Sunday Travel Shot: San Jose, Costa Rica

Downtown San Jose, Costa Rica with a storm looming.

Tags: central america, Costa Rica, san jose

Book Review: Patients Beyond Borders

As a freelance writer I am privy to many cool perks when it comes to my job. I set my own schedule, barely ever wake up before 8am (unless I am on assignment) and can take that three way weekend at the last minute if I feel like it. Oh and then there are the real goodies. From reduced and sometimes complimentary travel, to articles written about my website on top media outlets like New York Times & Travelocity. Oh yeah, travel writing as a means for living (or sometimes surviving) in New York is something I particularly enjoy. But one thing I do not get with my gig is health insurance.

Yes, like some estimated 46 million people living in the United States of America, I am without insurance. So when I need to do anything from dental work to blood tests it comes right out of the ol’ nomad piggy bank. I am often puzzled at why such a great country like the U.S.A. is without a universal health plan. I mean shouldn’t my country care about ALL Americans and not just a select few that are “lucky enough” to afford or get insurance through their job?

Well with President Obama in the news a lot lately concerning his plan to overhaul the way in which this country deals with health insurance, I figured that it was the perfect time to talk about a great book that I came across a few weeks ago.

Patients Beyond Borders is a fascinating guide to affordable world-class travel. Well I’m sold. Okay maybe I wasn’t sold that quickly, but after going through this nearly 400 page book, it indeed changed my opinion about getting medial procedures done outside my country.

I must admit that I have had work done overseas. While on my last trip to Poland, which is well known for it’s amazing dentistry, I had some work done at an insanely high tech, super clean, and very professional dentist office. I was blown away with some of the gadgets this dentist was packing. Stuff that would make my dentist back in the States drool. After I had all of my work done it costs me about $325 (roughly 1,100 Polish zloty)! The same procedure would have cost me easily $3,000 back in the United States.

Now this is not a bash USA article, as I am a true blue American that loves my country and would not want to live anywhere else. It is just that I am frustrated with the way my government has dropped the ball and mistreated so many hard working citizens. They have turned their citizen’s health into big business.

What makes author Josef Woodman’s Patients Beyond Borders so enjoyable, and why I think you need to pick up a copy, is that not only is it informative and very well put together, but it is also an extremely easy and enjoyable read. This is not some boring and dry medical book. Some interesting features in the guide include:

• This completely revised book provides information on the world’s best international hospitals and clinics. Patients Beyond Borders locates the top overseas hospitals, including fully American-accredited clinics in 21 countries.
• By reading this book, you can save anywhere from 30-80% on most medical procedures.
• Assist you with working with health travel agents.
• A comprehensive “Do’s and Don’ts” for successful and safe medical travel.
• Provides readers with a helpful hospital & treatment finder.
• 10 must-ask questions for your in-country MD.
• If you think getting medical work done overseas is right for you, this guide will show you how to plan & budget your trip.

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Here are just some of the interesting notes that I learned while reading Patients Beyond Borders:

• Currently, at least 28 countries on four continents cater to the international health traveler, with more than 2 million patients visiting hospitals and clinics each year in countries other than their own.
• Governments of countries such as India and Thailand have poured billions of dollars into improving their health care systems, which are now aggressively catering to the international health traveler.
• Some of the most-traveled health destinations include Mexico, India, Thailand, Korea, Taiwan, Panama, Costa Rica, Antigua, Barbados, Hungary, Turkey, Jordan, and United Arab Emirates.
• Some or all of your travel expenses may be tax deductible. This of course depends on your income level and cost of treatment.

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To pick up a copy of Josef Woodman’s all new revised and expanded edition of Patients Beyond Borders, visit their website by clicking here. You can also tweet with Mr. Woodman at @JosefWoodman.

Tags: Antigua, barbados, Costa Rica, hungary, india, Jordan, Korea, mexico, new york times, Panama, patients beyond border, Taiwan, thailand, turkey, united arab emirates