One of the questions that frequently comes up when considering getting care outside of your home country is “how do I get follow up care and who pays for it”?
Here are some tips:
1. Whenever possible, be sure to establish a relationship with a care provider in your home country BEFORE you leave and discuss your plan to get care.
2. Introduce your primary provider at home to your provider overseas
3. Be sure you have adequate information to give your primary provider so he or she knows what kind of procedure you had done.
4. Check with your insurance company and your overseas provider to determine the limits of postoperative care
5. Consider buying a postoperative care/complications insurance policy
6. Discuss with a local surgeon whether and under what conditions they will see you if you have a complication from surgery done outside your home country.

As with most procedures, there are risks. Fortunately, most procedures go smoothly without complications. Should they occur, however, it’s best to have a plan in place before you have a procedure.

Arlen Meyers, MD, MBA