MONKEY MUSINGS DAILY OPEN DISCUSSION #53 11/24/09 - 1/21/10

[Green Eyes]

I was going to post this in Natalee's thread but thought it might be a little off topic. I want to know if any of you would go?

http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/11/28/when-thailand-is-in-network-u-s-employers-embrace-medical-to/

Thailand is 'in network'? Employers and insurers embrace medical tourism

Like some 47 million other Americans, Nancy Sowa (pictured) doesn't have health insurance. So when her doctors last year told her she needed a total hip replacement, the office manager for a non-profit did what a growing number of U.S. citizens are doing: She headed abroad. At Wockhardt Hospital in Bangalore, India, the 56-year-old was put up in a hospital "suite" far swankier than what she would typically find in the U.S., with a computer, fridge, cable TV, sitting area and an extra bed for her travel companion.

More to the point, the two-hour surgery in July, performed by an orthopedic surgeon trained in the U.S. and Australia, was a success. Four months later, the Durham, N.C. resident is feeling like her old self again, going for long hikes and planning her next vacation. The final tab for the procedure, including rehabilitative therapy and round-trip airfare for two? $12,000. That's a fraction of the $45,000 to $90,000 she had been told the surgery would cost at home.
snipped.

Good question SuzieQ. 

I really don't know if I would go. The doctors might have been trained in the States and Australia but what about all the support staff. I do have friends that went to Europe to get treatment for wives Hopkins Disease that they couldn't get here. She came back cured and able to function normal and not on meds. They travel the world together all she uses is a cane.

Now we are out sourcing our medical care. How sad is that. But if I needed surgery with no insurance I might think about it. I really can't say yes or no.

Thanks for the article very interesting and eye opening. 

[crazybabyborg]

Ooooooh! I see Bearly Bear!   

[crazybabyborg]

I was going to post this in Natalee's thread but thought it might be a little off topic. I want to know if any of you would go?

http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/11/28/when-thailand-is-in-network-u-s-employers-embrace-medical-to/

Thailand is 'in network'? Employers and insurers embrace medical tourism

Like some 47 million other Americans, Nancy Sowa (pictured) doesn't have health insurance. So when her doctors last year told her she needed a total hip replacement, the office manager for a non-profit did what a growing number of U.S. citizens are doing: She headed abroad. At Wockhardt Hospital in Bangalore, India, the 56-year-old was put up in a hospital "suite" far swankier than what she would typically find in the U.S., with a computer, fridge, cable TV, sitting area and an extra bed for her travel companion.

More to the point, the two-hour surgery in July, performed by an orthopedic surgeon trained in the U.S. and Australia, was a success. Four months later, the Durham, N.C. resident is feeling like her old self again, going for long hikes and planning her next vacation. The final tab for the procedure, including rehabilitative therapy and round-trip airfare for two? $12,000. That's a fraction of the $45,000 to $90,000 she had been told the surgery would cost at home.
snipped.

Good question SuzieQ. 

I really don't know if I would go. The doctors might have been trained in the States and Australia but what about all the support staff. I do have friends that went to Europe to get treatment for wives Hopkins Disease that they couldn't get here. She came back cured and able to function normal and not on meds. They travel the world together all she uses is a cane.

Now we are out sourcing our medical care. How sad is that. But if I needed surgery with no insurance I might think about it. I really can't say yes or no.

Thanks for the article very interesting and eye opening. 

Interesting, SuzieQ. I have seriously considered scouting some property near the US border in Mexico to set up a short stay surgical clinic. Just like Canadians come to the US to receive needed procedures that they have to wait for in Canada, the general thinking within the medical community is that the same scenario will exist here very soon. Cash and carry without government regulation would seem like a dream come true on the business side of things and I could offer services within my own clinic for 1/2 the cost now if it weren't for them. I just like where I live and don't really relish the prospect of moving to the necessary area. There's a physician coalition forming locally to do just that and take rotations. Ideally, you could do the same thing within the US, but the healthcare bill, in current form, would prohibit it.

[crazybabyborg]

GOOD MORNING!!!

I see you GE!!   

[Green Eyes]

I was going to post this in Natalee's thread but thought it might be a little off topic. I want to know if any of you would go?

http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/11/28/when-thailand-is-in-network-u-s-employers-embrace-medical-to/

Thailand is 'in network'? Employers and insurers embrace medical tourism

Like some 47 million other Americans, Nancy Sowa (pictured) doesn't have health insurance. So when her doctors last year told her she needed a total hip replacement, the office manager for a non-profit did what a growing number of U.S. citizens are doing: She headed abroad. At Wockhardt Hospital in Bangalore, India, the 56-year-old was put up in a hospital "suite" far swankier than what she would typically find in the U.S., with a computer, fridge, cable TV, sitting area and an extra bed for her travel companion.

