Medical Tourism / Avoid High Fees And Wait Times? 

Greetings from Dunedin, NZ. Love the T shirt, but especially the channel. We’ve recently retired and your information so valuable, it’s not all about the financial information, it’s as or more important learning to adjust to being together 24/7 and developing a new way of life. Our next big trip will be Spain, Portugal, Morocco. Absolutely loved your Portugal videos. Keep up the great work.

Thank you for this video! US medical care is astronomical. My ex had a hernia surgery in WA state that ended up being botched, and so he lived for years with it needing repair, but because of the expense, he didn’t do it. We moved to FL after, and I just happened (by miracle, really) to pick a doctor who was friends with a hernia doc, and they went outside the medical insurance to fix him. I noticed on the medical bill that the surgeon wrote off approx $60k. I cried when I saw what he did for us, and so we got the surgeon a gift card, but that wasn’t enough to compensate him (of course) for what he did. It was truly a gift from God as I don’t think another doc would of had his expertise. So go where u can afford the medical care. Absolutely!

We went to Los Algodones, Mexico this past winter for some dental work. We both got a crown for $350.00 each. My copay with insurance was approximately $900.00 per crown at home. The town caters to the world for dental tourism. They have around 400 dentists in one small town right on the border by Yuma, Arizona.

In 1999, I had to go to Buffalo, New York to get an MRI done, there was more then a one year wait in Toronto to get an MRI so my orthopaedic surgeon sent me over the border, OHIP covered the entire cost including our mileage to the US and paid for the MRI, it didn’t cost me anything except my time and that of my dad to drive me. It allowed me to get my surgery done very quickly and back to work within a very short period of time! I would still have been waiting for several months for the MRI when I was able to be full functioning again and returning to work. I was appalled that I had to go out of country for my healthcare and that for the cost of more MRI machines that it was a very common practice to send Canadians across the border and our government was filling the bill! This was not my first occurrence with crossing the border for medical care a year prior my mother had breast cancer and had received chemo treatment but there was no place for her to go for radiation so she was told she could go to Buffalo NY and get her radiation, the government again filled the bill and she was covered for her mileage to Buffalo and her stay at the radisson suites hotel that was close to the hospital she would stay there Monday to Friday and I would pick her up and take her home for the weekend and take her back Sunday night. It seemed the most inhumane thing to drop a loved one off at a hotel by themselves not knowing a soul in the country but if she was to get her radiation treatment in a timely manner it was the only option. OHIP covered mileage to and from the hotel and taxi’s to and from the hospital, they provided a stipend for her meals and covered the hotel stay. This went on for 6-8 weeks(my memory fails me) we did find out that mom wasn’t alone that half the hotel was filled with other Canadians in the same circumstance and in need of radiation!!! I setup through the hotel and the attached restaurant (where the majority took their three meals a day)to have a meet and greet in the hotel’s conference room and the restaurant provided tea and coffee and snacks free of charge! Because they knew if it weren’t for the Canadians they likely wouldn’t stay in business. I don’t know and I hope this isn’t still going on today but this is some of the ways our government was spending its money instead of putting in the appropriate equipment and resources in Canada to care for these people! I was so angry at the time because my mother never went anywhere without my father but they were in their 50’s at the time and he had to work. I also worked but my employer was able to work with me during this time period and allowed me to leave early on Fridays and arrive later on Mondays. It was a very difficult time for our family. I wish our government would do more planning ahead for the future and anticipating our needs more. I think as regular Canadians we do a lot of planning and thinking of the future and we keep tight rein on our finances and budgets on an individual basis but I don’t feel that same sort of discipline with our government (I wish I did but I don’t think they can fathom how much the middle class has been eroded downward). Just wanted to comment that sometimes the choice isn’t your own it’s due to ridiculous and unnecessary wait times. When I think of how much our government spent on just those other Canadians we met for all the cost of their care, accommodation and travel it makes me wonder why they couldn’t setup a place for them in Canada. Sad but true. Especially for my MRI because when we arrived to get it in Buffalo we were surprised to discover it wasn’t a hospital it was a unit in a strip mall where you would see discount shops and one of the units had an MRI machine in it! I thought if they can just have one setup anywhere like that why don’t we have it in Canada?❤️🥰🍁🇨🇦🙏🏻

