Avantis Health

Medical tourism - Travelling abroad for treatment

• Why use Avantis Health rather than a Health tourist operator?

  Avantis Health offers a comprehensive service – a worldwide network of certified healthcare suppliers, access to health purchasing professionals to advise you on your purchase options, an efficient online quote facility, documentation to clarify costs and after-care as well as options to finance procedures (in association with our partner banks).
  
  By comparison, most health tourist operators offer an extremely limited service, perhaps by simply making an introduction to a hospital or by organising a holiday package. There is no comparison between the level of confidence you can have in the professional and comprehensive service offered by Avantis Health and the limited service offered by others. Why not register now to get a quote or call us to discuss your needs and find out more about your options with Avantis Health

• I have been told not to go abroad for treatment because the risks are high

  All treatments have a certain level of risk, no matter where they take place. However a key decision involves choosing a healthcare supplier /doctor that you have confidence in. Most patients are also keen to eliminate the stress of unknown costs which may be associated with a procedure. You can minimise the risks associated with going abroad for treatment by choosing a healthcare supplier from our Network. Each one has been vetted for registration, insurance, facilities and the qualifications of the medical staff. We also manage the financial risk by negotiating a contracted price for each procedure, where a patient requests this service.

• Why do the costs of treatment differ between countries?

  The costs of treatments differ significantly between countries, due to a number of factors but largely related to the underlying costs of providing the services. As you can understand, the following costs vary hugely between locations - overheads, staff costs, equipment and land cost. The basics of demand and supply also apply – the more capacity a country has for specific procedures, the more competitive the pricing is likely to be.
  
  Added to this economic reality is the fact that Avantis Health can negotiate on a larger scale than individual patients and our team includes professional purchasers of healthcare services – we know how to secure the best deal for our members. Join now – it’s free!

• I understand there are good reasons to go abroad for treatment; what are they?

  A growing number of people go abroad for treatment, for a variety of reasons;
  
  - to benefit from the substantial cost savings available on many procedures
  - to access, specialist medical expertise available only abroad.
  - to speed-up access to treatment and to skip waiting lists at home.
  - to combine having a medical procedure with a holiday abroad, often in a suitable climate to aid recuperation.
  
  Whatever your reasons, Avantis Health can put you in control and safely guide you through the process of purchasing your healthcare abroad.

SelfPay healthcare

• I don’t want to go abroad for treatment, can I save money at home?

  Absolutely, most countries have thriving private sectors and many will offer great prices to secure patient business. Our Network offers providers from most countries. It is also possible to achieve great savings on your routine healthcare purchases. Get a quote now or find out more by contacting us today.

• Why use Avantis Health rather than a health tourist operator?

  Avantis Health offers a comprehensive service – a worldwide network of certified healthcare suppliers, access to health purchasing professionals to advise you on your purchase options, an efficient online quote facility, documentation to clarify costs and after-care as well as options to finance procedures (in association with our partner banks).
  
  By comparison, most health tourist operators offer an extremely limited service, perhaps by simply making an introduction to a hospital or by organising a holiday package. There is no comparison between the level of confidence you can have in the professional and comprehensive service offered by Avantis Health and the limited service offered by others. Why not register now to get a quote or call us to discuss your needs and find out more about your options with Avantis Health.

• Can I speak directly to my doctor and hospital before choosing?

  Absolutely,initially a number of quotations are supplied based on your broad requirements such as treatment area, location etc….once you have selected the treatment provider you initially think appropriate, we will arrange for a call between you and your doctor, and when and only when, you are comfortable with your choice, will we negotiate the arrangement between you and your provider. We operate a confidential service and you will be in control of all decisions in relation to the supplier chosen – although you will have the benefit of our expert advice and support.

• What services do Avantis Health Offer?

  Avantis Health offers a comprehensive service – a worldwide Network of certified healthcare suppliers, access to medical professionals to advise you on your purchase options, an efficient online quote facility, documentation to clarify costs and after-care as well as options to save/finance procedures (in association with our partner banks).
  
