Talking to medical tourism agencies

Earlier in the week, we set forth to explore a couple medical tourism package operators, companies that are there to integrate the various aspects of a patient’s medical tourism experience, making the process easier and safer for the traveler.  

While we’re not here to promote one company over the other, we do realize that some tour operators are simply more equipped to deal with a medical tourist’s needs than others.  Since there are many companies that specialize in medical tourism, we want to equip YOU with some questions you can ask to ensure you get the best possible service.    

The medical tourism industry is relatively young, and as such, is unregulated in many ways.  That, and the fact that it is a very complex industry, can make it difficult for a person to wade through the ocean of information out there.  That’s why its important that you make sure you’re dealing with a tour operator that is capable of dealing with the many nuances of medical tourism.  

First off, if the company is a U.S. based company, one of the first places you should check is with the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org).  If the company you’re looking at is a member, that’s a good indication that they adhere to trustworthy and honest business standards.    

If you can’t find the company on the BBB’s website, give the BBB a call; its possible that the company you’re searching for is a recent addition to the organization or is listed under a parent company name.  If there is still no record of them, you might want to consider looking into a different company.       

Of course, before you decide to solicit the services of any medical tour operator, contact them directly and ask them some questions. 

Find out how long they’ve been in business. It’s not necessarily a negative thing that a company has only been around for a couple of years; what truly matters is their knowledge about the industry.  Remember—you’re not looking for a travel agency; you’re looking for a medical tourism agency, and that’s something very different. 

Does the company with which you’re dealing offer to provide a case manager who will meet you at your destination and assist you with your pre- and post-operative arrangements?  If not, that should send up a red flag.  If the company cares enough to take your fee, they should care enough to make sure you get through the process smoothly.  This usually involves someone greeting you at the airport, making sure your hotel accommodations are arranged, setting up transportation to and from the medical facility, etc.—all the little things that end up making a big difference in your experience.   

Another important determination you should make is what standards they use to determine with what hospitals they will associate.  Do the hospitals hold JCI-accreditation?  If not, do they hold another form of accreditation?   

Don’t be afraid to ask your medical tourism operator tough questions.  If they’re an upstanding and knowledgeable organization, they’ll have no problem answering them for you!