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This year
At what age should women start having mammograms?
Bloomberg recently reported a story that highlighted the recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Service Task Force on yearly mammograms for women aged 40 and above. According to the story, the guidelines released by the task force suggested that annual mammograms for most women in their 40s have more drawbacks than benefits and therefore, women should wait until age 50 to start getting breast cancer screening tests every two years.
Low cost JCI accredited medical care options for Americans now in Germany
Healthbase, the leading US-based medical tourism provider, has partnered with a JCI accredited German hospital in order to bring wider options and greater convenience to Americans, Canadians, Europeans and others looking for affordable, timely and high quality medical and dental treatments. Patients can expect as much as 50 to 70% less cost compared to health care at home.
No country has perfect system, but there are lessons to learn
Tackling the high cost of health care is politically bruising and difficult work around the world. Among developed countries, only the Norwegians rival our level of spending. The French wrestle with rising costs every year. The Canadians are searching for a better model, and have had their eyes on France. But for all their troubles, the French and the Canadians - two bogeymen in the American reform debate - spend much less and live longer than we Americans.
New England leads while the South rated worst on health care scorecard
Vermont leads the nation in the delivery of its health care, while Mississippi is rated the worst, according to a non-partisan study that compares all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Facing aging without health insurance
We all know the facts and the figures. About 46 to 47 million Americans are uninsured and with the economic recession not over yet, several more are expected to join the ranks. The Congress is still debating over a national health care reform which no one knows will lead to what consequences. So, given the current state of affairs, the big question still looms - Who takes care of you when something major comes up? Or, worse yet, what happens if you are aging, start having health problems and no insurance wants to cover you even if you are willing to purchase the most expensive catastrophic policy?
Peeking inside your doctor's notes
Almost all of us have been to the doctor at some point or the other in our lives. One of the common things you would have noted in your meetings with your doctor is him scribbling down notes. But, have you wondered what he writes in such notes? Do you think you should be allowed to see those notes? And, are you prepared to see what your doctor might have written about your meeting and your physiological and psychological conditions?
Operation abroad in the Philippines
Like much of the world, the Philippine economy has seen a downturn in the last few years, with falling tourism revenue, poor investment prospects and a lack of overseas employment opportunities. Officials in the country are turning to medical tourism as a potential solution to some of their economic woes, however, and are hoping it will bring in new business, technology and interest in their country.
Medicare coverage for elderly Americans in Mexico: How feasible is it?
The rising cost of health care in the United States is forcing an increasing number of U.S. citizens to turn their sights on Mexico for expert and cost-effective medical attention. But what about the health care for the elderly Americans who are already residing in Mexico? Should they be covered by Medicare in Mexico or should they have to fly back to America every time they need major medical care? Can the medical care providers in Mexico be trusted with the health of American seniors? Here's an excellent read that recently appeared in a Mexican newspaper.
Should other insurance programs model after the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program
An excellent story appeared yesterday on NPR that talked about the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program or FEHBP - the health insurance program that insures 8 million federal workers, retirees and their families, and members of Congress. Below is the story of a 13-year old daughter of a federal employee who feels blessed to have the FEHBP coverage to pay for the costs of managing her Type 1 diabetes. Do you think other insurance programs in the country should model themselves after FEHBP?
2009 Family health premiums rise to $13,375 a year, survey reveals
According to the 2009 Employer Health Benefits Survey, released on 15 September 2009 by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research & Educational Trust (HRET), premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance rose to $13,375 annually for family coverage this year - with employees on average paying $3,515 and employers paying $9,860.
Why Health Care Costs Keep Rising - Analysis and Solutions
It’s no secret that the health care in the United States is expensive. But have you wondered why this is the case? Here’s an excellent analysis of the situation that we came across with proposed solutions of what can be done to cut down prices for the health care consumer - something which we feel you will find useful too. So, read on...
ROSE Procedure - a weight loss revision surgery
Traditionally those who needed a revision bariatric surgery following a gastric bypass (also known as Roux-en-Y procedure) have had to resort to another open or laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery involving more cutting of the internals of the body. Such a revision obesity surgery is quite complicated and therefore surgeons and patients frequently avoided it for the high risks associated with it.