I'm jealous of (and have unsuccessfully lobbied for) the oft-maligned "social medicine" stigma from the US side so hats off to you both for tackling medical tourism. I tend to think (from an informed perspective as a physician myself) that in the US we have overuse of technology (eg MRIs) in part to amortize the purchase/operating costs of same. A lot (not all) US medicine is now run by and as medical corporations whose ultimate goal is not healthcare but maximizing profit. A lot of the higher US costs go to whole boards of CEOs, corporate Presidents, Vice-Presidents etc and a slew of coders/billers to manage our overly complex insurance landscape. Personally, I've worked solely in public sector roles to minimize my contribution to that morass though sadly it's taking hold there, too. Medical tourism is certainly a necessity.

Calgary here. Routine MRIs have a wait time. Urgent happens right away! I have never had to wait in an urgent situation. Knee wait times are mostly because doctors don’t agree it’s needed when the knee is in early stages of degenerative disease. They have benchmarks before surgery is considered, unfortunately these benchmarks don’t always agree with our pain threshold! Interesting video. Thanks.

Early retirement is nearly impossible as Americans due to healthcare costs when you no longer have an employer subsidized plan. We chose to move abroad, and cost of healthcare was one of the primary factors in choosing Portugal.

Interesting topic! I would advise caution with medication, though. I few years ago a good friend was traveling in Latvia with me, her luggage with her thyroid medication was misrouted by the airline (a lesson learned) and she was able to obtain the medication from a Latvian pharmacy over the counter. She was amazed at how much less it cost there, but within a few months, she was experiencing the effects of an inconsistent dose. Once she returned to her U.S. sourced prescription, her health stabilized. I think she would be the first to say that it wasn't worth the risk. Thanks again for another insightful video!

Hi! from a licensed nurse for 35 years - we have "free" health care (Sweden). We don't have any medical tourism here at all. Yes, long waiting lists for certain procedures, but in order to cut that back as much as possible - patients are often sent to another county. There is a collaboration all over the country in that regard, so "if there is a will, there is a way". There is a (small) private sector as well. However, I'm very proud to have been part of this system all my life, high quality care for everyone regardless of income. The US system is just....totally insane. Cheers from Sweden💛💙,Katarina

You guys are amazing. Thank you for doing all the research to bring us these facts. Keep up the good you are doing in this world 👏👏👏

I am really impressed. You do exceptional research. Thank you very much.

Thanks for the vid. Just got back from 6 months in SE Asia. Paid for two full teeth cleanings while away. The first was in Thailand and cost $40. I got a 2nd cleaning in Vietnam before returning home for a whopping $17. In Canada one visit to the dental hygienist would ding me $300+

Oh my, I must have been living under a rock all these years. I didn't know most of this lol. Thanks so much for sharing.

Just had my hernia done by the NHS...wonderful team who helped me. (no direct cost other than I've paid for the NHS during the 42 years I worked).

Thank you for covering a great subject seniors. I always learn when I watch your videos.

Another great topic and video! Thanks Norm and Teen!

Solid advice, great job!

Tina you look so beautiful in the New Zealand T-shirt! 🤩I just came back from Canada and loved everything, especially the friendly Canadian people.

Excellent discussion on an important, and often overlooked, topic! I considered having dental work done in Poland and my only hesitation was the recovery time as I wasn't staying there long. Also, the US program for age 65+ (Medicare) doesn't cover vision care, dental care or hearing aids so I think many people are looking elsewhere for more affordable options. It would be interesting to see a cost comparison like the one you showed for different health care services.

{Vancouver ISLAND} Excellent Topic, I was not aware of Dental & Medical traveling. Makes me appreciate the benefits we have here.

Stay healthy! Medical tourism is a great option. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and tips.

Great job guys ! Knocked it out of the park

A very good video. Also another good tip is Jordan, private medical facilities and availability is good... medical tourism in Jordan has been a popular thing for the whole region since quite alot of years.

