Nancy Wee asked:


Medical tourism was once something that was only done by the idle rich, looking for cheap cosmetic surgery, but now more and more Americans are taking advantage of the health care that is offered in foreign countries. Find out why, even with the cost of airfare and travel, that medical tourism has become a valuable option for Americans requiring surgery and other medical treatments!

With the costs of medical procedures and health insurance rising every year in America, the new trend of Americans seeking medical care abroad makes perfect sense. Health insurance, which was once an American’s first protection against the debilitating cost of procedures like CAT scans and surgery is now turning into more and more of a liability. Rising premiums coupled with inadequate co-pays have rendered some health insurance nearly useless and the cost that you will pay out of pocket is quickly rising to astronomical levels. Moreover, if you are one of the more than 46 million Americans without health insurance of any kind (or one of the many more whose health insurance is inadequate) medical tourism might be your path to escaping a financial burden that could follow you for years.

There are many Americans who can benefit from foreign health care, but the ones who stand to benefit the most will be those who are underinsured or lack insurance entirely. Essentially, if you fall into either of those categories, you will find a system that that is compatible with small (for Americans) cash payments and where your dollar will stretch farther. The accommodations in these hospitals are usually fairly luxurious, as most of the locals will use the public hospitals and the private hospitals will find themselves caring for tourists, who can more easily afford them.

When Americans travel abroad, one thing they quickly recognize is the completely affordable, more than competent health care that is available in countries like Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippine and India. These five countries are ranked as the best one to visit for health care and it is easy to see why. For instance, in Thailand, the costs stay low because doctors pay significantly less in malpractice insurance than do their Western counterparts. Similarly, hospitals in Thailand don’t spend the enormous amount of money on processing insurance claims because most of the payments more than 75 percent) are handled via cash payments.

In light of today’s American medical health crisis, you owe it to yourself and your loved ones to investigate the opportunities that medical tourism provides. Find out what so many medical tourists already know; a little research now can save you a lot of trouble and money later on!



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Garrick Berger asked:


It’s hard not to be keenly aware that health care costs have skyrocketed – a week’s stay in the hospital for a few tests and treatment WITHOUT ANY PROCEDURES can cost $15,000 or more![1] So, it’s not surprising that an increasing number of people who need or want real treatment are looking elsewhere for a solution.

Where do they go? To places like India, Thailand, Panama, and Argentina. These countries have strongly emerging economies, and have correspondingly made significant investnment in their medical capabilities. That translates to quality care – second to none – at reasonable cost.

“Medical Tourism”, the name for the new practice of going overseas to receive medical treatment and perhaps get a bit of travel in on the side, is becoming a very popular option, for many.

It can make a lot of sense. Laparascopic, prostate, hernia repair, gastric banding, dental implantation, and other treatments can cost far less in say, India, than in the US – a tenth to a fifth as much. There is no delay in diagnostics and treatment, either. Diagnostics and tests are done in the same facility, the prognosis and treatment follow, immediately. Billing is easy, too – just a matter of presenting a credit card for the final bill, often determined by an up-front quote.

Of course, medical care is only as good as the doctors that perform it. There is excellent news on this front, as well. Doctors in India (again) are very active in the international medical community. Go to any major facility in the US, and you’re likely to see a large number of Indian doctors on the staff. Likewise, many Indian doctors are US trained. Doctors are constantly engaged in improving their skills, and in imparting those skills to others in the international medical community.

And, of course, the fact that you are in an exotic place, only adds to the enticement. The “tourism” aspect is a terrific adjunct – why not recover seeing the Taj Mahal, or Qtub Minar, or on the beaches of Goa? Why not, indeed. Facilities typically have arrangements to help you explore your new-found destination.

Medical treatment overseas may be just the ticket you’re looking for – if you don’t have health insurance or your insurance has determined that a wanted procedure is ‘elective’, or there are other impediments to your getting the treatment you want, it can be very much worth your while to investigate your “Medical Tourism” options.

As always, you should investigate your options and requirements as they apply to your situation. One place to do this is by participating in a forum we have set up for just such a purpose (see link in resource box.) The forum is free to all, you just need to join to participate. Treatment overseas adds one more choice to your set of options – an option that can greatly reduce costs, and give you the opportunity to explore another part of the world, while you’re at it!

[1] Source: personal experience.



