World Budget Estimator

By U.S. News Staff

May 1, 2008 RSS Feed Print

Compare the cost of surgery at U.S. hospitals and at hospitals abroad by completing this worksheet, which can be printed out. (The lefthand column shows sample entries.) Totals will automatically be updated with each new entry. The estimator was taken from Patients Beyond Borders, a bestselling series of consumer guides to international medical travel that have helped thousands of patients plan for successful procedures abroad. Healthy Travel Media, publisher of the series, has become a clearinghouse for valuable information about medical and wellness travel.

Expenses at Hospitals Abroad

Travel	Example	Hospital 1	Hospital 2
Passport and visa	$200	$	$
Fee for expediting passport	$ -	$	$
Fee for expediting visa	$ -	$	$
Airfare (patient)	$1,100	$	$
Airfare (companion)	$1,100	$	$
Airfare (other travelers)	$ -	$	$
Aiport entry or exit fee	$ -	$	$
Hotel (companion)	$800	$	$
Hotel (other travelers)	$ -	$	$
Companion's meals and incidental expenses	$700	$	$
Other travelers' meals and incidental expenses	$ -	$	$
Transportation (taxi, bus, limo)	$100	$	$
Rental car	$ -	$	$
Other	$ -	$	$
Subtotal for Travel:	$4,000	$	$
Treatment	Example	Hospital 1	Hospital 2
Procedure	$11,000	$	$
Hospital room (if extra)	$ -	$	$
Physician's fees (if extra)	$ -	$	$
Anesthesia (if extra)	$ -	$	$
Lab tests	$ -	$	$
Imaging (CT and MRI scans, X-rays, etc.)	$ -	$	$
Additional consultations	$ -	$	$
Tips or gifts for staff	$ -	$	$
Other	$ -	$	$
Subtotal for Treatment:	$11,000	$	$
Post-discharge care	Example	Hospital 1	Hospital 2
Recuperation lodging	$1,400	$	$
Physical therapy	$ -	$	$
In-room care	$ -	$	$
Prescriptions	$65	$	$
Concierge services	$350	$	$
Other	$ -	$	$
Subtotal for Post-discharge care:	$1,815	$	$
Leisure travel	Example	Hospital 1	Hospital 2
Hotel	$ -	$	$
Meals and incidental expenses	$ -	$	$
Entertainment and sightseeing	$ -	$	$
Transportation	$ -	$	$
Other	$ -	$	$
Subtotal for Leisure travel:	$ -	$	$
"While you're away" costs	Example	Hospital 1	Hospital 2
Pet sitter, house sitter	$400	$	$
Other	$ -	$	$
Subtotal for "While you're away" costs:	$400	$	$
Total:	$17,215	$	$

Expenses at U.S. Hospital

Treatment	Example	Hospital 1	Hospital 2
Procedure	$55,000	$	$
Hospital room charges	$4,400	$	$
Physician charges	$ -	$	$
Anesthesiologist charges	$ -	$	$
Other physician charges	$ -	$	$
Other physician charges	$ -	$	$
Additional consultations	$ -	$	$
Lab tests	$375	$	$
Imaging (CT and MRI scans, X-rays, etc.)	$ -	$	$
Other	$ -	$	$
Subtotal for Treatment:	$59,775	$	$
Post-discharge care	Example	Hospital 1	Hospital 2
Physical therapy	$400	$	$
Medications	$500	$	$
In-home care	$ -	$	$
Other	$ -	$	$
Subtotal for Post-discharge care:	$900	$	$
Total:	$43,435	$	$

Potential savings from going abroad		$	$