At 70 yrs I have put a few miles on the clock, but I am still in good working order. No repairs required, touch-wood. Here in the Southern Hemisphere tomorrow is our shortest night of the year, so looking forward to better things coming our way. Great topic, good video. Cheers from here.

Hi Tina and Norm, just so you know, I never miss any of your videos, it's just that there are times I never know what to say. Also, I have told a few people about your channel, hope they are watching! Cheers!👍

Thanks. It is handy to know there are useful options for those who are able to avail themselves of them.

Great tips! Thanks for sharing!

Great video again you guys. Keep staying well

Wow, thank you from the USA

Amazing video! So many things I didn't know

Thank you. Nice video and a very important issue.

Kia ora Norm and Tina, thank you so much for recognising us subscribers in New Zealand. It's much appreciated. Unfortunately, I currently have Covid so am not staying well but will hopefully be better soon. We personally have medical insurance in New Zealand as the wait time for operations can be very long. I have osteoarthritis and have had an operation on one foot and hopefully will have the operation on my other foot next year. Actually, the surgeon learnt the techniques for the operation in Canada. The only help I got from a previous specialist was to give her a call if I was going to commit suicide! I also have osteoarthritis in my hip. Although we have free healthcare here in New Zealand, I think it is worth keeping medical insurance, at least for operations, as long as we can because of the long waiting lists in the hospitals. Prescriptions for medicines from GPs are free from some chemists. Dentistry is also expensive and we could look at medical tourism for that. I am going to retire at the end of the year - I can't wait. We enjoy your channel and all the interesting subjects you cover. Kia kaha, nga mihi from Aotearoa New Zealand.

Great content as always. I recall reading an article about 10 years ago where large U.S. health insurance companies were offering their patients the opportunity to have surgeries in France because even with the cost of airfare, lodging, and transportation, it was less expensive than in the U.S. The domestic insurance company has a partnership with a large U.S. based hospital which is associated with a large university system. The hospital here coordinates care with a hospital team in France to map out the procedure. A third party company in France handles the logistics.

Thanks!

Another interesting topic! I learned a few things today by watching this video. Thank you for your information and insights ⭐ Happy Father's Day from San Diego 🌞

Thank you for this eye opening video Very informative

Wow! What a great informative video. Thanks from the US.

Awesome discussion enjoyed watching

Thank you for your, so diligently done, homework😍💕💝

Physiotherapist treatments as well were easy to obtain in Portugal for my ankle sprain. Quality. And affordability. Dental treatment of a cavity nicely done in Bangkok

Hi Tina & Norm another good video my view is. We have to look after ourselves so anything we can do to improve the quality of our lives we should do . Regards. Christopher Barker

I'm in awe there was no shock!

Great show ...encouraged hubby to Happy hour for medicinal purposes down to Port Stanley today 😄 See you Saturday 😊

Very interesting video as usual thanks

👍👍✌️ Closing in on 60 thousand subs there. Way to go.

Hello This Is Our Retirement! Thanks for the nice video! I saw it very interestingly! It's great! Have a nice day!

Very intuitive sledgehammered that like button stay safe and blessed sharing out full watch

I love this idea! I work in Healthcare plan sales. People are needing other options.

You guys are lovely. I'm off for the summer and off to Newfoundland. Hope to see more videos this summer. Medical tourism is amazing and I think the Canadian Gov needs to allow Canadians get the care they need at a reasonable price.

Great VLOG. The US Health Care system cost is a nightmare for the average American. I don't know whether the man with the heart problem is the same as was shown on 60 minutes several years ago, but it sounds very much like it. Also, Morgan Spurlock made a video about his trip to Bumengrad Hospital in Bangkok that documented his procedure and costs compared to those in New York City and was done with his NYC doctor's cooperation. Truly eye opening. Finally, the Snail Travelers You Tube channel has a VLOG about health care costs and quality in Malysia. Again, great VLOG.

Medical costs in the US are absurd.. someone I know went to the ER for chest pain, a battery of tests later he was deemed fine but he got a bill for $9000.. he was only in the ER for 2 hours

This was a very interesting video.