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Khemal Dole asked:


Many people think that there is no cure or medical treatment for Tinnitus but a recent breakthrough might prove otherwise. If you are suffering from Tinnitus then this new remedy might be just the one you were looking for.

* What is tinnitus?

Tinnitus is a condition where a person “hears” a ringing sound in one’s ear despite any actual sound being present in the environment. People with tinnitus often complain of a ringing noise in their ears which drowns out all other noises, often making it very uncomfortable. This type of ringing is often compared to transient ear ringing but tinnitus is a more chronic and persistent ringing which can also take the form of roaring, chirping or hissing in some cases.

* How common is tinnitus?

It is estimated by the American Tinnitus Association that over 52 million people in the United States have tinnitus and for about 15 million of them, the symptoms are severe enough to warrant getting medical treatment. And an estimated 3 million people have a very severe case of tinnitus that inhibits them from day to day activities such as attending school or their employment.

* How can you get tinnitus?

Older people are more at risk at getting tinnitus than others but there have been reported cases of children as young as 14 getting it. Mostly, tinnitus can happen due to age related hearing loss or nerve damage in the ear, which is why it’s most common among older people. Younger people can get tinnitus by exposing their ears to sudden and loud noises which can damage the ear. Tinnitus can also occur due to excessive ear wax buildup, use of certain medications, sinus infections, trauma to the lower head or neck area or medical conditions such as high blood pressure, thyroid and diabetes.

* Traditional medical treatment for tinnitus

Tinnitus used to be thought of as a purely psychological condition but not anymore. Once tinnitus was acknowledged to be a medical condition, modern day medicine has come through with prescription medication, stress and anxiety treatment and in some extreme conditions even surgery.

Typical medications use to cure and treat tinnitus have been anti depressant drugs such as Xanax, antihistamines that reduce allergies and some heart medication. There have also been some breakthroughs in homeopathic remedies that some claim to help. For those people that do not like to take traditional medication, homeopathic remedies is an alternate option.

* New breakthrough treatment for tinnitus: Neuromonics

A new treatment option for tinnitus has just been introduced by the medical community which might give new hope to people who have tried other medications and remedies and are still suffering. This new treatment is called Neuromonics or Sound Masking as it’s also called. The concept of Neuromonics is simple. Low levels of sounds are transmitted into the ear by way of an earphone or earpiece, which is similar to static noise, with the intension of distracting the patient. It is hoped that this new sound will be less annoying and more comforting to the person and with time will drown out the more annoying sounds of tinnitus. Although this is not for everyone, with continued use and a little bit of getting used to, scientists believe that the brain will eventually “mask out” the annoying sounds of tinnitus and simply dial it out of perception.

Neuromonics treatment is done through a portable electronic device call the Oasis ™. Once patients have gone through a set of hearing tests, masking sounds are customized to that patient and are loaded onto the Oasis. Patients who have participated in studies have reported that they can sleep better and also perform day to day chores better than they have been able to do.

Once a patient has been administered Neuromonics treatment for a while, the masking sound is cut back for short periods of time to let the tinnitus sound be heard. This is done so that the brain can get exposed to the two sounds alternately and gradually get used to and in tuned with the more relaxing masking sound. The goal is to train the brain to completely ignore the annoying ringing sounds and get used to a more relaxing masking sound.

Although retraining might be done successfully, the results might be short term as the brain might get accustomed to the tinnitus sounds once masking sounds are turned off. Thus doctors recommend used Neuromonics once or twice a week for 2 to 3 hours at a time to maintain the effectiveness of the treatment.



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Amy Nutt asked:

What happens when you need medical treatment that is not covered under health insurance? Many times, people do not have adequate medial insurance coverage to take care of medically necessary procedures. Often medical treatment is needed immediately to have any chance of success, so it really isn’t viable to try to save up the money for treatment. When you can’t afford medical treatment that you need, and there isn’t an acceptable alternative treatment, getting a medical loan might be your best option.

There are a number of lenders who are willing to make loans for both medically necessary and elective medical procedures. Medical loans are funds that are advanced to a person for the specific purpose of being used for medical treatment. They are typically unsecured loans that are basted on creditworthiness. The interest rate usually reflects the going rate in the market. Additionally, many medical loans have a built-in grace period, allowing patient recovery time before repayment is required to begin.

Medical loans are often the only hope for getting needed medical treatment for those who either don’t have health insurance or do not have the funds available to pay their deductible. People with chronic illnesses often need medical loans to be able to continue treatment once their coverage is depleted.

