Choosing and Working with a Health Travel Planner

Health travel planners offer patients seeking overseas medical care with a number of valuable services. A good planner works in collaboration with the patient, considering treatment needs, budget, and lifestyle preferences to design a package providing the most healthy, comfortable experience possible.

Some planners are located in the destination country, while others are based in the U.S. with offices or representatives overseas. For American patients, the advantages of a U.S.-based planner include local time zones, cultural familiarity, and ease of communication. On the other hand, overseas planners give the patient the comfort of being on the scene, in close touch with treatment centers, physicians, lodging, and other third-party services.

What a Health Travel Planner Does

The most important service a health travel planner provides is matching the patient with the appropriate physician. Planners can be very helpful by supplying data on hospital accreditation, physician's credentials, board affiliations, number of surgeries performed, association memberships, and ongoing training.

Once a patient has narrowed his search, planners will usually arrange telephone consultations between the patient and the doctors of his choosing. This provides the opportunity for the patient to share information about his medical condition, review his medical history and needs, and discuss the procedure.

After the patient chooses a destination for treatment, the planner will handle travel arrangements, obtain visas, reserve lodging, and expedite the transfer of the patient’s medical information. Planners can also help plan leisure activities.

In the foreign country, the planner will have arranged local transportation and may provide for the use of a cell phone. Most planners will also arrange for the patient to be accompanied to the first medical consultation, where the patient is guided through a health assessment, including tests, blood work, scans, and other pretreatment procedures.

Once the patient has returned home, most planners will help with any difficulties experienced by the patient, particularly if complications arise. It's helpful to have a planner when a patient needs an x-ray or has misplaced his prescription or notes for physical therapy.

Fees, Packages, and Payment

Many health travel planners offer "all-in-one" package deals. Patients should keep in mind, however, that at tax time, they may need to provide Uncle Sam with an itemized cost breakdown, including treatment, lodging, meals, transportation, and health travel planner fees. Planners usually can provide a detailed expense log following a patient’s overseas journey.

While a deposit of up to 50% of the total package cost is usually required, patients would be wise to reserve at least 25% of the total bill for final payment. This will insure that the patient is satisfied and all services have been rendered prior to final payment.

If paying with a credit card, it is recommended that patients alert their banks or credit card companies of upcoming overseas transactions. Otherwise, out of the ordinary overseas charges may result in the credit card issuer’s fraud department unexpectedly suspending the account.

When to Avoid Health Travel Planners

Patients should consider avoiding health travel planners that don’t respond promptly to initial information requests and don’t reasonably follow through on commitments.

If a trusted source has recommended a specific clinic and physician, then the patient may consider forgoing a planner’s services, particularly if the hospital or clinic provides similar services.

However, communicating with busy physicians and staffs in a foreign country can be challenging, so it might still be prudent for patients to find a planner that works with the recommended physician.

For Best Results When Using a Health Travel Planner...

It is important that patients consider seeking quality and service over price. While cost is certainly a major factor in any decision -- and a big reason why most patients seek overseas medical care -- a few extra dollars can potentially buy a wealth of experience, information, comfort, and quality service.

A qualified planner should be able to furnish detailed letters of reference from at least two former clients. Planners may require patients to keep this information confidential.

Patients should secure agreements with health travel planners in writing. Prior to engaging a planner formally, patients should have a good understanding of the services being offered and the compensation expected. Most planners will gladly furnish a written agreement or letter of engagement. This document will significantly help in preventing disagreements as the process moves forward.