Health Tourism Magazine Blog

Respond to Chelsea@MedicalTourismAssociation.com if you would like to contribute an article to Issue 6 of Health Tourism Magazine. We are looking for expert authors to write about topics such Anti-oxidants, Holistic Medicine, Organic Foods, Meditation, Preventative Medicine and how they relate to Health Tourism!

The Medical Tourism Association has launched a bi-monthly on-line Health and Wellness Magazine, dedicated to educating and raising awareness primarily through the Business- to-Consumer approach. Health Tourism Magazine focuses on all areas of health and wellness which not only compliment the treatment plans for patients receiving surgical procedures, but also provides the opportunity for improvement of the quality of life for the patients and individuals at large.

http://www.healthtourismmagazine.com

If you have any questions please feel free to email me or if you would like to contribute an article to the Health Tourism Magazine!

Please email me at: Chelsea@MedicalTourismAssociation.com for Health Tourism Magazine Requirements.

Please note: Article deadline for Issue 6 is April 15, 2010.

Healthcare Reform is going to have a very positive effect on medical tourism. Deloitte and the Medical Tourism Association are both in agreement on this exact point. This is because healthcare reform will significantly increase the cost of health insurance in the US, and adding more uninsured will result in longer waiting times and access to care.

Some people are taking what happened with healthcare reform and trying to misrepresent it, as something negative and trying to confuse people into believing that this means US patients will stop leaving the US.  But those people pushing this, it is clear what their motive and agenda is.  Including trying to convince people healthcare reform has some form of comprehensive dental coverage, which is not true.  Dental costs in the US are extremely expensive. Dental implants can cost anywhere from $3,000 per tooth to up to $15,000 per tooth, depending on location in the US.  Dental insurance policies in the US only provide up to $1,000 or $1,500 per year, which means even if you have dental insurance; it won’t even cover a fraction of the cost of one dental procedure. Any dental benefits provided under healthcare reform will be very minimal and will only focus on preventative care, such as dental checkups, etc.  There are currently 120 million Americans with no dental insurance, and as mentioned above the several hundred million that do have it, have limited annual coverage.  Healthcare reform will have little effect on dental care and dental tourism and Americans leaving the US will continue to grow significantly.

There is nothing mentioned in healthcare reform that mentions medical tourism.  This is extremely positive for medical tourism because it means there is nothing that restricts insurance companies and employers from implementing medical tourism.  Already there has been significant interest in medical tourism from US employers and in the next few months there will be more announcements of employers implementing medical tourism because of group healthcare reform.

Caterpillar, along with other large employers such as Deere Inc, have stated that healthcare reform in the first year will cost them $100 million dollars, and several large US employers are already starting to implement plans to reduce the level of healthcare benefits they offer to employees.

Some reports estimate the insurance premiums for younger Americans could rise as much as 70% under healthcare reform.  With health insurance costs already too expensive in the US, this means that employers and insurers will have little choice but to implement medical tourism as a way of cutting and reducing healthcare costs.

To learn more about Medical Tourism and Healthcare Reform, visit www.medicaltourismmag.com and read the educational article, “Medical Tourism in the Ashes of Healthcare Reform ”.

Stay Tuned…

Chelsea

Next time you go out for dinner and drinks, you may also be paying for your waiter’s medical coverage. San Francisco residents are seeing a surcharge on their restaurant tabs as a result of city mandated healthcare coverage that has been effect for over a year. According to an article by Fox News, Businesses with 20 or more employees are either forced to provide health insurance or face fines by a city-run program. Most restaurants are deciding to pay the city and can only do so by either raising menu prices or include a “Healthy Surcharge” onto the tab. At some places, it’s around 4 percent of the check, while others charge a flat fee of a dollar or two.

