A growing trend is for patients from the West (United States, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland) to travel to India for sleeve gastrectomy surgery. Low price, experienced bariatric surgeons, quality hospitals & no wait times for the weight loss surgery are some of the many reasons for this growing phenomenon.

Sleeve Gastrectomy surgery is also known by Gastric Sleeve Surgery, Gastric Sleeve Resection, Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy , Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy, Gastric Tube, Vertical Gastroplasty, Greater Curvature Gastrectomy, Parietal Gastrectomy, Gastric Reduction,and Sleeve Gastroplasty to name a few. In this surgery for weight loss, stomach size is reduced, so the individual feels full quickly with a small meal & also production of hunger causing hormone is restricted.

Some of the reasons this surgery is becoming so popular is the positive clinical findings of patients who have had this procedure in the last few years, unlike a lap band there is no need for repeated doctor visits for any device adjustments or fills, absence of mal absorption unlike a gastric bypass, and, the weight loss surgery patients in this case are allowed most foods(although in small quantities). Some country sleeve gastrectomy cost comparisons (only the best bariatric surgeons & hospitals are considered for the below prices examples):

India: US $7,500 [Harvard Medical affiliated JCI accredited hospital]

Costa Rica:US $8,900 [Tulane Medical School affiliated JCI accredited hospital]

Mexico: US $11,900 [Top hospital, >50% of the WLS patients are from the USA]

Not only is the cost of obesity surgery lower in India, but the level of service is very high as well. For example, good bariatric centers in India keep the patient in the hospital for three to four days after the gastric sleeve procedure with close monitoring. In other countries the patient is usually sent home or to a hotel in one or two days after the sleeve surgery.

Why would anyone want to settle for a clinic or a surgery center for a gastric sleeve surgery in the USA, UK or Canada, when paying a fraction of that amount they can avail the procedure at a JCI (Joint Commission International) accredited quality hospital in India. That also, one that is affiliated to Harvard Medical in the USA?

Why would anyone not want an experienced bariatric surgeon who has performed thousands of advanced laparoscopic weight loss surgeries at a fraction of the price in the west? That also, one who has trained in the France & the USA, and, is a Preceptor(Proctor) of American Society of Bariatric Surgeons.

Considering the high costs and long wait times in many western countries and the advantages listed above, India is a a very good alternative for patients looking abroad for Sleeve Gastrectomy. Other countries, where high quality & price are attractive is, Mexico & Costa Rica. These are countries where abundance of bariatric experts, highly accredited hospitals & a track record of satisfied & happy patients from all over the world is present.

Demand for sleeve gastrectomy surgery in India is poised to gain more popularity with the growing world wide epidemic of obesity. Also, the demand for this baraitric procedure will grow within India as the changing lifestyle & dietary habits (moving towards western lifestyles) is causing the spread of the obesity there as well.

Medical tourism corporation team visited Hospital Angeles in Tijuana, Mexico. This hospital is part of the largest private hospital chain in Mexico. Procedures offered to Medical Tourist at this Mexican hospital are: Gallbladder Removal, Inguinal Hernial, Umbilical Hernia, Incisional Hernia, Lap Band Inamed, Lap Band J&J, Gastric Sleeve, Gastric Bypass, Arthoscophy, Arthoscophy (Outpatient), Knee Replacement, Hip Replacement and Hip Resurfacing.

Video of Hospital Angeles, Tijuana

Pictures of Hospital Angeles, Tijuana

It took us less than 25 minutes drive form the San Diego airport baggage claim area to the hospital. Hospital Angeles, Tijuana is a world class hospital designed especially to provide state of the art high quality medical care to international patients. The hospital boasts one of the best doctors in their field, supported by an able staff & latest medical technology equipment

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The 118 bed hospital has 97 private rooms and is located in an upscale area.
It is the first fully integrated hospital in Baja California, meaning it offers complete medical services in-house (outpatient clinic, emergency room, pharmacy, intensive care unit, intermediate ICU, neonatal ICU, intermediate neonatal ICU, X-ray, tomography, MRI, nuclear medicine, fluoroscopy, angiography, fully equipped laboratory, helicopter landing zone, and medical offices where 135 board-certified doctors practice).More than 50% of the current patients there are from United States. This was confirmed when we observed many Americans in the lobby & the hospital area.

The hospital facility is self contained for a patient with its own cafeteria, a pharmacy, ATM, Chapel and more. Unless, it’s a personal desire there should not be a need to venture outside the hospital premise. This is also a major reason its a popular medical tourism destination in Mexico.

For people craving for good old American fast foods, walking distance from the hospital are American popular fast foods chains, McDonald’s & Peter Piper Pizza. And them there is a Cine mark across the Hospital. Not sure if it shows any English movies! For people missing a discount club shopping, Sam’s club is around the corner!

