U.S. patients travel overseas for savings (option being offered by 4 largest US health insurer's)

[Kadie]

U.S. patients travel overseas for savings
By Tom Murphy
The Associated Press
Posted: 08/24/2009 01:00:00 AM MDT

Elizabeth Kunz left her dentist's office this spring with a mouth full of problems and no way to pay for them. The South Carolina resident went out of her way, literally, to find a solution, which turned out to be in Central America. Her trip to the tropics is part of a health insurance experiment for trimming medical costs: overseas care.

As Washington searches for ways to tame the country's escalating health care costs, more insurers are offering networks of surgeons and dentists in places like India and Costa Rica, where costs can be as much as 80 percent less than in America.

Until recently, most Americans traveling abroad for cheaper non-emergency medical care were either uninsured or wealthy. But the profile of medical

The four largest commercial U.S. health insurers — with enrollments totaling nearly 100 million people — have either launched pilot programs offering overseas travel or explored the option.

Several smaller insurers and brokers also have introduced travel options for hundreds of employers around the country.

more...
http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_13189780?source=rss

[ret5hd]

1. My problem with this:

Who does it help? The insurance companies, of course.

Who does it hurt? The doctors here in the u.s., who i have absolutely no problem with.

just sayin'.

[OhioChick]

2. Good Points. n/t

[haele]

3. Will they pay for the ticket too?

I've been putting off knee surgury because neither worker's comp nor my insurance company have figured out who's fault it is my knees, hips, and ankles are screwed up. However, I doubt our company's plan will allow for out of country work
(Hint - with over 20 years working installation projects on Navy ships with metal decks, wearing steel toed boots, constant standing and climbing, pulling heavy cable, putting up and taking down heavy duty electrical equipment, working on antenna masts, or in bilges, helping welders, etc...I'm sure playing soccer and volleyball in high school created a pre-existing condition...)
Since I can't afford out of pocket here in America, I guess I can live with the pain another decade before I can get into TriCare for life.
Haele