Oppenheimer Report: Medical Tourism Next Big Boom For Latin America

miamimike says on Aug 14, 2007, 00:35:

"It's not just that 100 million Americans will reach retirement age over the next 30 years, and growing numbers of them won't be able to afford ever-rising U.S. healthcare costs. Americans already are traveling to Panama, Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, Argentina and Chile, among other countries, for heart operations, cosmetic surgery or dental work at half price, and with more personalized attention."
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In Colombia's case, Dental Work can be had at 25% of the Price, not half as the article says,,,

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scotty says on Aug 14, 2007, 01:04:

yup more and more Americans traveling to mexico and south america for medical and dental work.

Get Rhythm, when you got the blues. Johnny Cash

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Cerealkiller says on Aug 14, 2007, 02:07:

Well thats isnt new. Colombians living in the US have been doing that for years now...It was about time americans caught up with it.

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

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Miguel says on Aug 14, 2007, 06:05:

In today's EL HERALDO, an article states that it's estimated that around 600 foreigners go to Barranquilla for medical services every month, and that on the average, they stay one week.

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LA_MONA says on Aug 14, 2007, 06:10:

Alot of foreigners from UK and EEUU go to Cali and Bogota too, here in the UK even though there is a free healthcare system on the NHS people prefer to go to Colombia when they want any health worries checked out as here the amount of errors in diagnosing diseases and other health conditions is terrible.

Para volar, es preciso tener resistencia. -M.Lin

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Cerealkiller says on Aug 14, 2007, 14:17:

Mona did you see that documentary on aesthetic procedures in which a woman decided to get plastic surgery and no one gave her a decent price? This woman ended up spending something ridiculously low...perhaps 2000 pounds to travel to Malaysia, get tummy tuck, breast augmentation and a facelift, a 5 star hotel during her recovery and a US trained doctor. Thats cheaper than Colombia...it was very interesting, it did make me think about the pros and cons of setting up a plastic surgery holiday package bussiness...

Conservatives are not necessarily stupid, but most stupid people are conservatives -John Stuart Mill

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raulinho says on Aug 14, 2007, 15:44:

"here in the UK even though there is a free healthcare system on the NHS people prefer to go to Colombia when they want any health worries checked out as here the amount of errors in diagnosing diseases and other healt condition is terrible" Where do you get your facts ? The Sun newspaper or maybe Daily Mail ?? Don't make me laugh!

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miamimike says on Aug 14, 2007, 18:26:

I hope mostpeople thinking about traveling to Colombia realize that they don't need a 3rd party agency service for Plastic surgery. In most cases these 3rd parties who book your hotel, airport pickup ect a person of reasonable intelligence can do themselves. The 3rd party folks only lighten your wallet without adding anythingof value surgery/health wise. A few weeks ago,in the Miami Herald, the Clinica de las Americas in Medellin, offered Plastic Surgery procedures, as well as many other specialties. After a little research(as I was not familiar with this clinic) I found out it was one of the premier clinics in Colombia. They offer great prices, will assist if needed in recommnding Hotels, Airport pickup, ect and the Charge is fairly modest. You deal directly with them, the Clinic, not some Middleman-clinic like this is the way to go-great reputation, well known Surgeons, this large Hospital has ancillary medical personnel nearby in the Operating area should an Emergency arise during your Surgery. Here in Miami, some undergoing Surgery in some small clinic, put themselves in harm's way when the Emergency need arises, then its usuallytoo late when the need arises. All to save a few dollars. Crazy

Avatar Legend: Bush "If any of you Reporters are wondering, it was a Size 10"

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arthur brode (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 14, 2007, 18:31:

arthur brode (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 14, 2007, 18:51:

arthur brode (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 14, 2007, 19:35:

goin_south says on Aug 14, 2007, 21:24:

Now, I'm not saying that you shouldn't be doing it.... but.....
...
"... working on a comission basis with several surgeons ..."

U C, in the USA... a physician can get in maximum trouble for paying people commission for gathering new patients for him/her.

