| Natalie, a friend of a friend, phoned me from the | | | | cost resort. You can even take advantage of the |
| USA yesterday to say she had just been told she | | | | similarly low cost physiotherapy. |
| needed a hip replacement. We chatted for a while | | | | And when your not exercising you can find a deck |
| about different types of implants before she | | | | chair and relax. |
| mentioned her major concern. How was she going to | | | | Don't worry about quality. Having done your research, |
| pay for it? | | | | most of which can be done on the internet, you'll find |
| Like many US citizens before her she had discovered | | | | that most surgeons who operate on overseas |
| that when it came to the time to reap the benefit of | | | | patients have themselves trained in the US or UK. |
| her insurance policy not only was she under-insured | | | | Won't it all be hard to arrange? Not at all. As medical |
| but the insurance company refused to pay for her | | | | tourism evolves the clinics are realising that |
| treatment at the hospital of her choice. | | | | prospective patients would prefer a hassle free |
| What to do? | | | | experience and they are going to great lengths to |
| One option I suggested she look into was having hip | | | | arrange flights, transfers, accommodation and even |
| surgery abroad. So many countries are now offering | | | | tours of the local area - once your fit enough to |
| first class hip replacements at prices substantially | | | | enjoy them. |
| lower than in the US. | | | | Some final thoughts |
| With hip replacements in the US costing about | | | | - Don't travel too far - find somewhere close by with |
| $40,000 (not including essential extras like physical | | | | great weather |
| therapy) the thought of paying less than $5,000 | | | | - Research both the clinic and the surgeon |
| becomes very attractive indeed. | | | | - Ask if you can be assessed in your home country |
| Malta, Poland, Thailand, India, Tunisia are just | | | | before you commit yourself. Most of the major |
| examples of countries providing top class hip surgery | | | | operators are offering this service now. |
| - but perfect for her, we agreed, would be Mexico. | | | | - Take a friend with you - you'll be glad of the |
| Of course there are other costs involved like flights | | | | company |
| and accommodation but many people are combining | | | | - Make sure you are insured. There is a new brand of |
| hip surgery abroad with a holiday. That might make | | | | travel/medical insurance designed specifically for |
| you smile but think about it for a minute. After the | | | | medical tourists. |
| operation you can't fly because of the risk of | | | | And as for Natalie - well she was definitely interested. |
| thrombosis (and the discomfort). So why not stay | | | | "I've always wanted to go to Mexico" she laughed "I |
| near the hospital and benefit from a holiday in a low | | | | just never thought it would be for a hip replacement. |