More to the point, the two-hour surgery in July, performed by an orthopedic surgeon trained in the U.S. and Australia, was a success. Four months later, the Durham, N.C. resident is feeling like her old self again, going for long hikes and planning her next vacation. The final tab for the procedure, including rehabilitative therapy and round-trip airfare for two? $12,000. That's a fraction of the $45,000 to $90,000 she had been told the surgery would cost at home.
snipped.

Good question SuzieQ. 

I really don't know if I would go. The doctors might have been trained in the States and Australia but what about all the support staff. I do have friends that went to Europe to get treatment for wives Hopkins Disease that they couldn't get here. She came back cured and able to function normal and not on meds. They travel the world together all she uses is a cane.

Now we are out sourcing our medical care. How sad is that. But if I needed surgery with no insurance I might think about it. I really can't say yes or no.

Thanks for the article very interesting and eye opening. 

Interesting, SuzieQ. I have seriously considered scouting some property near the US border in Mexico to set up a short stay surgical clinic. Just like Canadians come to the US to receive needed procedures that they have to wait for in Canada, the general thinking within the medical community is that the same scenario will exist here very soon. Cash and carry without government regulation would seem like a dream come true on the business side of things and I could offer services within my own clinic for 1/2 the cost now if it weren't for them. I just like where I live and don't really relish the prospect of moving to the necessary area. There's a physician coalition forming locally to do just that and take rotations. Ideally, you could do the same thing within the US, but the healthcare bill, in current form, would prohibit it.

Thank you CBB,  I found what you said very interesting and enlightening. If more of us really understood how the system worked has far as why our cost are so high we might get something done.

[Green Eyes]

GOOD MORNING!!!

I see you GE!!   

GOOD MORNING  CBB

[Green Eyes]

I left you a note in your avi thread.

[crazybabyborg]

I left you a note in your avi thread.

I saw it! I love it when you drop by!!   

[crazybabyborg]

I've been trying to catch up on Caylee's thread. I always get behind when there's a new season of avis going on! 

[Green Eyes]

I've been trying to catch up on Caylee's thread. I always get behind when there's a new season of avis going on! 

I don't know how you do it all.    I sure wish they would just start the trail and hang her ***.

[crazybabyborg]

I've been trying to catch up on Caylee's thread. I always get behind when there's a new season of avis going on! 

I don't know how you do it all.    I sure wish they would just start the trail and hang her ***.

It's getting complicated and more than ever it's going to be really important who is on the jury. She's so obviously guilty....... to me........... but it only takes one ya-hoo to mess it up.

[Green Eyes]

I've been trying to catch up on Caylee's thread. I always get behind when there's a new season of avis going on! 

I don't know how you do it all.    I sure wish they would just start the trail and hang her ***.

It's getting complicated and more than ever it's going to be really important who is on the jury. She's so obviously guilty....... to me........... but it only takes one ya-hoo to mess it up.

You are right on all counts.  You have to go check out JSM thread. She posted pictures of her Christmas lights. It's really wonderful.  I played the video of the Christmas lights you posted awhile back for the grand sons last night. They just loved it.

[crazybabyborg]

I've been trying to catch up on Caylee's thread. I always get behind when there's a new season of avis going on! 

I don't know how you do it all.    I sure wish they would just start the trail and hang her ***.

It's getting complicated and more than ever it's going to be really important who is on the jury. She's so obviously guilty....... to me........... but it only takes one ya-hoo to mess it up.

You are right on all counts.  You have to go check out JSM thread. She posted pictures of her Christmas lights. It's really wonderful.  I played the video of the Christmas lights you posted awhile back for the grand sons last night. They just loved it.

OK............ On my way!!   

[theboyzmom]

I was going to post this in Natalee's thread but thought it might be a little off topic. I want to know if any of you would go?

http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/11/28/when-thailand-is-in-network-u-s-employers-embrace-medical-to/

Thailand is 'in network'? Employers and insurers embrace medical tourism

Like some 47 million other Americans, Nancy Sowa (pictured) doesn't have health insurance. So when her doctors last year told her she needed a total hip replacement, the office manager for a non-profit did what a growing number of U.S. citizens are doing: She headed abroad. At Wockhardt Hospital in Bangalore, India, the 56-year-old was put up in a hospital "suite" far swankier than what she would typically find in the U.S., with a computer, fridge, cable TV, sitting area and an extra bed for her travel companion.

