Medical tourism and the rise of the global waiting room

Imagine you’re on a beach in Phuket, with a Mai Tai in hand, but your itinerary includes more than just sunsets, swims and street food . . . tomorrow you’re getting a shiny new set of teeth veneers. Welcome to the world of medical tourism, a booming industry where travellers combine overseas getaways with medical and cosmetic procedures, all at a fraction of the cost it would be back home in Australia. According to a new survey by Insure&Go, more than half of Australians are willing to travel overseas for medical procedures. Dental work tops the list of procedures Australians are flying overseas for, with 65 per cent of survey respondents considering getting veneers, fillings and implants to improve their smiles. And it’s not hard to see why. In destinations like Thailand and Malaysia, the total cost — including flights and accommodation — can be less than half of what you’d pay at home. Then there’s the big one, life-extending cancer treatments, where 42 per cent of respondents said they would go abroad for medical treatments not available to them here. Cosmetic procedures — breast augmentations, facelifts, rhinoplasty and hair transplants — are also of particular interest, especially for Aussies in their late 20s and early 30s, with places like South Korea and Turkey key destinations for these treatments because they boast advanced techniques at lower costs. The risks and realities While the idea of jetting off to a foreign country and returning with a dazzling smile, a slimmer physique, or a renewed sense of health and certainly has its appeal, the reality isn’t all sunshine and seamless procedures. Nearly 70 per cent of Australians willing to take the medical tourism leap admit they’d do so knowing travel insurance wouldn’t cover complications. It’s a bold gamble when you consider the potential for infection or even botched results. And if things do go wrong, the cost of follow-up treatment back in Australia wouldn’t necessarily be covered by Medicare. Insure&Go spokesperson David Mayo warns while overseas clinics can be alluring with their sleek websites and glossy testimonials, standards vary wildly. “Every country has different standards of medical care and practitioner qualifications, and it can be difficult to assess this,” Mr Mayo says. “Understand the risks, research the exclusions in your travel insurance, and compare the cost of having that procedure overseas to the cost, financially and mentally, if something does go wrong. “In most cases, travel insurance covers unknown incidents, not the risks you know about, such as planned medical procedures. “If something goes wrong during or after your procedure, it could end up costing you much more than you would have paid to have the treatment at home.” Why Australians are saying yes Despite the risks, affordability remains a top motivator. Nearly 40 per cent of respondents said they’d travel for a cheaper option, especially in States like New South Wales, where wait times for elective surgeries continue to rise sharply. Others cited better quality care (32 per cent), shorter wait times (20 per cent), and access to cutting-edge treatments not yet available in Australia (14 per cent). Personal recommendations from friends or family also play a significant role, with 22 per cent of respondents saying they had booked based on glowing reviews. If you’re thinking about joining the growing number of Australians seeking medical procedures abroad, the experts suggest doing your homework. Research the clinic carefully, read a range of reviews (not just glowing five-star testimonials) and understand exactly what your travel insurance covers — or doesn’t. Most importantly, weigh up whether the savings justify the risks to your health and finances if something goes wrong.