  There is no comparison between the level of confidence you can have in the professional and comprehensive service offered by Avantis Health and the limited service offers by others. Why not register now to get a quote or call us to discuss your needs and find out more about your options with Avantis Health?

• Why go through Avantis Health rather than go directly to a hospital or doctor?

  This is a very important question. Firstly Avantis Health is run by experienced, medical purchasers and clinical staff with expertise in negotiating quality healthcare while managing medical costs. Our global provider Network gives access to some of world’s best providers and our local knowledge is invaluable in getting you the right provider and a great price! We ensure that the purchasing power of our membership coupled with our medical purchasing expertise delivers a better price than purchasing directly. We also secure a price contract for our patient which gives you confidence that you will not face any “surprises” when it comes to settling the bill – it makes sense to let independent experts handle these negotiations.

• How do I join Avantis Health?

  It’s free to join – there’s a simple form to complete and you\'ll be able to get a quote straight away.

• What is the Avantis Health Privacy policy?

  Your personal information is only supplied to providers with your permission on a \"need to know\" basis. No details will be divulged without your permission. Your information will not be released to any third party. All of the staff dealing with your details will be registered nursing staff.

• Can my partner travel with me for treatment?

  Absolutely, we would encourage you to have a travelling companion that you can trust and rely on after treatment. This is entirely your choice.

• So how does purchasing treatment work exactly?

  Its as easy as ABC
  • You tell us the treatment you need.
  • We revert to you with a small number of matched quotations.
  • You decide which ones you want to explore.
  • We answer any questions you may have and if you would like, we arrange direct conversation between you and the short-listed hospitals / doctors.
  • Once you have decided to proceed, we put a formal arrangement in place between you and the provider.
  • We take a small deposit at the time the treatment is booked.
  • You pay the balance directly to the provider after the treatment.

• What about my care when I return home

  We can include a consultation with a consultant when you return home. This will ensure that any concerns will be immediately addressed. You are, of course, an Avantis Health member for life and as part of our growing family of members; we will be with you every step of the way.

• Where do people travel for care?

  Today, over 1.3 million tourists are seeking low-cost high quality health care in countries like Thailand, India, Norway, Hungary, Panama, South Africa, Spain, Singapore, and Costa Rica, who are offering their services to medical tourists. These countries offer numerous options for touring, sight-seeing, shopping, exploring, and yes, even lounging on sun drenched beaches along with medical treatments. The Avantis Health Network offers accredited hospitals and medical centres which deliver world-class treatment options to health tourists at an affordable cost.

• What are the Options to fund my private healthcare?

  At an overall level there are three options:
  • Some type of Health insurance – pay premiums into health fund from which members draw from to fund their healthcare. Typically, this solution is costly with premiums rising substantially annually. It suits people who are happy to pay significant premiums for insurance cover.
  • Self-pay: Allows the customer to self-insure i.e. pay for his or her healthcare needs when they come due and purchase their healthcare in the most effective manner. This option typically suits self directed, cost conscious individuals who like to be in control.
  • Company paid: This option is characterised by employers paying either employee health insurance premiums or the company “self insuring” its employees.

• Self-Pay healthcare sound interesting, how does it work?

  Many self-pay clients save their insurance premiums in their health savings accounts, add some credit just in case, there are shortfalls from time to time. They then use this money to pay for their healthcare without any limitations. Some choose to add some specialist insurance such as critical illness and hospital cash benefits to cover the unexpected. In the US over 6 million people have opened health savings accounts. Avantis can provide the full solution of health finance for self pay patients through our partner banks. We also offer the Avantis Payment Card which allows the customer to pay for their entire healthcare in one place making tax management much easier.

• It\'s free to join but are there any ongoing costs for members of Avantis Health?

  There are no ongoing costs of being a member of Avantis Health. If you purchase a treatment through our Network we may charge you a small administration fee however there are no costs to being a member – no membership fee and no annual charge. And you can make significant savings on medical expenditure.