Domestic Medical Tourism is Taking Off
Premera Blue Cross Blue Shield, Alaska’s biggest health insurer, started a program in January that will pay expenses for some of its members to fly to Seattle for some procedures that come with huge price breaks. For instance, a knee surgery that costs $27,100 in Alaska can be performed for $13,000 in Seattle, according to the insurer…
Some patients are deal-hunting on their own. The website Medibid, which launched in 2010, connects patients who are paying out of pocket with doctors who bid to provide care. The website’s founders say they’ve helped about 1,800 people find care.
Patients register with the site and pay either $25 per request or $4.95 a month for a year so they can post their medical needs on the site to solicit bids. Care providers, who register and pay fees of either $24.90 per month or about $250 annually, respond to patients with a bid.
Sen. Tom Coburn on this issue. See more stories here, here, here and here.
I have only seen good things with medibid. It’s a revolutionary idea that is slowly gaining traction
Slowly but surely, its already saving people thousands and finally could be a way to get doctors to compete with costs
“People shop for deals on everything from cars to clothes to computers. Why not for health care, too?”
Yes, yes, yes
Appendicitis surgeries on eBay next.
I think this is so neat!
Neat indeed PJ, Neat indeed.
“You may find something (more expensive), but it doesn’t mean it’s better, safer, or more efficient,”
….this is still a thing?..
*Sigh* Unfortunately yes, you would think citizens would have learned by now
Selective contracting with centers of excellence that will provide price guarantees or package prices makes sense for both individuals and employer plans.
There’s no other area of our economy where we consume services that expensive without considering both price and quality.
It seems now we can. However, I am surprised that hospitals don’t try and charge for potential surgeries. If I know I will at some point have to get a Vasectomy, couldn’t I pay 10 years in advance locking down a cheaper price? Colleges do it with future students, why not health care?
What would be nice to come out of this is to stimulate competition in local markets for medical care so folks don’t have to travel that far from home for surgery or procedures.
Prices for an MRI in my community range from about $500 to $1500, with no decrease in quality or effeciency. As a matter of fact, the smaller local practice can get people in and readings faster than the bigger hospitals.
*and with lower costs to the patient.
This is really interesting. I think that most people hear from their doctor what something will cost, express shock, and then pay it. People don’t think about shopping elsewhere for something like a surgery.