Destination healthcare is, for many, a very new concept. The idea that someone would leave his or her home and travel to a distant part of the world for medical attention just isn’t a common part of the American experience, yet Americans are doing it in increasing numbers each year.
Let’s face it, medical care in the US needs a doctor. According to the 2009 Survey of Health Care Consumers, conducted by the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions:
• Ninety-four percent of participants believe that health care costs are a threat to their personal financial security.
• Over half believe that 50% or more of the dollars spent on health care in the U.S. are wasted, and
• Thirty-eight percent gave the US health care system a letter grade of D or F. Only 20% gave it an A or B.
In spite of this, most of us think the quality of the US system is far and away the best in the world. The Business Roundtable, a group comprised of successful US businesses, disagrees, citing in its recently released report that the US trails in health quality and value by as much as 43% when compared to other developed nations.
At least we have health insurance. Oh, that doesn’t count the almost 47 million Americans who don’t have insurance, the almost 20 million more who are underinsured, and those who are facing the loss of employer health insurance during the current economic upheaval. For those who do have insurance, it continues to take a bigger bite out of our paychecks every year.
That may explain, at least in part, why more and more people are traveling outside the US for medical care. It just makes sense.
A quick confession, until January I was only peripherally aware of destination healthcare as a serious alternative. Three months later, I’m a convert (and for reasons other than it pays the bills). I recognize, though, that destination healthcare isn’t for everyone or every medical need. Let’s start with what it isn’t.
Destination healthcare isn’t a replacement for routine medical visits or for an urgent visit to the emergency room. If it’s inexpensive or can’t be planned, a local doctor and hospital remain the best option. Destination healthcare also isn’t a replacement for wellness programs, with some limited exceptions, or the pharmacy.
Destination HealthCare™, China Connection Global Healthcare’s approach to destination medical care, recognizes that your health is among your most important possessions. Consequently, we focus on ensuring you receive the highest quality care at an affordable price. We also work with you to integrate your health insurance benefits, an aspect too often passed over by others.
Destination HealthCare™ focuses on world class hospitals and physicians. We’ve chosen to work exclusively in the Chinese health care market, using hospitals that are world-renowned for excellence. This dedicated market means we don’t compete with other firms for hospital access. Three of China Connection’s hospitals are designated as centers of excellence by the World Health Organization.
Destination HealthCare™ delivers premier quality at significant cost savings over the same procedure in the US and Europe. A hip replacement in the US which costs over $60,000 can be delivered for less than $7,000 in China. Stroke recovery, a $100,000 process in the US, is just over $20,000 in China and offers greater therapeutic attention. When you include insurance benefits, you can save thousands of dollars more. Where insurance benefits aren’t available, our medically focused program ensures you have the maximum tax and medical reimbursement program advantages available. In one recent case, the US cost for our member, after insurance, was going to be $7,500. In China, the cost is less than $1,500.
Destination HealthCare™ is patient-directed and outcome oriented. The procedures that are delivered are those expected to provide the most productive result. Tests aren’t conducted for the sake of testing. Doctors and nurses are highly trained and readily available. Where you might see your doctor in a US hospital every other day, your Chinese physician is likely to see you several times each day. We recently compared a treatment plan for a member in the US with her scheduled plan in China. The US plan called for therapy once a day, five days a week. The Destination HealthCare™ plan included five different therapy procedures daily seven days each week. The combined therapy difference over a 4 week period: 5 in the US compared to 35 in China. The more important distinction, however, is that the frequency was driven not by need but by the availability of therapists in the US hospital.
Many of us have been closer to a destination healthcare decision than we realize. However, it may only have been for a specialist in the United States, like the Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins, the Cleveland Clinic, MD Anderson or another. Now we’ve extended that range of specialty providers to include equally excellent hospitals and physicians at far more affordable costs.
Quality, price, attention to your needs – we can help.
www.chinaconnection.cc