- What is Medical Tourism? Why is it popular?
Medical Tourism, also known as Medical Travel, is traveling to another country to obtain healthcare.
Many factors have led to the rise of Medical Tourism around the world.
In the US, the main factors are:
- The high and increasing cost of health insurance and healthcare in the US
- The lower healthcare costs (without forfeiting medical expertise and safety in procedures) in Medical Tourism destinations such as Singapore
- The newfound convenience and affordability of international travel
- The improvement of expertise, technology, and quality in many countries of the world
- The leisure aspect of travel – enjoying discovering an exotic country while getting treated
- No waiting time – sometimes waiting times can take as long as a year; whereas in Singapore the patient can have an operation the day after arrival
- What is the difference between ChoiceMed and other Medical Tourism Companies?
With typical Medical Tourism companies, the patient pays the full cost of the surgery plus a concierge fee. Thus, patients are usually the uninsured.
ChoiceMed works in tandem with insurers. The insured patient saves on out-of-pocket expenses (deductibles and coinsurance) by traveling to have the procedure.
- Why should I use ChoiceMed?
ChoiceMed saves insured patients thousands of dollars in expenses and is dedicated to providing the best experience possible during procedures. We only use the best partners, be it destinations, surgeons, hospitals, hotels, airlines, etc.
- Where is Singapore? Why is Singapore a good Medical Tourism destination?
Singapore is the smallest country in South East Asia, with an area of about 700km2. 85 miles north of the Equator, Singapore is a cosmopolitan first world city.
Singapore is the 22nd wealthiest country globally in terms of GDP per capita, and has a medical track record of excellence. It is also one of the cleanest countries in the world. With the most JCI-accredited (the main standard for measuring quality care in the US) hospitals in all of Asia, Singapore stands out as a prime Medical Tourism destination.
- Is there any additional risk in performing my procedure in Singapore?
ChoiceMed uses only the best doctors and hospitals in Singapore, so you can be assured that the procedure and care will be top-notch, and that there is no undue or additional risk compared with having the procedure performed in the US.
However, it is impossible to avoid additional risk stemming from traveling and other such auxiliary factors.
- What is the process of using ChoiceMed?
- Confirm that the procedure you want to perform is one of the procedures we cover by checking the “Procedures page”. If it is not, you can write us and we will get back to you within 24 hours to advise if we can arrange it for you
- Go through the information booklet/ website pages on the services we offer
- Optionally, you can contact our 24/7 helpline to if you need any clarifications
- If you find our offerings attractive and you are interested in using us, you can contact the hotline to ask for a password
- You can put any questions you might have to the hotline and you are not committed to using us if you receive a password, but you should be an eligible customer and sincerely considering medical travel
- With your username and password, you can start choosing your preference of airline, hotel, hospital, doctors, etc.
- You can request help from a ChoiceMed concierge at any time if you so wish (via the hotline)
- After the preferences, a page will ask inform you that this is the decision point, and ask if you want to go with ChoiceMed for your healthcare solutions
- If you say ‘yes’ to us, our concierge will contact you very shortly and begin to assist you in refining your preferences. He/ she will help you in the short-listing process and connect you with the doctor to give you more information before you decide which doctor and hospital to work with
- The concierge will then fix the date and timing for your flight to Singapore and ensure that you are prepared for it
- Will I be covered by malpractice insurance?
TBA
- Will I be covered by travel insurance?
TBA
- Will I be covered by for my additional medical risk borne by traveling?
TBA
- How long will my stay in Singapore be?
This is on a case-by-case basis. We will assess the situation and do whatever is best for you. As a general rule of thumb though, the stay will be 1.5 times the hospital length of stay. This is to ensure you have enough time to recover and to enjoy the city.
- What if I reach the end of my scheduled stay but I still do not feel fit enough to fly?
You can communicate this to your assigned concierge and he/ she will communicate it to your doctor to get advice. If there is any necessary action to take by the doctor, it will be taken. If it is just a garden variety recovery period issue, you will stay additional days until you are better and more comfortable to fly back. During this period, your concierge and doctor will monitor you closely in case you require immediate medical aid.
However, if you wish to stay longer than the advised timeline for personal or leisure reasons, this extension will be at your own cost.
- Can I extend my stay at my own cost?
Yes, you can. Please contact your assigned concierge to help with this arrangement.
- Can I upgrade my flight?
Yes, you can upgrade, but at your own cost. Please contact your assigned concierge to help you make arrangements.
- Can I change my airline?
For the now the only available airlines are those that are listed as our partners. In time we hope to expand the airline partner network. Please contact your assigned concierge to help you change flights or airlines within our partner network.
- Can I bring a travel companion? Do I incur additional cost?
Every patient can bring a travel companion at no additional cost within the range of covered expenses that we offer to you and your companion (see #16). Anything outside of these expenses are at you and/or your companion’s cost.
- What expenses are covered on the trip?
Expensed that are covered on the trip are:
- Flight tickets on Singapore Airline’s luxurious New Economy Class (or equivalent) for the patient and one companion
- Hotel stay for the duration of the trip (You and your companion will share a twin room. Hotel stay for your companion while you are in hospital is included)
- Hospital bill including consultation fee, procedure cost, single-bed hospital room, medication, etc
- Transport to/ from airport, to/ from hospital, as well as a once-a-day trip for the companion to visit the patient while the patient is in hospital
- Daily meal allowance of USD 40/ person for both patient and companion (A typical meal outside of the hotel costs anywhere from 3USD-10USD)
- 24/7 Concierge service
- ChoiceMed handbook detailing our services, useful and important contact information, and a medical-tourist-customized guide on the highlights of Singapore and how to get around
- After-care in US (if required)
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