Whether the workers are San Francisco city residents, part time or even illegal immigrants, customers are footing the healthcare bill for the staff. Local residents don’t seem to mind the small fee, but it’s the restaurants that draw in out-of-town guests who are struggling to make ends meet. Read the article in full and watch the video by clicking here: http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/03/24/on-the-check-food-drinks-health-care/

Stay Tuned…

Chelsea

The Medical Tourism Association conducted an educational webinar on the recent topic of the US Healthcare Reform and its effect on the Medical Tourism Industry. CEO of the MTA, Jonathan Edelheit, led the webinar and discussed different aspects of the Healthcare Reform that will increase health insurance costs for individuals, insurance companies and employers. The webinar proved to be a huge success, bringing in a record number of listeners.

There will be a second opportunity to take part in the free webinar on March 30th 2010 at 10:00 AM. Other topics to be discussed will be why the Healthcare Reform is not going to lower the costs for health insurance or healthcare in the US and how it may lead to long waiting periods for surgical procedures as seen in countries such as the UK and Canada.

Listeners may register for the free webinar at: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/935878186

Stay Tuned…

Chelsea

Join us for a Webinar on March 30 on the US Healthcare Reform’s Effect on the Medical Tourism Industry!

Space is limited. Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/935878186

Participate in the US Healthcare Reform’s Effect on the Medical Tourism Industry Webinar March 25^th at 10:00 AM Tomorrow!!

9:00AM CST/7:00AM PST

To Register, visit: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/566888187 
US Healthcare Reform was signed into law March 23rd, 2010 by President Barak Obama.  Healthcare Reform is expected to have a very positive effect on medical tourism and significantly grow the medical tourism industry.  Under the Healthcare Reform, the costs of health insurance in the US will increase substantially.  Come Join the MTA’s Healthcare Reform’s Effect on Medical Tourism Webinar, tomorrow, Thursday, March 25th at 10 a.m. (US Eastern Standard Time) to learn about the different aspects of the Healthcare Reform that will increase health insurance costs for individuals, insurance companies and employers.  Also, learn why the Healthcare Reform is not going to lower the costs for health insurance or healthcare in the US and how it may lead to long waiting periods for surgical procedures as seen in countries such as the UK and Canada.

This Webinar will Broadcast two times at the dates and times listed below:

Thursday, March 25th at 10:00 AM (US Eastern Standard Time)
Tuesday, March 30th at 10:00 AM (US Eastern Standard Time) 

Thank you,

The Medical Tourism Association

President Barack Obama has just passed the controversial health care reform bill.

The Lewin Group, a health care and human services policy research and management consulting firm, predicts that 19 Million people will lose their employer plan under the current healthcare reform. 

Employers will also be facing increases in healthcare costs. Caterpillar, the world’s largest construction machinery manufacturer by sales, said it’s particularly opposed to requirements in the bill that would expand Medicare taxes and mandate insurance coverage. The legislation would require nearly all companies to provide health insurance for their employees or face large fines.

There is an incentive of $11,543 for employers to drop coverage for a $30,000 a year worker with family [Tax subsidy in the exchange minus tax subsidy at work minus $2,000 fine] (IRET).

The company said these provisions would increase its insurance costs by at least 20 percent, or more than $100 million, just in the first year of the health-care overhaul program. (http://www.chicagobreakingbusiness.com)

Other predictions that will affect Medicare include 8.5 million seniors and disabled people are at risk of losing their Medicare Advantage plan, 3 million additional people will likely lose Medicare Advantage plan benefits, 33 million people in traditional Medicare are at risk of losing access to care because of $523 billion in cuts in Medicare spending and 20% of hospitals will become unprofitable after Medicare spending cuts (Medicare Chief Actuary). Additionally there is an $816 average annual benefit loss for 11 million seniors and disabled in Medicare Advantage plan (CBO).

Stay Tuned…

Chelsea

Tom O’Hara, President of Surgical Trip, speaks with the Medical Tourism Magazine regarding completion of the Medical Tourism Facilitator Certification™ Program. The Medical Tourism Association recently announced the first medical tourism facilitators to be certified by the MTA. Surgical Trip is one of three medical facilitators to receive certification.