Great video! Love your silver fern T shirt Tina! From a Kiwi living in Australia 🇳🇿

Kia Ora from Auckland - and nice shout out to us kiwis, especially this week as we celebrate our new public holiday, Matariki. Love following your videos each week and maybe one of these days we will meetup up with you both, here, if you venture this way again, or Portugal, once we are travelling again.

Great information! The sad part about all of this is most people who can’t afford medical care and RX do not know how care is different in other counties. The US has capitalized healthcare and the poor and middle class pay the price. We shouldn’t have to go to other countries to get necessary care. Thanks for sharing this important information.

Hi Tina and Norm! Very informative video. I am aware of the Canadian Hernia clinics for over 20 years. Hundreds of Americans go there for surgeries. I don't know very much about the surgeries in India and other countries but the hospitals in Thailand used to have menu listing the surgeries and it's related prices. I think a 24 hrs nurse used to come with the deal. Also you could select a hotel where your significant other could stay. The price of the lodging would be additional, of course. As far as the medication they are much cheaper in other countries because the US subsidize them sort of speak. Someone has to pay the price for others. I can attest to the cheaper prices of medications: a glaucoma med that cost close to US$200 here in the US, costs 15 euros in Portugal (I bought some last month. The same med in Brazil costs between US$ 20-25. Three years ago while in Barcelona, I bought two types of med for several months for under US$300 while the price here in the US would close to 2,000. Please wish Norm a Happy father's day. Um bom fim de semana para voces. Cheers.

Love all of your videos guys👍🏻😊

Living in Florida and living with and working with people from all over the world , even immigrates who have insurance often go back home for serious medical care. Cheaper even with the insurance they have and often even better care. Sadly many Americans who live in more rural less diverse areas are really ignorant on how much they are being shafted. If we could get them onboard we could rapidly fix our bad healthcare system. The wasted money is many times more than enough to give the whole population good health care much cheaper.

Thanks. Very important and informative episode. Our medical/Insurance system, as well as our politics and retirement costs, in the US are embarrasments. Reasons I'm slowly developing a plan B to relocate....

Hi Tina and Norm! Thank you so much for your videos and for sharing your knowledge with the world. Some time ago, in a previous videos of yours, Norm spoke briefly about the concept of "being poor on paper", and the perks he was able to benefit from because of this. Since watching that video, I think often of this concept but am not entirely sure I understand it. I wondered if you might consider making a video on this subject. Perhaps you could discuss some of the following: what it means to be "poor on paper", the best places to keep your money if you do have a bit of it but still want to qualify as being "poor on paper", can one own a home an still be considered poor on paper or is renting preferable, how might those of us who are not yet retired best prepare for a future where they would be considered "poor on paper", some of the perks one can benefit from when one is poor on paper, etc. For what it's worth, my intention in knowing this is not to take advantage of the system but, rather, as someone who won't have much in terms of RRSPs, I'd like to optimally navigate the system so I'm benefiting from it rather than being a victim to it. Thank you again for all that you do!

my niece went to Costa Rica for her dental work...much less expensive than here in the US, and she got a vacation as well...

Very useful information 👍

My sister lives in Vietnam and was happy with the dental check up and cleaning for 4.00 CAD.

1. Know of a fellow needing hip replacement. Wait time in Alberta 3 years. Cost in USA $40,000+. Cost in Germany (with flights, hotel, with companion, etc., about $12,000), no wait time. Germany won. 2. Downside to overseas procedures- if they don't go well, Canada's universal health care has to pick up the tab to fix it. 3. And apparently foreign acquired hospital infections can be a real problem. But yeah, I would definitely consider paying out of pocket for something if the Wait time was too long and I was in pain.

Excellent 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

A very good topic guys and as we get older more likely to need health care too *left a like👍Au👍fully watched*

You're such an inspiring and sweet couple. All the best 💖

Our prescriptions are free here in Wales. I tried to take one to a pharmacy in Portugal once, while we were still in the EU, and it would have cost over 30 euros. I decided to wait until I got home!