Domestic Medical Tourism - Discounted health care in USA
Domestic medical tourism is the latest concept in the medical tourism industry. When a patient travels from one city to another or one state to another within his own country for medical care then domestic medical tourism is said to have taken place. Patients usually conduct domestic medical travel to avail of major discounts on elective surgical procedures or to seek procedures that are not available in his neighborhood.
Statement on medical and surgical tourism by ACS
The wide popularity of medical tourism has caused the American College of Surgeons (ACS) to recognize that surgical care has become more readily available in a wider global market, and that this phenomenon is here to stay. And hence, the College recently released an official "Statement on Medical and Surgical Tourism" to guide those who choose to seek surgical care abroad.
Domestic medical tourism gathering pace
Medical Tourism is no longer limited to outbound medical tourism i.e. Americans seeking care outside of the country. Domestic medical tourism is gathering pace as more and more Americans are now crossing state borders to take advantage of cheaper prices available for quality health care out-of-state. It's amazing to know that the price differential on healthcare within the same country can be tremendous if only you take the trouble to shop for it. Here's how..
Would you travel to save money on surgery?
Uninsured Americans also are shopping around for surgery in the U.S. in record numbers. Rodney Larson, a self-employed electrician from Minnesota, used Healthbase Online Inc. to arrange a triple heart bypass at Galichia Heart Hospital in Wichita, Kansas. He paid $13,000 flat fee for the surgery, about $90,000 dollars less than the rate for uninsured patients in Minnesota.
New protection for medical tourists seeking surgery abroad
Seeking surgery abroad? Yes, it's cheap and the facilities are top notch. But, you might still be worried about medical complications that can cost you more than you had hoped to save. Check out this news. It might help alleviate your concerns.
Big American insurer signs up for international medical tourism
WellPoint, one of nation's largest health benefits companies, collaborates with Healthbase, a medical tourism facilitator to provide affordable healthcare benefits to Americans through an international medical tourism pilot program. Members will now have more choices regarding where to receive care and a greater involvement in the care they receive.
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2008
Double Birmingham hip resurfacing in India for uninsured American dancer
Hip arthritis caused Katharine, an uninsured American, to give up her ballet dancing career until she found relief in India and got her double Birmingham hip resurfacing surgery at an 85% discount.
FAQs on total hip replacement surgery
Frequently asked questions on total hip replacement surgery. What are the components of a hip joint replacement implant? What are the different hip replacement implant options available? How is the implant affixed in the body? Who are some of the hip replacement implant manufacturers? etc.
Globalisation and health care | Operating profits | Economist.com
Why put up with expensive, run-of-the-mill health care at home when you can be treated just as well abroad? This globalisation of healthcare is also otherwise commonly known as "medical tourism". Check out how medical tourism works at http://www.healthbase.com.
2007
Medical Tourism To Canada
According to an article (Canada a mecca for medical tourism?) published in TheStar.com on October 13, 2007, Canada has the potential to become the next medical tourism destination.
Medical Tourism Tips: What a Medical Tourist should know and do
Today, cheap yet world-class surgeries are just a flight away. But the deluge of information available out there can overwhelm anybody. This is a quick guide to medical tourism to answer most of your questions about the phenomenon.
Medical Tourism Tips: What a Medical Tourist should know and do
Medical tourism tips: Do proper research, Keep your local doctor informed, Have all your important documents in order, Keep important contact information handy, Be prepared to stay longer or shorter than expected, Work with a medical tourism company.
Gastric Bypass Surgery - What can it do for you?
Some people have gastric bypass surgery and shed 100 pounds or more. What can this surgery do for you? The high cost of healthcare has led some Americans to seek treatment in countries like India, Thailand, Singapore, Mexico and Turkey. This practice of going abroad, which is termed as medical tourism or medical travel or health tourism, is a way of getting low cost high quality medical care. But before you decide to outsource your health care it’s extremely important that you do your homework properly – research the facilities, the surgeons, compare the cost and quality offered by different hospitals, talk to people who have had their surgery overseas, etc.
