Health Care

Several key changes are necessary to get control of the costs associated with the run away health care system in the United States.

Here are just a few suggestions:

1) Cost information about medical procedures and cost comparisons to alternative treatments need to be more easily available so that consumers can make better educated health care choices.

2) Outcomes and outcome comparisons of alternative medical procedures need to be more available so that health care consumers can make more informed decisions.

3) Consumers need to take more responsibility for their health, health care treatment, and research the cost and outcomes of certain procedures prior to electing medical care.

4) Federal and state governments need to quit passing unfunded mandates that mostly add to the cost of care while reducing overall access to care.

5) Frivolous lawsuits and the threat of frivolous lawsuits cause doctors to practice defensive medicine in order to reduce the chance of being sued. The resulting tests are many times “overkill” and simply do nothing but increase the cost of care.

6) Consumers need to let their physicians guide them on the most appropriate treatment regimen. Drug companies have been successful in creating a demand for their products by convincing consumers to “ask your doctor about…” We need to get back to discussing our problems with our physicians rather than requesting a particular drug or treatment.

Michael Ertel is the President of Ertel & Company ( http://www.ertelandcompany.com ) and has over 15 years of experience in the health insurance business. He is the founder of http://www.MedicalInsuranceNow.com which is an internet based service that assists individuals, families, and small business owners by providing side by side comparisons of health insurance alternatives and the convenience of applying for health coverage online.

Tags: medical, insurance, health, savings, accounts, HSA’s, consumer, driven, high, deductible, plans, fortis, HRA’s

Share This

Medical Tourism can be defined as the provision for patients to travel offshore in search of faster, cost-effective and safer medical and surgical procedures. A combination of various different factors have led many people from industrialized countries to migrate in order to get high quality medical treatment. The various reasons are the cost issues, ease and affordability of international travel, long frustrating queues in many nations and above all improving technology standards of health care in many countries of the world. Both the health sector and the tourism industry help to facilitate the process in these countries.

The concept of medical tourism actually traces back to ancient Greece, where pilgrims and patients from all over the Mediterranean came to the sanctuary of healing god, Asklepios, at Epidaurus. In the 18th century the wealthy Europeans from Germany traveled to the Mediterranean spas. The 21st century has taken the medical tourism industry beyond the wealthy and the desperate providing low cost treatment and transportation services. The leisure, fun and relaxation together with health care attached to it have made medical tourism a common form of vacation.

Medical tourism presents an opportunity for hospitals to tap the potential of the international healthcare market and eventually leverage their business. The advancement of medical technology, increased transportation facilities and necessity of immediate quality healthcare has encouraged the healthcare providers to go global. Medical tourists travel great distances to seek world-class doctors and hospitals. The healthcare providers worldwide are investing to acquire the cutting edge technology and venture into the areas of latest medical research. They even provide lucrative non-medical services such as hospitality services, spa facilities, and pick-up services to facilitate the stay and treatment of their international clientele.

One major reason that medical tourism is attractive to many people is that it offers medical treatments at a comparatively low cost. Moreover the public healthcare systems in developed countries are very much overburdened and traveling to foreign land for immediate treatment is often a solution to the problem. Medical tourism is popular and generally accepted because it provides the patients with medical assistance accompanied by five-star treatment and exclusive vacations. Thailand and India are among the emerging popular spots for medical tourism. The Government of of these nations have successfully exerted their leadership to assist in the development of the medical tourism industry.

India is one of the leading players in the medical tourism industry today. Cosmetic surgery and dental treatments is usually what the medical tourists have been looking for, but recent studies reveal even eye surgery, kidney dialysis and organ transplantation are among the most common procedures sought by medical vacationers. In particular, India excels in open-heart surgery, pediatric heart surgery, bone marrow transplants and cancer therapy. The hospitals are equipped with the latest electronic and medical diagnostic equipment. Pharmaceuticals too meet the stringent requirements of U.S. Food and Drug Administration and even qualify for the American standards for quality of care.

Marketing one’s facilities with informative websites on medical tourism, outlining the transparent pricing schemes and availability of latest medical accoutrements are the trend of the day. As more and more patients from affluent nations look for effective options offshore, the medical tourism industry has been expanding at a fast pace. Developments will of course lead to various other economic activities where the main element will always remain quality.

Christine is an expert marketing professional experienced in various industries.

Tags: medical tourism, healthcare tourism

Share This

It cannot be stressed enough how important it is to take care of your body. With everyday stresses making it hard to adequately care for your body, it is important that you take the time to ensure that you are maintaining your health.

With the help of natural health medicine you can do that. Natural health medicine is made from natural ingredients. It is therefore much safer than its chemical counterparts.

You have to remember that your body works very hard for you; and you have to make sure that it keeps working hard for you for decades to come. And if you have a healthy immune system, then you are less prone to getting any diseases that might slow you down and make you work less to achieve your goal.

When deciding to protect your most prized asset, you need to have a goal. What is it that you want to gain from natural health medicine? If you can answer this question now with something that will stick with you every day, then you will be able to achieve and most importantly keep these goals.

It is you who you are taking care of and there is no greater reward than being able to get up every morning bursting with energy, ready to handle the day ahead. That is what natural health is about.

You should be able to be proud of your achievements; and the fact that you are taking care of your immune system with natural health medicine. So be wise and prepared. There is no better time to start than right now to prepare your body for the battle ahead.

Natural health medicine it the best and most naturally-healthy option you can take to ensure that your immune system is disease-free and healthy.

Emmanuel Aubrey The Information Generator
My website is http://www.emmanuelaubrey.com

If you want more information on health topics visit my website.
My email: emmanuel@emmanuelaubrey.com

Tags: health, natural health, herbal, health care, nutrition, vitamins

Share This