Love the t-shirt Tina. I wear mine specially when there is rugby on 😂 or cricket, I treasure it for special 'homesick' moments too. The only problem I'd see with the after care is when there are complications once home with a procedure carried out by someone else in another country. Here in the Netherlands we are having a problem with cosmetic surgery happening elsewhere. The standard are often not the same as in one's home country. For faster medical care should there be a long waiting list there are options here to travel over the border to Belgium or Germany. I must say though, that the Health Service here may have flaws but with personal extra coverage I feel quite relaxed that I will get the help I need when I need it. Such an interesting topic. There is the recent backlog on surgeries due to the COVID situation. Staff shortages and many people still waiting for their treatment due to postponement. Awesome insights. Thank you once again. 🙏 🇳🇿 🙋‍♀️ 🇳🇱 😎 🍷

My dad was supposed to be having his hip replaced (NHS) on Monday - he's been waiting for years because of the pandemic. He heard yesterday that his op has been postponed again. He's been havign to isolate for ages in readiness for that, too.

Miami here. A delegation came from Singapore to our Area Agency on Aging to promote medical tourism to their country.

For those canadians travelling to portugal: E-gates open up to passengers at lisbon airport. As reported by Portugal News. Finally! No more of these long long arrival queues! If yur passport cover has a camera logo at bottom then it is biometric

I don't suppose people from the UK do this as much because of the NHS, but I do know someone who nips over to Cascias now and then for dental treatment!

It's interesting that some people complain that it takes quite a while to have a procedure done in Canada, yet there are still available surgical openings for medical tourism. One would think that would make the wait just that much longer for Canadians queing up for a hernia fix.

Thanks for this video. I enjoy your videos and subscribed recently. I particularly enjoy your videos on Portugal. If you haven't already done so, it would be great to see a video about any any medical preparations that you may feel are appropriate in a precautionary sense when preparing for your trips to Portugal - (such as any injections to receive beforehand, or medications that may be appropriate to take along). Also, I have noticed in some of your Portugal videos that you often have bottled water in your hotel rooms. Is consumption of the tap water / tea and coffee there a potential problem for Canadians? Finally, any other health related considerations or precautions you may have found to be helpful for travel to Portugal would also be interesting to hear about. Great channel. Very informative.

I live in Thailand. great hospital’s and after care. Dental prices half the price of the UK. Haven’t had any surgery here but seems very affordable. Lots of Middle Eastern people travel here for health care.

Great information as usual. Thanks. Norm you mentioned that there are companies that arrange the travel, hotel and hospital. Can you give us a few names.... Cheers!

Good 💞😊🌺💕😊💖 sharing 💝

Blimey! A medical tourism package deal! Who knew?! Wow!

But remember, only those with money can afford medical tourism. Isn’t it sad that all human beings don’t have access to medical care.

Muy bueno!

A great topic for debate ! Iam 59 and live in Newcastle upon Tyne (UK) I am about to spend £6000 on getting RLE ! Basically my eye lenses replaced to my persrciption, same procedure as you may get for cataracts. I researched this and found I could go to Spain, Poland or Turkey and pay £4000 ! A £2000 saving and that included the flights/accommodation etc I will never need to wear glasses again as long as I live because my optical correctness will not alter. I then thought about the laziness that would creep in ! In that I would not need to visit an optician ever again. A lot of potential health issues can be determind by an eyetest ! I deceided to stay at home because an annual test is included in the cost and the aftercare. Had I opted to go abroad If I had a problem I would need to return to the country I went to ! Certain procedures would work going abroad however not my eyes though. Great debate thanks for sharing

Fabulous video. I've forwarded this video to a few of my friends that think the US has a better health care system.

Hello tina& norm, another hot topic the hits just keep coming. Well here goes my two cents well with inflation maybe 5 cents, I have been in the healthcare field for over 40yrs and I have seen quite a few botched jobs both from here and abroad, the difference is that when it happens in the states you are most likely close to your support system love ones ect.when abroad you may know no one, you may not even speak the language.The other problem when you get home another surgeon may hesitate to take you on for fear he may get blamed for further complications that may happen, in the states you may sue and be compensated for a botched job that may not be an option when you have treatment abroad.The whole thing is very dicey, buyers be wear.Rand Paul I believe went to Canada because this hospital specialized in this particular surgery without a lot of anesthesia, he has very good insurance all congress& the Senate.Happy belated father's day to Norm, can't wait for next week.

