Medical tourism is not just for Americans. Many Australian patients are choosing to receive medical care and elective procedures outside of their home country. The high cost of medical work in Australia is driving these patients to seek care elsewhere, despite the added costs of travel and accommodation.
Here are some of the most current facts about Australian medical tourism:
- Most Australian medical tourists elect to receive their treatments and procedures in Asian countries, including Thailand, India, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and Turkey.
- The most common types of procedures that Australian medical tourists travel to receive are cosmetic surgery and dental work.
- Often, these cosmetic procedures for Australian medical tourists include breast augmentations, facelifts, and tummy-tucks.
- Non-cosmetic procedures are on the rise for Australian medical tourists. These include surgeries for spine, neck, and shoulder as well as knee and hip replacements and fertility treatments.
- In many countries abroad, the standard of care is much higher than patients’ home countries.
- Patients can also enjoy rest and recovery in resort-style care facilities.
- Roughly 15,000 Australian patients travel abroad for medical tourism each year.
- Australians who travel for cosmetic procedures spend roughly $300 million per year on treatments, and this is still while saving up to 80% on the cost of treatments.
- Australian Medicare is unlikely to cover any overseas medical treatment that is not deemed an emergency.
- Engaging in medical tourism does carry risks that patients need to be aware of.
- Standard travel insurance will, in most cases, not provide any coverage for costs related to medical complications.
- Medical tourism insurance is the only coverage that is guaranteed to provide assistance with the cost of complications.