Why Not Colombia?..........Stay Tuned, for more.... utterly worthless, self-indulgent gobbets of nonsense.

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miamimike says on Aug 14, 2007, 22:14:

AB-I had my crowns(9) made and installed in Bogota and at the time, it cost me around $150 Crown and that included the Dental Gold which I purchased here(usa) and hand carried to Colombia.

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LA_MONA says on Aug 15, 2007, 02:21:

RAULINHO - Thanks I don't read either.

The facts are facts - Why does the NHS with all the billions invested do so badly compared to other european countries like France and Germany? The management of the money is TERRIBLE.

I am not attacking the NHS staff (although due to the hours they work and the pay they get you often have to put up with their bad attitude and indifference) I feel sorry for them as many of them just get worn down by the system.

You do not have to read the Sun or Mirror to know that we have the worst survival rate of cancer in the developed world or that the waiting lists for treatment and scans is ridiculous, or that the midwives in the hospitals can't cope. (Don't even get me started on how my poor friend was treated when she had her baby, if I had not been there it would have a very traumatic experience for her and those kind of experiences do colour your opinion).
Or that there is a major problem in finding sick peoples beds, old people dying in corridors and not being discovered for hours. They are not just cheap scandalous stories in your daily paper they are real situations that reflect the state of the NHS, even the Prime Minister admit's it!

Raulinho you cannot deny that many thousands of people are fleeing Britain for healthcare in the high hopes of getting better treatment than offered in the UK and that there is a valid reason for doing so.

I think the accident and emergency departments are excellent though (aside from the 5 hour wait you may have to endure).

If I have to choose between a courteous, professional, thorough, consistent and experienced Dr. in Colombia compared to the ineptness and stressed Dr's and hospital's in London, in who's hands would you put your precious life?

Maybe you find my opinion funny but I am not alone, ask ANY colombian, latino and a growing number of british people and you will get the same answer.

Oh and dental treatment here is exorbitant and inferior , Colombia any day too.

Para volar, es preciso tener resistencia. -M.Lin

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miamimike says on Aug 15, 2007, 04:27:

La Mona, this surprises me on your Country's healthcare, Do you have some links to substantiate these shortcomings you claim?

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LA_MONA says on Aug 15, 2007, 05:50:

Miamimike these shortcomings are well known here in the UK

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/07/30/nhealt...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/3443223.stm

http://www.reform.co.uk/website/pressroom/articles.aspx?o=165

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_artic...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_artic...

If you read any online UK paper's or google the NHS services you will see what I am on about.

It is a well known fact that there are many problems within the NHS healthcare hospitals and trusts, that is a reason to take into account when examining the reasons people choose healthcare abroad. People in the UK that work pay hefty taxes to pay toward this healthcare and so feel let down by it or rather by the government.

Para volar, es preciso tener resistencia. -M.Lin

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nine inch nails says on Aug 15, 2007, 06:51:

AB, you might have overpaid for CO but compared to US think you still got a great deal! With insurance my crown here was like around 5 bills, without insurance $800-$1300. Dental work crazy expensive here.

The Hedge funds have all gone wild on us!

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arthur brode (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 15, 2007, 09:46:

miamimike says on Aug 15, 2007, 16:24:

AB--a Gold To Ceramic Porcelain Jacket crown here in Miami costs(today) a minimum of $1200-$1500. I am told the Colombian Labor&material Cost may have went up $20 or so per crown since I bought, excluding the gold. The Gold would be the big factor as I purchased when it was $350.oz and now around $650 per ounce., so I would have to add approx $500(gold) more for the cost of my work which would bring the total price today to Approx $2500-that would be work for 9 Gold to Porcelain Crowns, 4 other teeth where I had the old silver fillings removed and replaced with that white natural resin type filling and one front tooth that requiried a special filling that was cured with a Photo lamp. My dentist worked on 14 teeth in total plus she made me a custom plastic applicance to use at night to prevent me from grinding my teeth during sleep. Quite a bit of work at that,,,

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arthur brode (☼Travelguide writer) says on Aug 16, 2007, 09:04: