Health Plan Can Include Trip to India

Thursday, October 5, 2006
Health Plan Can Include Trip to India
By Jeanne Kuriyan, CEO, Lotus Health Networks, in Corrales
Albuquerque, NM

GUEST COMMENTARY:

Businesses today face such crippling health-care costs that many have scaled back or even eliminated coverage for their employees. Some have had to deny an employee necessary surgery because the insurance company refused to cover the procedure. Others have seen their retirees marooned?- left without any health-care coverage at all.

It's no wonder, then, that more and more companies are looking into a quite different, radical-sounding solution: sending employees overseas for surgery and treatment at a fraction of the cost.

What should you know about this trend before considering an overseas health-care option for your employees?

First, the savings for business and employee alike are considerable. The cost of overseas surgery in India, for example, typically runs 50 to 75 percent less than comparable procedures in the U.S. These savings not only benefit your bottom line: Employees also benefit because they end up paying a much lower co-pay when they go overseas?- or often have no co-pay at all.

What's more, your employees can get the care they need at first-rate medical centers stocked with the latest technology. Modern hospital rooms in India are comfortable suites with all the amenities of a first-class hotel, such as Internet access and plenty of space for a companion. Indian physicians?- often trained in the U.S., Canada or Europe?- are highly skilled and speak English. They typically perform many more procedures and handle a much higher volume than comparable U.S. surgeons with similar training, which leads to better patient outcomes.

Medical records are transmitted overseas electronically and instantaneously. To make the patient and caregivers more comfortable, an Indian doctor communicates closely with the U.S. physician and patient prior to performing any surgery. It's a partnership with the best interests of patients and their well-being in mind.

Of course, not every business?- and certainly not every employee?- will find this overseas option attractive. For one thing, you should be self-insured, which excludes many small businesses that buy outside insurance products. And, of course, employees with urgent medical needs must of necessity be treated by their U.S. physicians. Also, only those surgeries costing more than a certain amount?- say $15,000?- are truly worth considering because the savings advantage is more compelling. This includes all types of orthopedic surgery, heart surgery and all cardiovascular procedures.

A good option is to offer overseas surgery as an entirely new program benefit?- and one that might apply only to certain types of high-cost procedures. This "offshore" provider network works like a Preferred Provider Network or PPO here at home. Employees can choose to enroll in the offshore network, using it in case they need certain types of surgery. If they select a provider from the offshore network, they have no co-pay or out-of-pocket medical expenses. Some companies even pay for all of the travel costs involved in going overseas, including those of a companion who accompanies the patient.

Of course, the challenges are many. The flight to India is long and tedious. Your employee must be up to the journey and willing to experience a different culture.

It's also a good idea to choose a company to help guide your employees through the process and ensure that they have a positive experience. This partner should be able to match your employee with the most appropriate surgeon; establish a dialogue between the employee, his or her doctor and the Indian physician; electronically transmit all medical records; quickly obtain visas and other travels documents; make travel and touring arrangements; and ensure that a representative meets your employee at the other end and is available 24/7 to meet needs and guide him or her through the process.

As more and more people go overseas for surgery, they are starting to report that not only are their overseas physicians very well training and qualified?- they also deliver the very best in bedside care and service. It's a trend that is likely to become commonplace in the coming years as businesses try to rein in soaring health-care costs. By learning about it now, you can carefully weigh the cost and health benefits for both you and your valued employees.