Surgeries Americans Have in Other Countries
• Coronary Artery Bypass Graft
• Valve Replacement With Bypass
• Total Hip Replacement
• Total Knee Replacement
• Full facelift
As sad as it is to say, many Americans can’t afford good healthcare, whether it’s prescription drugs, surgeries or treatment for a serious medical condition. Many of these Americans have received the help they need through medical tourism, which is when people travel to other countries for medical treatment. Although the Affordable Care Act was intended to all but eliminate medical tourism, that has not been the case. Even after factoring in the cost of travel, patients are still saving a substantial amount of money by traveling to other countries for surgeries and treatments. Here are 5 surgeries Americans travel to other countries to have as well as the cost and the savings to the patient as of 2018.
Related resource: Top 35 Healthcare Management Master’s Degrees at Small Colleges
1. Coronary Artery Bypass Graft
Also referred to as Heart Bypass Surgery, this procedure is used to improve blood flow to the heart when the coronary arteries are blocked or narrowed.
United States – $92,000
Singapore – $54,500 (savings of 25-40 percent)
Mexico – $34,000 (savings of 40-60 percent)
Thailand – $33,000 (savings of 50-75 percent)
Costa Rica – $31,500 (savings of 45-65 percent)
South Korea – $29,000 (savings of 25-45 percent)
Taiwan – $27,000 (savings of 40-65 percent)
Malaysia – $20,800 (savings of 60-80 percent)
India – $9,800 (savings of 65-90 percent)
2. Valve Replacement With Bypass
This coronary procedure takes place inside the chambers of the heart and involves replacing the heart valves at the same time as the coronary artery bypass graft is completed. This procedure, as well as the coronary artery bypass graft, is performed after a patient has had a heart attack or to prevent a heart attack on a patient suffering from heart disease.
United States – $87,000
Singapore – $46,000 (savings of 25-40 percent)
Mexico – $26,500 (savings of 40-60 percent)
Thailand – $19,000 (savings of 50-75 percent)
Costa Rica – $28,000 (savings of 45-65 percent)
South Korea – $38,000 (savings of 25-45 percent)
Taiwan – $22,000 (savings of 40-65 percent)
Malaysia – $15,000 (savings of 60-80 percent)
India – $11,900 (savings of 65-90 percent)
3. Total Hip Replacement
Also referred to as total hip arthroplasty, this procedure involves removing the damaged cartilage and bone and replacing them with prosthetic components. A metal stem is placed in the hollow center of the femur to replace the damaged femoral head.
United States – $31,000
Singapore – $21,400 (savings of 25-40 percent)
Mexico – $14,200 (savings of 40-60 percent)
Thailand – $16,500 (savings of 50-75 percent)
Costa Rica – $15,300 (savings of 45-65 percent)
South Korea – $21,600 (savings of 25-45 percent)
Taiwan – $14,000 (savings of 40-65 percent)
Malaysia – $12,500 (savings of 60-80 percent)
India – $9,400 (savings of 65-90 percent)
4. Total Knee Replacement
This procedure, which has become very common in recent years, involves replacing a diseased knee joint with artificial materials.
United States – $28,000
Singapore – $19,200 (savings of 25-40 percent)
Mexico – $12,300 (savings of 40-60 percent)
Thailand – $13,200 (savings of 50-75 percent)
Costa Rica – $14,200 (savings of 45-65 percent)
South Korea – $16,250 (savings of 25-45 percent)
Taiwan – $13,400 (savings of 40-65 percent)
Malaysia – $7,800 (savings of 60-80 percent)
India – $7,200 (savings of 65-90 percent)
5. Full facelift
Also known as rhytidectomy, this procedure is more of an elective procedure than for medical reasons, yet it’s a very popular procedure performed to give the face a more youthful appearance. It involves removing any excess facial skin, removing creases around the nose and mouth as well as any hanging fat or skin on the neck and under the chin.
United States – $11,500
Singapore – $7,850 (savings of 25-40 percent)
Mexico – $4,750 (savings of 40-60 percent)
Thailand – $3700 (savings of 50-75 percent)
Costa Rica – $4,900 (savings of 45-65 percent)
South Korea – $5,900 (savings of 25-45 percent)
Taiwan – $5,250 (savings of 40-65 percent)
Malaysia – $3,300 (savings of 60-80 percent)
India – $2,800 (savings of 65-90 percent)
Patients Beyond Borders is an organization dedicated to helping patients worldwide receive the best possible care for the best possible price. They assist Americans traveling to other countries to have surgeries by offering a list of procedures, countries where they’re available and qualified doctors that perform the procedures. They also offer assistance in checking out the quality of the healthcare provided.