Not sure what kind of glasses you have, but we love zenni optical for glasses. Have saved a small fortune over the years.

Sen. Paul definitely wants the BEST so I'm NOT surprised he used his common sense !

Love the NZ T-shirt. From a kwi subscriber.

Heading to Mexico for Dental... I have no confidence in Ontario that I could access health care here. 400$ for a full physical...in Mexico....note Ontario health no longer feels annual physical s are necessary...great topic.cheers

An interesting topic. We know of quite a few people that have had to pay for health care in the UK because of long waiting lists for treatment and a lot of us have to pay for dental treatment because fewer NHS dentists are available. The real worry in the UK is paying for social care. A friend has recently gone into residential care whilst recovering from a stroke and it is costing about £1600 a week.

Very interesting and useful information. It would be difficult to have some dental work done because - for example, for implants - there is a healing time required in between procedures. So it would require more than one trip. But probably still would be cheaper. How would somebody find these companies that help you book all the requirements for surgery in another country?

Prices are not always and for everyone the main selection criteria. Top earning football stars and other professional athletes, who seek the best treatment or operations for their injuries don't mind paying a lot. All they care is how experienced and skillful doctors and team there is to treat them as they arrive with their private jets. Sport injuries are a special niche for orthopedics. Other wealthy people want to use their special experience and skills as well. In my country there also are some clinics and hospital departments, which are clearly directed for international clients, who look better or more individual care than is available commonly elsewhere.

Hi, warm greetings from Sotogrande, Spain!! I am following you for almost a year. I am currently 57, born in Chile, and retired at 50. Now living in the south of Spain. I love your stories and your personalities!!!! I agree with many of the things you talk about in the show, nonetheless, there are a few things different of course. Question: In these difficult times, financially speaking, what your recommendation is for cash. To keep it untouched for a while in the bank or invested? I don't see anything secure to invest in at the moment....

Great topic very popular in Costa Rica, I've been looking at online glasses companies could you share the one you used?

Medical tourism has been critical for some people I know to avoid bankruptcy.

I have a mate in the US who went in for a day procedure in the US at about the same time that my wife was going in for spinal surgery here in Australia a few years back. My wife spent 4 days in a top private hospital in our state and we had a very highly rated surgeon and associated folks doing the procedure. We have top private health insurance so I could ring them to find out how much it all cost and what the gap was going to be. Turns out my mates cost was well over double what my wife's bill came to which blew my mind. If we had relied on the public system here we would likely have not got a bill at all but then she may not have got the operation so quickly. From memory our out of pocket expenses were well less than 2k. Extras like dental optical aren't as well covered by our fund but my last root canal came to about $350 from memory. Personally the idea of going overseas for medical treatment leaves me cold and we will be hanging on to our private cover even though it's expensive.

It's a bit sad medical tourism even needs to exist, but I don't think it is exploitation. Good information on medical procedures, dental work and prescriptions! Thank you.

I went to a clinic in phuket last November for a bacterial infection, cost to see Dr., 2 prescriptions, some enzymes and few packets of electrolytes came to approx $75 Canadian. I'm told if I went to hospital instead of tourist clinic it would have been cheaper.

I go to Algodones, Mexico for Dental work and wait until I'm down there - Canadian dental work is too expensive. Literally, walk across the U.S./Mexico border in the morning, have the work done and walk back in the afternoon. They even arrange travel from Phoenix and Tucson to bus customers to the border. 1st class facilities and 1st class Dentists. Cheers, Steve

Good afternoon Tina and Norm-This is very informative. I am 61 years old, too young for medicare so I pay $835 per month plus co-pay and deductible for a medical PPO insurance. I met an Australian man in Mumbai who's dentist back home told him to have implants in India. Much cheaper and better done. I would be afraid to not have any health insurance just in case of an accident but it is just too costly for my out of pocket when I only see the doctor once a year for a physical and lab work.

There was a video where you mentioned the pitfalls of the golden visa in Portugal. There were some points that I had never thought of but I can't remember which video and when you mentioned it, it was in passing. Could you go over golden visa, non lucrative visa, etc? Thanks!!