California’s uninsured heart patients save thousands in hospitals overseas

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MedSolution.com connects west coast patients with life-saving surgeries at a fraction of US health costs

VANCOUVER - For years the enormous cost of cardiac surgery has forced California patients to choose between their failing health and total bankruptcy.

But a Canadian "medical tourism" company is reaching out to their southern neighbors with a real promise of hope – affordable access to life-saving surgeries in hospitals in France and India.

"In California a coronary bypass can cost as much as $100,000 for uninsured patients. MedSolution.com can arrange the same procedure by fully qualified surgeons in India for about $7,000, all medical costs included," said MedSolution.com spokesperson John Knox.

"We want California’s uninsured patients to understand that heart disease does not have to be a death sentence. We can help patients access the surgeries they need without breaking the bank."

Californians, often touted as the healthiest in the US, have not been able to escape the clutches of heart disease — the number one killer in the state.

According to the California Department of Health Services, approximately 562,165 die from heart disease each year. Since one out of every five Californians lacks health insurance, Knox said we can only speculate how many have lost their lives as a result of skyrocketing medical costs.

"More than half a million people die in California each year from heart related diseases. We believe we can make a difference… health care should come before health care costs," Knox said, noting that MedSolution.com’s state of the art, English-speaking partner hospitals can deliver surgical services for 30 to 90 per cent less than their US counterparts, including:

• cardiac (coronary bypass, heart repairs);
• orthopedic (full and partial knee, hip and joint replacements);
• interventional cardiology (angiography, angioplasty, catheterization);
• gastric (banding and bypass); and
• cosmetic surgery

Blue Cross \ Blue Shield International has also approved some procedures at MedSolution.com’s hospitals for coverage — an option that may provide even more savings for San Diego policy holders.

Milwaukee resident Gary Konkol, 54, is one of many Americans who have discovered a world of savings by choosing a MedSolution.com partner hospital.

"My visit to India has been one of the most positive experiences in my life," said Konkol, who recently received a hip replacement at the Krishna Heart Institute in Ahmedabad, India.

"The medical treatment was excellent. However, the loving care that was shown to me during my stay went beyond any of my expectations. From the moment their staff met me at the airport in India — I never expected that strangers would treat me with so much care and kindness."

Like many Americans, Konkol was frustrated with his lack of options under the US medical system. Troubled by a sore hip since childhood, his insurance company refused to cover the cost of replacement surgery because the problem stemmed from a pre-existing condition.

But after discovering that Indian hospitals could offer the same procedure for a quarter of typical American rates, Konkol packed his bags for what ultimately became a life-changing experience.

MedSolution.com’s clients can expect the same standard of care at their partner hospitals as would be expected within the American system.

Partner hospitals undergo an extensive screening process which includes background checks with local health authorities and professional associations.

Hospitals must also adhere to operating room procedural standards endorsed by the World Health Organization, and their staff must be able to communicate with MedSolution.com’s clients in fluent English at all stages of care.

In addition to France and India, MedSolution.com is currently building partnerships in Brazil, Turkey, Poland, Malaysia, Costa Rica, Mexico and South Africa. In Vitro Fertilization and dental surgery will also soon be added to the company’s list of services.

Patients who require surgical treatment can contact MedSolution.com to explore unique solutions to their health care needs. Please visit www.medsolution.com or call 1-800-984-0457.

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