How One IL Reader Saved $14,910 on Surgery in Costa Rica

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Learn more about how to save money on health care overseas in International Living Postcards—your daily escape

Every day I’m reminded of the increasing cost of health care in the U.S. and the strategies the IL readers are coming up with to beat it.

For example, in a recent issue of International Living magazine, reader Patrick MacDowell told us an amazing story about saving 75% on his medical procedure in Costa Rica…this is even with his round-trip airfare included.

Here’s an excerpt from Patrick’s story:

Just like 46 million other people in the U.S., I had no health insurance and I couldn’t afford the $15,000 to $20,000 it would have cost to have an operation I needed. I felt helpless…until I read about “medical tourism” in an issue of International Living magazine. The article talked about the boom of medical tourism in Thailand. I was intrigued by the amount of money you could save by traveling overseas for surgery.

I went online to find out more. I discovered that the cost for me to have my hernia operation in Costa Rica was $4,000, so and I booked my flight and traveled there.

The staff at the hospital arranged my lodging at a medical recovery facility specializing in accommodations for recovering medical tourists. The price per night was $93.75, which included meals, 24-hour nursing care, and free Internet and international calls. It also covered my transportation to and from the hospital.

When I arrived, I met the staff for the International Patient Services Department for the hospital. They wasted no time in arranging for the pre-surgical blood tests, chest X-ray, and EKG. My doctor was a personable guy with perfect English. I had a pre-op and post-op consult with him in his office.

The hospital was modern with administration offices, two banks, and two restaurants. At the time of my arrival there were 13 guests staying here, all of whom had traveled for various medical and dental procedures. We all ate dinner together in the dining room and traded stories.

When I arrived at the hospital at 3 p.m. the following day to prepare for my surgery, I was offered a massage while I waited for my appointment. I also had the option of a manicure, pedicure, or even a haircut, all at their expense. As I was nervous prior to surgery, this massage thoroughly relaxed me.

The friendly staff also helped to ease my nerves with their friendly smiles on my way to the theater. When I woke up later in my hospital room, I looked around to see modern equipment, a flat-screen TV, and everything was spotlessly clean. My doctor made two visits to check on me.

When I was ready to leave the hospital, we headed back to the recovery ranch. That night the nurse on duty gave me my pain medication and I instantly slept. Overall, I was very impressed with the level of care during my short stay at the hospital and at the ranch.

Patrick totaled his costs for us in his magazine article. This included eight nights of lodging and ground transportation, pre-and post-op exams, his surgery, all medications, and his round-trip airfare to and from Costa Rica. His bill totaled $5,090…a savings of $14,910 over the cost of the same operation in the U.S.

Good work, Patrick, and thanks for sharing you story with us. It’s great to know that options are out there and that we’re helping you and other International Living subscribers find them.

Dan Prescher
Publisher, International Living

P.S. From time to time, I’ll be sharing other stories from International Living magazine with you and our other IL Postcards readers. Our monthly magazine is a great source for finding the expanded coverage and the nitty-gritty details that let you take advantage of opportunities like Patrick discovered. But we don’t stop there…we also cover leading-edge financial, real estate, and lifestyle options that help you live a healthier, happier, more profitable life abroad. Learn more about what International Living magazine has to offer.

Read related articles:

- How to Get Health Insurance for Less Than a Dollar a Day

- A Stitch in Time Saves $2,820 in a Spanish Emergency Room

- Save Thousands of Dollars With Surgery in Panama