doctors... most of them were at the top of their field and had worked in major hospitals in the U.S...* they just wanted to go back to their own country and live...* they make very good money for their country and you still get a good doctor..

What they did not say is how many doctors are 'bad'... just like here there has to be some there..
Heck, I go to an Indian doctor here in the states, and I think she is excellent.
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Re: More on Overseas Medical Care...
Old 11-22-2005, 04:33 PM   #15
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Re: More on Overseas Medical Care...

Just paid for DW's root canal - $1000; crown - $1075. Right before she got dental insurance...

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Old 11-22-2005, 07:33 PM   #16
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Re: More on Overseas Medical Care...

Quote:
Originally Posted by justin
Just paid for DW's root canal - $1000; crown - $1075. Right before she got dental insurance...
Interesing, so from the couple of examples it seems we are paying approximatly half the price.

Our dentist is Chinese, but studied and qualified in the UK. Most of the medical professionals here either trained at Hong Kong U, or in the UK, Ireland or Australia witha few in the US and Canada.
We can actually get all this treatment FREE in the local public health system, but with our company insurance paying we go to this dentist in the building across the street from the office. If the dental insurance is ever lost I would have no problems with the public system - before the insurance, I had a root canal done for free, government clinic, great lady dentist, no waiting, no charge and no problems with it for 6 years.

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Old 12-01-2005, 09:33 PM   #17
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Re: More on Overseas Medical Care...

Honkie
Quote:
How does this compare with other locations??
My BIL got X-rays, 2 gold crowns with posts inserted last month here in Chiang Mai. $610 USD

Texas Proud
Quote:
What they did not say is how many doctors are 'bad'... just like here there has to be some there..
We believe all doctors should get ratings (like the Michelin Guide to Restaurants) or post their 'scores' like sports teams. Why would you want to go to a heart surgeon who is 0-10? Unless you believe he is due for a win..* *

All kidding aside. Unless you hear something from another patient, no one is going to tell you how a doctor rates... and this is valuable information to any consumer.

Heck they do restaurant ratings on TV, consumer reports in magazines, book reviews, movie reviews -- and this isn't life threatening information like info on a doctor would be... What's with the secrecy? Anybody know?

Uncledrz
Quote:
I do question, however, the quality of the care available to the fly in and surgery crowd.* It is hard enough to find a good doctor/dentist/medical center in a new state much less another country.* I don't know, at this stage with the information available, if I would feel comfortable going to India to have surgery which could be done in the States.* As more information (education/hospital standards/facilities/experience, etc) become available I might change on this.
The doctors I have seen here in Asia are all computer connected. I enter at the registration desk, and they send the info immediately via computer to the doctor. The nurse running the computer at the particular doctor I am visiting knows my name, why I am there, and my physical chart follows in moments. No mysteries, no long waits. Efficient, informative, clean, friendly.* 8)

Check out our Medical Link on our website, as well as Preferred Links: Medical Options. the US is great, just not the only player in the game...

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Old 12-01-2005, 10:23 PM   #18
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Re: More on Overseas Medical Care...

My first trip to the dentist (Thailand) cost me $16.25; $7.50 to have my teeth cleaned and $8.75 to have a filling replaced, in a small Thai dental clinic.

A buddy of mine had three fillings replaced in Pattaya for $10/filling.

A guy living in my building took his wife to the local hospital for a routine cleaning (most Thai hospitals have a dental clinic too) and it set him back $20.

I had a complete physical in the same hospital (blood/urine tests, chest exray, EKG, consultation with the doc) for $95.

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Old 12-02-2005, 01:31 AM   #19
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Re: More on Overseas Medical Care...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Billy
Heck they do restaurant ratings on TV, consumer reports in magazines, book reviews, movie reviews -- and this isn't life threatening information like info on a doctor would be... What's with the secrecy? Anybody know?
They have a cozy system. There is plenty of very high priced work for everybody.
Obviously, some are very much better than others. The "others" have a strong interest in keeping that hidden, after all they have a lot of loans to amortize!

I would imagine if some surgeon started advertising, "Come to me for your bypass, St Simpoleton's across town kills 1 out of three patients, while we rarely lose anybody" pretty soon the medical society would find a way to get his license pulled.

Ha
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Old 12-02-2005, 07:14 AM   #20
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Re: More on Overseas Medical Care...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Billy
We believe all doctors should get ratings (like the Michelin Guide to Restaurants) or post their 'scores' like sports teams. Why would you want to go to a heart surgeon who is 0-10? Unless you believe he is due for a win..* *

All kidding aside. Unless you hear something from another patient, no one is going to tell you how a doctor rates... and this is valuable information to any consumer.

What's with the secrecy? Anybody know?
I think it's because 50% of the doctors in America graduated in the lower half of their medical school. Notice that their diplomas never include GPAs or class standing?

But seriously, a surgeon's book "Complications" is a real eye-opener. There aren't any medical police who'll swoop in and suspend a surgeon before they make yet another fatal mistake. Hospital review boards are very slow to act (liability concerns) and will only grudgingly get moving for the most egregious mistakes (or malpractice verdicts). I bet the field is even less regulated than Billy's article on full-service brokers!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Billy
The doctors I have seen here in Asia are all computer connected. I enter at the registration desk, and they send the info immediately via computer to the doctor. The nurse running the computer at the particular doctor I am visiting knows my name, why I am there, and my physical chart follows in moments. No mysteries, no long waits. Efficient, informative, clean, friendly. 8)
I wonder how secure these wonderful networks are? I imagine that story on CNN would shortly be followed by another story on how hackers are searching medical databases to send spam to Viagra recipients...
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