The facility is terrific, the staff excellent and the offer appears to be a great value.
The BHMC released a statement offering heart valve replacement with an inclusive package that seems quite attractive. The ~$17,000 fee covers the hospital charges (labs, imaging, OR time, CCU time) and the service fees for the physicians. Having visited the facility earlier this year, I would feel very comfortable receiving my care here.
The charges a US citizen would incur for this procedure domestically would be more than 10 times the price above. Even adding in the airfare, lodging for a companion and a short stay trip for yourself post-op and the charges between the two countries are very far apart.
Government data for the year 2006, the latest available, shows US hospital charges were around $120,000 for valve replacement surgeries. This is the hospital inpatient charges which, in many cases, will not cover: cardiothoracic surgeon, anesthesiologist, cardiologist, CCU attending (Intensivist), pulmonologist, hospitalist or internist, radiologist, pathologist and other assorted professional service fees.
Each physician charges for the professional services that they provide to you the patient. These fees can be a few hundred to several thousand dollars each. It adds up quickly. Commonly patients see a hospital bill and assume that this is the total. Often it is not. Additional bills can arrive after you are discharged.
This package offered by BHMC has an attractive value offering to US clients in need of valve replacement. It is unclear from the new release whether a complication is covered. Air fare lodging and other costs do need to be factored in. But there is still no comparison if you have no insurance or are significantly underinsured.
A high quality medical travel or medical tourism company can help guide you with choices and options for you and a companion. We can help.
Be Well, Travel Safe
Jim McCormick, MD
Premiere Medical Travel Company, LLC
818 917-6189
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These are interesting times we live in! The way we receive health care in the United States must change in the next 10 years. Medical Travel is one new form of medical care that will grow exponentially in the future. We must embrace change in the United States to fix our health care system. As a physician myself I have seen the problems first hand. It is this opportunity for change that led me to start working with Dr. McCormick and Premiere Medical Travel to be at the forefront of change.
Ashish Sehgal, MD
Business Development
Premiere Medical Travel
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