Canada As A Medical Tourist Destination: What You need To Know

As the cost to have medical treatment done in the US rises, even when you have insurance, Canada starts to look like a great option to solve the problem. There have long been Americans that travel north to get prescriptions filled that would ordinarily cost a small fortune in the US. Now, there are others that are doing some medical tourism by going there to enjoy a vacation while also getting medical treatment that would be out of reach back home.

Of course, it isn’t as simple as booking a normal vacation would be. There is research that needs to be done as well as finding accommodations. In this article, we will give you the information you need to decide if becoming a medical tourist to Canada is the right move for you.

What are the costs?

Without knowing what the treatment is that you are going for, it is impossible to say how much you should expect to spend. However, if you are facing a high deductible for the same procedure in the US then chances are that you will spend less than that in Canada.

There are other expenses to consider when you are coming to Canada for medical tourism purposes. You’ll need a place to stay like short term rentals Toronto, for example. This is less than paying for a hotel for the same period, but if you need to recuperate for some time then make sure that you understand the costs.

Transportation is also something to factor into the costs. Once you add up everything then you can see if it is actually going to cost you less money to have the treatment done in Canada. You may find that the ancillary costs won’t make it worth it after all.

Minimize your risk

Having treatments done far from home can add to the complications that you would normally face. Flying after surgery raises the risk of deep vein thrombosis so you may either have to drive back if you live close enough to the border, or convalesce in place in Canada after your procedure.

At least a month before the trip, make sure to talk to your primary care physician to have them do an evaluation of the risks for you and let you know what you need to do to mitigate them.

Be prepared

Make sure that you don’t show up to Canada empty handed. You should have copies of any lab work that you’ve done prior and any other medical records the hospital will need to make sure the procedure goes off safely. You should also pack a health kit that will help you get through the period. Pack along any prescriptions that you need that will last throughout the time there or have your doctor give you a prescription to fill while there. You may even want to have some extras in case there is a delay in returning from your trip.