Health care is a primary concern for anyone moving overseas but some expat hopefuls have misgivings about getting treatment outside of the United States or Canada.
Really, there’s no cause for concern. Here’s why…
Medical tourism is one of the fastest-growing tourism industries in the world. Countries in Latin America, Asia, and Europe are competing to offer
advanced treatments and procedures, often performed by American-trained doctors and specialists using state-of-the-art equipment, for a fraction of the cost you’d pay in North America.
Add to that, the United States numbers 37th in the World Health Organization’s ranking of health care, while Canada is 30th, putting them both behind many of our preferred overseas havens.
Take Colombia for example. Its health system is ranked 22nd in the world by the WHO. Many of the best hospitals in the country—and indeed in all of Latin America—are found in Medellín, including the JCI-accredited Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe.
Medellín is a major medical tourism destination. From dental work to complicated surgeries, people seek out this city to receive medical attention.
The difference in price compared to North America is often so stark that it’s worth it to buy round-trip flights and pay for accommodation just to have work done here.
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Costs for procedures can be 50% to 90% less than for comparable procedures performed Stateside. A hip replacement in the U.S., for example, will typically cost in the region of US$40,000. In Colombia, you’ll pay around US$10,000.
Clinics are clean and modern and English-speaking staff who have been trained in the States are easy to find.
In Europe, France’s health care system is world-class, ranked first in the world by the WHO. In Paris specifically, you’ll have access to the best medical care in the country.
Most of the cost of France’s health care is free if you’re a member of French Social Security (if you’re paying taxes in France). If not, care is still affordable enough that paying out of pocket is a viable option.
LIOS Editor-At-Large and Paris expat Kat Kalashian says, “I’m not able to take advantage of the free health care yet, but I’ve seen my share of doctors since moving to France thanks to pregnancy and childbirth.
“I’ve only had private care, and the most expensive test I had was US$153… and only a couple of tests were over US$100. Ordinarily, specialist visits are about US$50; a clinic visit just US$25.
“To have my baby in one of Paris’ most recommended maternity wards cost about US$5,300 for a stay of four days, which is the minimum time you’ll be kept in the hospital after birth here. I had to pay out of pocket, but my private insurance reimbursed me for all of it.”
Spain’s health care system is also impressive. Ranked seventh-best by the WHO, hospitals here are of a high standard, with highly-trained medical staff and high-tech equipment.
Spain offers a mix of public and private care, with about 90% of the population relying on public health care.
Primary health care is delivered at health centers (centros de salud) across Spain. You can register with a GP at a health center after becoming part of the national health system and paying social security contributions.
One expat we know quotes about US$60 for her monthly contributions.
Sincerely,
Sophia Titley
Editor, Overseas Living Letter
