Expenditures and Planning

How should I go about planning my treatment abroad?
As a potential patient for cosmetic surgery, dental treatment, or eye treatment, as well as other treatments and cures abroad, you should be well-informed in advance. It is your health, so you should take the time to ask yourself whether treatment and a stay abroad are right for you. We have put together a few important tips and questions for you in order to ease the planning of your treatment abroad somewhat. We have compiled a more thorough medical tourism checklist.

1.) Selection of treatment and methods

Am I certain that this treatment is the right one for me?
Which methods exists and what advantages and disadvantages do they offer?
What can I realistically expect to accomplish with this treatment?
What risks do I need to be looking out for in my particular case?
Have I asked my doctor about this treatment and its methods?
Have I researched this treatment and its methods thoroughly using the internet and other media sources?
Do I know someone within my circle of acquaintances who has already been through a similar treatment?

flymedic Tip:
You will find useful initial information about treatments here.
Talk with a trusted doctor about your personal situation and work on creating both a treatment plan and a budget. Whenever possible, you should obtain a doctor’s recommendations and cost estimates in writing. Be sure to get those close to you involved in the decision-making process.

2.) Is treatment abroad right for me?
After I’ve decided on a particular treatment, I have to ask myself whether treatment abroad is right for me

How will I otherwise react to temporarily living abroad? Will I get homesick?
Would being closer to home be advantageous for my recovery? Or is it the distance and new environment that are helpful and will allow me to appreciate anonymity and protection from searching looks?
Will relatives or friends accompany me or will I be alone when I’m abroad?
How flexibly can I define my vacation and my stay abroad, in case any complications should arise?

flymedic Tip:
Talk to friends and acquaintances who have undergone treatment abroad about their experiences. Take the time to build your knowledge base. Speak with several providers both at home and abroad and draw your own conclusions. The support and companionship of a good friend or close relative can likewise be useful.

3.) Choosing the country

What do different countries have to offer; how far would I like to travel, and what are the climatic conditions like at my destination?
Will I be able to tolerate the prevailing weather and will it help the healing process?
What do the treatment process and aftercare activities require; e.g. would I have to avoid sunlight?
- Is the country politically stable or is it at risk from attacks and rioting?
What is the general hygiene situation in the country?
Are there risks of diseases such as malaria?
What formalities must be observed (e.g. is a visa required)?
What is the standard of accommodation that I, and possibly my friend and relatives, can expect?
Am I at risk concerning exchange rates?
What pricing advantages can I expect? Check our medical tourism price comparison

flymedic Tip:
Don’t limit yourself to just one country during your initial search; include as many countries as possible in your research. Note the time duration between expected arrival and departure and ask your doctor whether you can undertake a lengthy trip after your treatment. Pick out the ones that interest you from the group.

Don’t let your decision be influenced solely by the charm of an exotic country you’ve always wanted to get to know, but pay careful attention to the particular doctor and the hospital. Please also note any formalities of a country (such as visa requirements) and the fact that you may possibly have to go back to the same country again for an aftercare examination. Additionally, obtain an offer from a doctor that you trust in your own country.
And watch out for the “travel season”, during which you will have to take higher travel and hotel costs into account. In general, travel costs can vary considerably from one country to another.

4.) Choosing the provider

If I have decided on a certain country for my treatment, which provider should I choose?
Should I make use of the services of an agency which could perhaps relieve me of the difficulties involved in planning the trap and selecting a doctor (agencies mostly work with only a small selection of partner clinics and doctors) or do I want to organize everything myself?
What materials does the doctor use?
What impression does the doctor make? Is the doctor a member of a professional association or is the clinic accredited?
How does a provider’s stated price compare to other offers from within the same country? Is the price unnecessarily low?
What services are expressed included in the price?
How long is the expected stay in the clinic? Is it kept short in order to deliberately curtail costs?
What other services, such as interpreting services and facilities (e.g. single-bed or multi-bed room) can I expect?
Are aftercare examinations included in the price? If so, where? In the country of treatment or are partner doctors available in my home country?
How do I pay? Is prepayment required or can I pay by other means, e.g. credit card?

What happens in the event of a complication? What additional costs might be incurred and what guarantees do individual providers offer? Find the starting point for your research in our flymedic Directory.

What criteria do I need to keep in mind when making a selection? You will find further topics of interest here.

flymedic Tip:
When selecting a provider, don’t go on the price alone! You should feel comfortable with your choice and have spoken at least once with the doctor providing the treatment. Your doctor should in turn take the time to address your questions. If you should come across inconsistencies in the statements or information supplied by the provider via e-mail or telephone, please contact another provider. Get assurances in writing, keep your correspondence, and take copies with you when you travel for your treatment. Get precise explanations about the methods and materials used as well as the professional background of the doctor. Membership in professional associations and accreditation may, but do not necessarily, give relevant information about each individual provider. ISO 9001 certification, for example, does not make a definitive statement about the quality of a provider. You can obtain further information here.

In general, you should always include several factors in your decision-making process! Besides the price for treatment, you should also include any potential additional costs such as accommodations, departure and arrival, and aftercare so that you can accurately assess the range of services included in the overall offer. Make sure that you also assign a high degree of significance to what kind of impression the provider makes on you in the selection process.