Medical tourism is a growing and profitable business
Medical tourism is turning into an important option for people coming to Costa Rica for high quality and less expensive medical services. The following are the details of an article published today in Newspaper La República: http://www.larepublica.net/app/cms/www/index.php?pk_articulo=35186
Growing competition in medical tourism
Costa Rica is contested market with a lot of countries
Drafting
redaccion@larepublica.net
Contributed to this note, the journalist Daniel Chacón
Although many details of the plan recently approved U.S. health insurance have not been resolved, apparently, the new provisions would stimulate U.S. demand for treatment in other nations, including Costa Rica.
On the other hand, medical tourism faces significant challenges as more and more countries competing to attract potential patients.
In recent years, the number of hospitals that offer a high level of service has grown dramatically. Globally more than 300, of which three quarters began competing since 2006, according to the Joint Commission International (JCI), an independent, nonprofit.
In this context, the Costa Rican suppliers develop new strategies in this regard, the group which includes the Cima Hospital a few months ago launched a site called Medical Travel Value, informing Americans about the options that are offered in Costa Rica.
CIMA is also part of a new consortium called Remove Pro, which promotes investment by U.S. retirees in the country, especially in Guanacaste, which is to build a major medical center that will open next year possibly.
"We're going to meet the needs of the elderly, from the houses made for them, until the services of nurses and doctors, said Dr. Arden Bennett, CEO of Cima Hospital.
The project seeks to take advantage of an aging U.S. population, especially the 79 million people who are part of the "generation of boomers, born between 1946 and 1960.
For its part, the Clinica Biblica Hospital participates in all international conferences possible. "We have a medical tourist section is responsible for contacting patients receive at the airport to monitor them after their procedures," said Dr. Jorge Cortes, director of the general medical clinic.
Furthermore, the Bible has agreements with various insurance companies in the United States, including Blue Cross / Blue Shield, and a contract to provide services to employees of Wal-Mart.
The market also expects the Government will support the promotion of conferences in the U.S. about medical tourism.
Meanwhile, the Costa Rican health care providers should maintain a leadership position among the many countries that want to increase their stake in the business.
Currently, JCI has accredited over 300 hospitals worldwide, which means that its rules are considered at least as high as those of North America.
In countries which potentially competes Costa Rica, most of accreditations have occurred since 2006. Only in Mexico, for example, JCI has accredited eight stores in the last four years. In Costa Rica, those with this location are the Cima, the Bible and the Catholic Hospital Hotel.
Today, major medical tourism destinations are India and Thailand, where a heart bypass costs $ 11 billion, less than 10% of the average U.S. share, according to a report in October 2009 in the magazine Fast Company.
But competition also comes from Eastern Europe and the Middle East and other Asian countries.
Among the competitive advantages of our country are the ease of travel between Costa Rica and the United States and a reputation of high quality medical services.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Dr. Stephen Neeleman
The reform of the health system of the United States approved last month, have a positive effect for Costa Rica.
Under the new rules, some 40 million Americans currently uninsured will be required to obtain health insurance from 2014.
Many of these people do not have excess money, in large part, are not insured because they have not wanted to pay for this service.
While a combination of taxes and subsidize this new cost savings, people are integrated into the system would have to disburse their own money to cover the difference.
In this case, look for effective options, especially plans like Health Savings Accounts (Health Savings Accounts), which will be most comfortable, if medical services are competitive, since this type of plan requires the customer to cover part the cost.
It is likely to increase domestic options that offer efficient services to this group of potential patients.
At the same time, it is almost certain that one of the options that are attractive is that of medical trips, using a combination of high quality and attractive prices.
In this case, one of the challenges for providers of this type of service in Costa Rica would sensitize the American public about the benefits they provide.
Dr. Stephen Neeleman is the CEO of Health Equity Corporation, one of the largest administrators of health plans U.S.
Growing competition in medical tourism
Costa Rica is contested market with a lot of countries
Drafting
redaccion@larepublica.net
Contributed to this note, the journalist Daniel Chacón
Although many details of the plan recently approved U.S. health insurance have not been resolved, apparently, the new provisions would stimulate U.S. demand for treatment in other nations, including Costa Rica.
On the other hand, medical tourism faces significant challenges as more and more countries competing to attract potential patients.
In recent years, the number of hospitals that offer a high level of service has grown dramatically. Globally more than 300, of which three quarters began competing since 2006, according to the Joint Commission International (JCI), an independent, nonprofit.
In this context, the Costa Rican suppliers develop new strategies in this regard, the group which includes the Cima Hospital a few months ago launched a site called Medical Travel Value, informing Americans about the options that are offered in Costa Rica.
CIMA is also part of a new consortium called Remove Pro, which promotes investment by U.S. retirees in the country, especially in Guanacaste, which is to build a major medical center that will open next year possibly.
"We're going to meet the needs of the elderly, from the houses made for them, until the services of nurses and doctors, said Dr. Arden Bennett, CEO of Cima Hospital.
The project seeks to take advantage of an aging U.S. population, especially the 79 million people who are part of the "generation of boomers, born between 1946 and 1960.
For its part, the Clinica Biblica Hospital participates in all international conferences possible. "We have a medical tourist section is responsible for contacting patients receive at the airport to monitor them after their procedures," said Dr. Jorge Cortes, director of the general medical clinic.
Furthermore, the Bible has agreements with various insurance companies in the United States, including Blue Cross / Blue Shield, and a contract to provide services to employees of Wal-Mart.
The market also expects the Government will support the promotion of conferences in the U.S. about medical tourism.
Meanwhile, the Costa Rican health care providers should maintain a leadership position among the many countries that want to increase their stake in the business.
Currently, JCI has accredited over 300 hospitals worldwide, which means that its rules are considered at least as high as those of North America.
In countries which potentially competes Costa Rica, most of accreditations have occurred since 2006. Only in Mexico, for example, JCI has accredited eight stores in the last four years. In Costa Rica, those with this location are the Cima, the Bible and the Catholic Hospital Hotel.
Today, major medical tourism destinations are India and Thailand, where a heart bypass costs $ 11 billion, less than 10% of the average U.S. share, according to a report in October 2009 in the magazine Fast Company.
But competition also comes from Eastern Europe and the Middle East and other Asian countries.
Among the competitive advantages of our country are the ease of travel between Costa Rica and the United States and a reputation of high quality medical services.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Dr. Stephen Neeleman
The reform of the health system of the United States approved last month, have a positive effect for Costa Rica.
Under the new rules, some 40 million Americans currently uninsured will be required to obtain health insurance from 2014.
Many of these people do not have excess money, in large part, are not insured because they have not wanted to pay for this service.
While a combination of taxes and subsidize this new cost savings, people are integrated into the system would have to disburse their own money to cover the difference.
In this case, look for effective options, especially plans like Health Savings Accounts (Health Savings Accounts), which will be most comfortable, if medical services are competitive, since this type of plan requires the customer to cover part the cost.
It is likely to increase domestic options that offer efficient services to this group of potential patients.
At the same time, it is almost certain that one of the options that are attractive is that of medical trips, using a combination of high quality and attractive prices.
In this case, one of the challenges for providers of this type of service in Costa Rica would sensitize the American public about the benefits they provide.
Dr. Stephen Neeleman is the CEO of Health Equity Corporation, one of the largest administrators of health plans U.S.
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