Medical Tourism Facilitators are organizations that are involved in the coordination of patient care for patients traveling from one country to another. The certification process, which can take up to 120 days to complete, is a detailed procedure developed by healthcare leaders from around the world in an effort to create best practices in the medical tourism industry. The key to the MTA’s program is transparency in the services being offered to international patients. http://www.medicaltourismassociation.com/certification.html

The benefits of certification are numerous, focusing on improvement in your processes for handling foreign patients. Certification will also attract international insurance companies and employers to your organization. Don’t miss this important educational podcast by going to the Medical Tourism Magazine website to listen at: http://www.medicaltourismmag.com/interview.php?Req=32

For more information regarding the Medical Tourism Facilitator Certification™ Program, contact Jessica Johnson at Jessica@medicaltourismassociation.com or call (561) 791-2000

The Medical Tourism Association is the first international non-profit association made up of the top international hospitals, healthcare providers, medical travel facilitators, insurance companies, and other affiliated companies and members with the common goal of promoting the highest level of quality of healthcare to patients in a global environment. Our Association promotes the interests of its healthcare provider and medical tourism facilitators members. The Medical Tourism Association has three tenets: Transparency, Communication and Education.

Stay Tuned…

Chelsea

A new wellness resort is set to open in Portugal and is much more than a vacation spot!  The Longevity Wellness Resort Monchique in Portugal, the first integrated wellness resort in the Algarve, will open March 21st and is the place where nature meets comfort and where all elements are organized to provide a memorable experience in Wellness and Healthy living.

According to an article in Issue 5 of Health Tourism Magazine, “Algarve ~ No Longer Just a Sun & Sand Destination; A Wellness & Longevity Experience in Portugal,” Longevity Wellness Resort Monchique (LWRM) offers a 7-Day Detox and Stress Management program.  They will also provide you with a fitness evaluation, meditation & relaxation techniques and spa therapies. This resort is not just here to pamper you, but to make sure you leave feeling a brand new you. Read the entire article here.

For more Health and Wellness destinations and trends, visit Health Tourism Magazine and read the latest issue!

Stay Tuned…

Chelsea

The Medical Tourism Association officially releases Issue 14 the Medical Tourism Magazine featuring special articles such as “Are You Forfeiting Millions in Revenue?” and “Portable Medical Records ~ Bumrungrad Hospital and Microsoft Team Up To Help Medical Travelers Get Continuity of Care”.

Issue 14 of Medical Tourism Magazine also features two articles, “FAM Trip to Chihuahua, Mexico~ The Lady of the Desert” and “Medellín ~ The Spirit of Latin America” that give an inside look at the Medical Tourism Association’s Familiarization Tours, or FAM Trips.

The Medical Tourism Magazine, the “sister” magazine to Health Tourism Magazine, is a bi-monthly Medical Tourism industry magazine in both print and electronic versions. The Medical Tourism Magazine will address important issues affecting the Medical Tourism industry such as quality of health care overseas, legal issues surrounding medical tourism and have a primary focus on the quality of healthcare available at leading international hospitals. Read the entire issue of Medical Tourism Magazine at http://www.medicaltourismmag.com

The circulation of the Medical Tourism Magazine on average for its printed version ranges over 90 countries around the world in all 5 regions. The magazine’s distribution is currently in the thousands and is distributed to International Hospitals, International Health Insurance Carriers in the Middle East, US, UK and Canada, healthcare providers throughout the world, the travel industry, directly to potential medical tourism patients considering going overseas for surgery, and anyone interested in the industry. The magazine also is distributed to a majority of the health plans which administer Self Funded Employer health plans in the U.S.

If you wish to contribute to the Medical Tourism Magazine or obtain more information, contact Chelsea D’Ariano at Chelsea@MedicalTourismAssociaiton.com or call (561) 791-2000.
The Medical Tourism Association (Medical Travel Association), also known as the Global Healthcare Association is the first international non-profit association comprised of the top international hospitals, healthcare providers, medical travel facilitators, insurance companies, and other affiliated companies and members with the common goal of promoting the highest level of quality of healthcare to patients in a global environment. Our Association promotes the interests of its healthcare provider and medical tourism facilitators members. The Medical Tourism Association has three tenets: Transparency, Communication and Education. http://www.medicaltourismassociation.com

Stay Tuned…

Chelsea