More to the point, the two-hour surgery in July, performed by an orthopedic surgeon trained in the U.S. and Australia, was a success. Four months later, the Durham, N.C. resident is feeling like her old self again, going for long hikes and planning her next vacation. The final tab for the procedure, including rehabilitative therapy and round-trip airfare for two? $12,000. That's a fraction of the $45,000 to $90,000 she had been told the surgery would cost at home.
snipped.

Good question SuzieQ. 

I really don't know if I would go. The doctors might have been trained in the States and Australia but what about all the support staff. I do have friends that went to Europe to get treatment for wives Hopkins Disease that they couldn't get here. She came back cured and able to function normal and not on meds. They travel the world together all she uses is a cane.

Now we are out sourcing our medical care. How sad is that. But if I needed surgery with no insurance I might think about it. I really can't say yes or no.

Thanks for the article very interesting and eye opening. 

Have you read the new book on it - Foriegin Body by Robin Cook? Pretty scary stuff - mostly because I could see it happening. It is about American patients being killed in India when they go over there for inexpensive surgery.

[theboyzmom]

I was going to post this in Natalee's thread but thought it might be a little off topic. I want to know if any of you would go?

http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/11/28/when-thailand-is-in-network-u-s-employers-embrace-medical-to/

Thailand is 'in network'? Employers and insurers embrace medical tourism

Like some 47 million other Americans, Nancy Sowa (pictured) doesn't have health insurance. So when her doctors last year told her she needed a total hip replacement, the office manager for a non-profit did what a growing number of U.S. citizens are doing: She headed abroad. At Wockhardt Hospital in Bangalore, India, the 56-year-old was put up in a hospital "suite" far swankier than what she would typically find in the U.S., with a computer, fridge, cable TV, sitting area and an extra bed for her travel companion.

More to the point, the two-hour surgery in July, performed by an orthopedic surgeon trained in the U.S. and Australia, was a success. Four months later, the Durham, N.C. resident is feeling like her old self again, going for long hikes and planning her next vacation. The final tab for the procedure, including rehabilitative therapy and round-trip airfare for two? $12,000. That's a fraction of the $45,000 to $90,000 she had been told the surgery would cost at home.
snipped.

Good question SuzieQ. 

I really don't know if I would go. The doctors might have been trained in the States and Australia but what about all the support staff. I do have friends that went to Europe to get treatment for wives Hopkins Disease that they couldn't get here. She came back cured and able to function normal and not on meds. They travel the world together all she uses is a cane.

Now we are out sourcing our medical care. How sad is that. But if I needed surgery with no insurance I might think about it. I really can't say yes or no.

Thanks for the article very interesting and eye opening. 

Interesting, SuzieQ. I have seriously considered scouting some property near the US border in Mexico to set up a short stay surgical clinic. Just like Canadians come to the US to receive needed procedures that they have to wait for in Canada, the general thinking within the medical community is that the same scenario will exist here very soon. Cash and carry without government regulation would seem like a dream come true on the business side of things and I could offer services within my own clinic for 1/2 the cost now if it weren't for them. I just like where I live and don't really relish the prospect of moving to the necessary area. There's a physician coalition forming locally to do just that and take rotations. Ideally, you could do the same thing within the US, but the healthcare bill, in current form, would prohibit it.

Thank you CBB,  I found what you said very interesting and enlightening. If more of us really understood how the system worked has far as why our cost are so high we might get something done.

CBB - That is such a good idea - I am pretty sure the healthcare bill will prohibit paying cash for treatment here so just over the border would be a good place. Sad that the government will be deciding what a group of free people can and can not do for themselves.

[Green Eyes]

Morning numbersgirl
Haven't seen you around in a while. Hope all is well, and you had a nice Thanksgiving.

[crazybabyborg]

BRACHIATE!!!


http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c100/crazybabyborgs/Christmas/brachiate5.gif

[crazybabyborg]

 

I've been trying to track you down like a dog!!   

How are you?   

[Brachiate]

I've been trying to track you down like a dog!!   

How are you?   

Hey CBB!

Real life sorta hijacked all my free time recently and I was entire cages behind on the threads I follow. Sorry I didn't catch up to your post until after you were gone.

I'm doing good.     Cyrus is fine.   

I saw that you had posted my terrific new Holiday avatar! Yay! Thank You!   

So now I'm all caught up and dressed up and everybody's somewhere else. Just my luck.   

I hope everyone had a great Turkey Day. 

Brachiate
   

[SuzieQ]

Thanks for your comments everyone. I don't know what I would do in that situation.
 I have friends from England. Well she is from England, Bill married her while in the Air Force stationed in England. To make a long story short, they flew back to England when Bill needed surgery.
Have younger friends from Nepal that came to the states because their son was born with a heart defect. I will have to ask them why they made the choice of the US over some other country.