“The two facilities that I toured – the international facilities with mostly American patients – were spectacular and among the best I’ve seen anywhere,” said Justin Ward of Patient Advocates in Gray. “The American patients I talked with said they love the treatment.”

Many people are becoming interested in so-called “medical tourism” to countries such as Costa Rica because high-quality care is available there at much-lower costs. For example, a knee or hip replacement that would cost $30,000-$40,000 in the United States can be done for less than $12,000 in Costa Rica. A colonoscopy could be done for as little as $300.

“The physicians, many of whom were trained in the United States, themselves are very accessible,” said Justin Ward, director of client services at Patient Advocates. “They have a great bedside manner, what I’d call ‘high touch’ care.”

Changes to the U.S. health care system as a result of the recent federal law also are likely to increase interest in the offshore option, as millions of people come onto the insurance rolls, with the likely result of longer waits for health care in the U. S.

Patient Advocates administers self-insurance plans and provides wellness services to employers, and operates under the philosophy that patients should get the best care possible, at the most-affordable price. Patient Advocates is a leader in providing employers and plan members with the widest array of care choices possible, whether that is in other states or – now – overseas.

“In business or in health care, competition makes us better,” said James Ward, president of Patient Advocates. “At a time when the health care system is undergoing dramatic changes, we believe it is crucial to look as widely as possible, to get the best health care for our clients and plan members.”

Justin Ward visited medical facilities, spoke with hospital personnel, attended workshops and interacted with patients during his 4 day-long trip to San Jose, Costa Rica, for an international medical conference. Other invitees came from European and North American countries, though Justin Ward is the only individual from the northeastern United States who attended.

Justin Ward said that he tried to put a reporter’s hat on during the trip, reviewing and evaluating everything about the experience – from a potential patient’s perspective.

“It was so easy to get around that it was just like being here, and that’s important because you want everything to go smoothly when you are getting medical treatment,” he said. “The treatment itself was very well coordinated. Providers are talking with one another.”

“The increases in health care costs that we’ve been seeing are not sustainable. If you combine that with an aging workforce, employers are being forced to look at alternatives to the local health care system,” Justin Ward said. “Costa Rica is an attractive alternative because of its proximity to the United States, stable government, safe environment, reputation for high quality and affordability.”

About Patient Advocates

Patient Advocates LLC has been helping clients navigate the health care system since 1995. Employers trust PA to help manage their costs while ensuring the highest quality of care for their employees. Built on the premise that access to the highest quality health care results in greater cost-savings over time, Patient Advocates offers innovative patient advocacy and disease management services, award-winning wellness programs and creative benefit plan designs with third-party administration. www.patientadvocatesllc.com

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Justin Ward of Patient Advocates has been invited to Costa Rica in late April to learn more about its health care system and how it might benefit employers and health plan members. Patient Advocates designs and administers self-insured medical plans for employers and works with patients to ensure they receive high-quality, affordable care.

Other invitees are from many European and North American countries, though Ward is the only individual from the northeastern United States currently attending. In addition to lectures and discussions about the topic of international treatment, Ward will tour medical facilities and meet health care providers.

“In light of the recent changes to health care in the United States, we feel it is vital to explore options for our clients and plan members,” said Ward, who is Director of Client Services at Patient Advocates. “There are some incredible cost savings available in Costa Rica for the same procedures performed in the United States, and the standards of care are very high.”

For example, a knee replacement that would cost $35,000-$40,000 in the United States can be done for less than $12,000 in Costa Rica. A colonoscopy could be done for as little as $300.

Patient Advocates already is a national leader in looking beyond state boundaries for the best available treatment for plan members. It regularly refers patients to centers of medical excellence in Boston for care, and has worked with treatment centers as far away as California.

“Working with a great medical center in another country would be a natural fit for us,” Ward said. “We believe strongly that high-quality care is ultimately the least expensive care, and we look for that wherever it exists.”

With 30 million more people about to be insured and no arrangements in the new law for increasing the capacity of U.S. health care system, access to care domestically will likely be more difficult and costly, Ward said. New regulations included in the law also will have a negative impact on access and cost, making international treatment options more appealing.

The new health care law is adding to the already high level of interest in “medical tourism,” at a time of growing globalization for cultures and markets, said Tim Morales, president of Costa Rican Medical Care.

“Health care is just like with anything else. More and more services are being outsourced to other countries,” Morales said. “The procedures, equipment and processes are the same in Costa Rica. Many of the doctors even have been trained or certified in the United States.

“Once people see the hospitals and meet the doctors, they walk away with the feeling that they can’t believe what is available,” Morales said.

Even after the cost of transportation and lodging, medical treatment in Costa Rica provides major cost savings, he said. That leaves money available for taking advantage of the “tourism” piece of medical tourism.

Many facilities that cater to international patients go out of their way to make relaxing vacation and sightseeing opportunities available. “If you can recover from excellent treatment on a beach in Costa Rica while saving your employer money, what could be better than that?” Ward said.

About Patient Advocates

Patient Advocates LLC has been helping clients navigate the health care system since 1995. Employers trust PA to help manage their costs while ensuring the highest quality of care for their employees. Built on the premise that access to the highest quality health care results in greater cost-savings over time, Patient Advocates offers innovative patient advocacy and disease management services, award-winning wellness programs and creative benefit plan designs with third-party administration. www.patientadvocatesllc.com

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