Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Medical Tourism

We are off to the Philippines on September 9th and returning on September 20th. This marks our 4th trip to the Philippines over the last 15 years. A few months back I has some medical issues with my legs (varicose veins causing leg ulcers). After getting a diagnosis at a vein clinic here in Kingwood, Texas it was determined that I needed some surgery on both legs to close off and remove some of the veins that were causing these leg ulcers. The problem was that my insurance ( not great coverage I'm sorry to say) would not cover the expense. So I got to thinking - what about that hospital in Bangkok that everyone has been raving about? I contacted them and sent copies of my medical records and they responded with all the info I requested and a price quote- less than half of what I would have to shell out here!

Then I realized that we had this trip planned for the Philippines and contacted our family members in Manila and they knew a well respected vein specialist (trained in the US) in Manila. This is also a long time family friend there. I contacted him and sent all the info and they came back with a much lower estimate than Bangkok!

So now a day after we arrive in Manila (we are staying at the Marriott Manila) I'll have my surgery. Its an outpatient procedure, local pain medication, in and out in a few hours- minimal invasive using the same techniques used here in the US. I'm out touring and visiting same day!

We may not have email access during our stay so I'll report back after we return.

Medical tourism- combining medical procedures and vacationing- I'm now a member of this club!