Very near the hospital is Hotel Marriott and few luxury Mexican Hotels. These are used rarely by the hospital patients, as the patient & one accompanying guest are accommodated in the hospital itself.

The hallways, waiting rooms, corridor & patient rooms & suites are kept sparking clean & give an impression of a five star hotel & not a hospital. The walls are decorated with brightly colored abstract art by Tijuana painters. A lot of work, thought & attention to detail have gone in the interior design to make the aura uplifting & the hospital patient friendly.

The signs are in English and Spanish, many in the staff speak English. In case of US patients a dedicated English speaking staff member is assigned.

The hospital takes special care of its doctors to ensure they are relaxed & at their best when serving the patients. There is an exclusive hospital club area for doctors that include a relaxing lounge, exercise gym, Jacuzzi, swimming pool, Sauna & More.

Medical Tourism Corporation facilitates medical trips to some of the worlds leading hospitals including Hospital Angeles, Tijuana.

This is the second of a ten article series that examines why health care & health insurance costs are higher in the United States.

Ever had medical procedure done in the USA? If yes, did you known what your real medical treatment bill was going to be? Did you know that even after the medical care was completed & you were discharged?

Chances are you did not, especially if you are insured by your employer! Don’t be embarrassed…

The US system of medical care is such that the patient in most cases does not know what the hospital or the doctors are being paid for providing the service. The patient usually only knows the co-payment or co-insurance amount. Depending upon the type of insurance plan, this amount could be just a fraction of the total amount, a fixed amount or maybe zero. This results in, that the end consumer (patient) does not have an incentive and many times does not have an option to be a “smart shopper” for medical care. This adds to increase the inefficiencies in the system and many times the patient ending up getting a medical service at an higher charging place in spite of there being more economical options.

For example, the charge for visiting the Emergency might be $200 & the charge for the regular physician visit may be $100 to the insurance company. Many people when deciding to visit one over the other don’t have the charge in mind (as they don’t know it or financially its the same for them). They visit what is more convenient to them. In such cases non-emergency patients also end up visiting the ER and inflating the charge for the insurance company.

Another example is the case where there are more cost effective treatment & surgery options available at overseas hospitals. At many international hospitals the cost are at 60 to 90% savings on USA costs. Insurance companies can reduce the medical cost to them by allowing patients the option of overseas medical treatment. This is by providing the patient first the option, then adding incentive to to visit overseas where there is more affordable medical treatment. With Medical Tourism becoming a global phenomenon this is a very viable option that insurance companies, especially self insured companies need to look into to reduce costs(and ultimately passing the savings to the consumers).

To summaries, smart insurance plans with smart options that would involve the end consumer is one of the things that can help in reducing health insurance & medical costs. Another thing that can be done along with it is, the education of the insured on the impact of their health care choices.

This is the first of a 10 article series from Medical Tourism Corporation that examines why medical health care and health insurance costs are high in the United States

Due to the high cost of medical insurance, there are a large number of uninsured & under-insured in the USA with no health insurance coverage. These people cannot afford medical care as well. There needs to be a solution to help individuals with no health insurance. This article discusses the impact of lack of medical insurance coverage on the US Health system costs in general.

The hospitals have to inflate the treatment costs to make up the loss they incurred due to non paying patients. This is especially true in case of emergency (whom they cannot deny treatment).

Dr. Robert M. Williams from the University of Michigan examined the costs of and charges to 24,000 patients who came to emergency departments in six Michigan hospitals in 1996. He found that the average cost of a non-urgent visit was $62 and the average charge was $124. With a 10% medical inflation in the last decade these numbers must have increased.

Why was the average charge(hospital bill) double?

Major reason is that approximately half of all emergency department charges go uncollected. So the paying patients are not only paying for themselves, but also for the non-paying patients. Without this, the hospital would go out of business.

As the growing number of uninsured and under-insured turn to medical care, they will have a higher impact on the hospital bottom lines, impacting the cost of hospital care & in some cases reduction in hospital services. As hospital & medical care costs go up, so do the health insurance cost which results in the cycle of more people joining the ranks not having health insurance.

Most countries this is not the case with health care. In Canada & most of Europe the medical care is provided free by the government, although due to inherent inefficiencies in most government undertakings, there are long waiting lines. For some medical procedures like hip replacement surgery or angioplasty surgery there could be a two years wait in such countries. In many other countries the patient has to pay upfront to the hospital before being provided medical care.Typically in such countries the cost of medical treatment is low.

For patients with no health insurance, assistance for Medical Tourism is a good option. If the individual cannot afford even the discounted medical treatment price, who should give that assistance is another question. Going overseas can provide such patients a viable alternative to either suffering with the medical condition at home or becoming a cost to the US medical system. By getting the opportunity to go overseas, the individual can have their medical treatment done, at the same time save money for the US medical health systems. To understand more about Medical Tourism & how it can help positively towards the US medical cost read the Medical Tourism FAQ