Many people seek medical loans for elective medical procedures as well. As a rule, health insurance will not pay for any type of treatment considered to be medically unnecessary. For example, procedures such as liposuction, gastric bypass, dental cosmetic surgery, cosmetic surgery, ****** enhancement, ****** reduction, and other similar procedures are typically not covered by health insurance.

These types of medical procedures that are in most cases required for mental satisfaction rather than physical well-being. While no doctor would recommend these procedures as a must-have for a healthy life in most cases, most are of the opinion that such procedures can improve the morale of the person to a great extent. Hence, from a psychological point of view, such procedures do improve the quality of life of the patient.

Many special clinics have been set up with the specific purpose of providing elective medical procedures services to people who want or need them. These clinics, knowing full well that such procedures are not likely to be covered by patients’ health insurance, often provide resources for medical loans to their patients. This enables patients to find a way to afford the services they desire without having to research funding options on their own.

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Alien asked:

Description

Unlike osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory, not degenerative, disease. It first appears as an inflammation in a joint’s synovium, the membrane that lines and lubricates the joint. Once inflamed, the membrane thickens and become sore and swollen-which in turn may limit the affected joint’s movement. In time, this inflammation spreads to other parts of the affected joint, causing even more stiffness and pain. Eventually, the inflammation can spread to organs, such as the heart, lungs, and eyes. Its ability to spread throughout the body makes rheumatoid arthritis a systemic disease-a disease that affects the entire body.

Inflammation is not a harmful state, per se. It’s actually your body’s normal response to infections and injuries, caused when your white cells battle an invading organism. Typically, the inflammation subsides after the infection is wiped out. However, with rheumatoid arthritis, the autoimmune system seems to fight the body instead of protecting it.

While the disease can strike at any time, it usually occurs between the ages 20 and 50. It affects approximately three times as many women as men.

Unlike illnesses that have a set progression of symptoms, rheumatoid arthritis is unpredictable. What symptoms appear, how often they appear, and what joints and organs are affected vary widely, depending on the individual. In some sufferers, rheumatoid arthritis will flare up occasionally, only to be followed by periods of normal health. Others experience recurring attacks without returning to a state of full wellness in between. Many experience a slow and steady increase in the severity of their symptoms over time.

Some people with rheumatoid arthritis develop small lumps under the skin near the elbow, ears, or nose, or on the back of the scalp, over the knee, or under the toes. Called rheumatoid nodules, these painless and non-problematic bumps range from the size of a pea to the size of a Ping-Pong ball.

While medical experts have not identified a single cause for rheumatoid arthritis, possibilities include heredity, viral or bacterial infection, and emotional stress.

Signs and Symptoms

Pain, swelling, redness, and warmth in the affected joint-most commonly affects the smaller joints of your hands and feet, but elbows, knees, and ankles can be affected

Usually affects joints symmetrically (both hands, for example)

Overall stiffness and achiness, especially after periods of stillness, such as sleeping or long plane rides

Symptoms are worse in the early morning and lessen as the day progresses. General malaise/weakness

Anemia

Pain usually occurs during rest and movement

Conventional Medical Treatment

A series of blood tests, along with a thorough physical exam and medical history, can confirm whether you have rheumatoid arthritis. X-rays may also be helpful. Strategies for treating rheumatoid arthritis differ, depending on whether it is active or in remission. During a flare-up, a combination of rest, heat, and medication is prescribed. Anti-inflammatory drugsaspirin, in particular are the first line of treatment and may ease symptoms. There are several other medications used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Your doctor may prescribe gold salts, penicellamine, methotrexate, azathioprine, or anti-malarials, depending on how your symptoms progress. Corticosteroids can temporarily relieve pain and inflammation, but they are usually reserved for those with more serious disease.

Physical therapy plays a major role in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. It is most effective when swelling and inflammation of the joint are suppressed with medications. Physical therapy can reduce deformity and restore function.

In severe cases, surgical removal of affected joint lining can prevent damage to other joint structures and cartilage. Another surgical procedure fuses the painful, uncushioned bones together but is only performed on the wrist, feet, ankles, and thumbs because it restricts motion. Tendon transfer is another surgical option for repairing damaged tendons and ligaments it is performed most frequently on the hands. Another option is arthroplasty, or joint replacement, which is usually performed on knees, hips, and shoulders.

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