Medical Mileage Runs?

January 29, 2013 - Christine Krzyszton

The definition of a pure mileage run varies slightly but generally it is defined as getting from point A to point B for the sole purpose of earning frequent flier miles for the least amount of money possible. I’d like to purpose a new term, a Medical Mileage Run where the sole purpose is to offset the cost of your trip by saving on well-researched (even referred) dental, medical, or optical services.

Now, I’ve done my share of mileage runs, flying across the world for nothing more than to pad my frequent flier account, achieve top airline status, and have a little fun while in transit (love those first class lounges!). My mileage runs have since expanded into World in a Weekend adventures where I travel as far as I can to earn some miles and spend a day in a foreign city. While I still do my World in a Weekend trips, I’ve recently been working to incorporate medical, dental, and optical services into my short jaunts to these foreign destinations. Here’s why:

On a short cruise last year I overheard the crew discussing their dental appointments at the next cruise port. They were getting teeth cleaning, x-rays, and the exam for $20. The port happened to be Cozumel.

A relative had two crowns, teeth cleaning/whitening, and a filing for around $700. The work was completed by an English speaking dentist trained in the United States. The dentist’s office was in Cabo San Lucas.

A friend broke her glasses while in Hong Kong and found she could obtain an eye exam and new designer glasses for a fraction of what she would have spent in the United States and she picked them up the next day.

While in Turkey, I came down with Bells Palsy and asked to be taken to a doctor; I ended up at a high end pharmacy. I had a consultation with the doctor on premises, received a supply of steroids, an anti inflammatory, and pain medication for a total of the equivalent of seven U.S. dollars. When I returned to my local doctor, he told me that the Turkish doctor was spot on with his diagnosis and treatment.

Another friend has been researching Lasik eye surgery in India where she plans to go later this year. The $500 price tag (both eyes) by a specialist who has been doing multiple procedures a day and comes highly recommended is far less than the average cost of $3,160 for both eyes reported by Refractive Surgery News (lasiksurgerynews.com) one would pay for a standard Lasik procedure in the United States.

While surgery and other major procedures fall under the category of medical tourism and may require extended stays at the foreign destination, I can still see the benefit of adding basic services such as routine dental, optical, and even dermatology to my long weekend trips. When I know I am going to have enough time in a city to schedule any of these services, I’m going to give it a try. Getting dentistry in Costa Rica, seeing a dermatologist in Mexico, having my eyes examined and purchasing glasses/contacts in Hong Kong, and getting a complete annual physical in Bangkok just seems appropriate for a mileage run lifestyle.

Endless information is available on this topic from several resources. Some are listed below:

http://www.medicaltourismassociation.com

http://www.medicaltourism.com/

www.internationalliving.com

www.escapeartist.com

Have you taken advantage of having medical, dental, or optical services done on a quick trip outside of the United States?

Christine Krzyszton lives in Northern Michigan and has been writing about her weekend adventures for over five years for weekly newsletters, a baby boomer blog and a regional men’s magazine. She is the author of How to see the World in a Weekend, available in print and KINDLE on Amazon.com. Christine currently has top status with three major airlines (AA, UA, and DL) and is working on a fourth (A3).

jmw2323

i worked in the Lasik field for 5 years. Many people went up to canada for the procedure. What do you after you return from India and need an “enhancement” 6 months down the road? What do you do when you have complications a week after returning?
john

yes, this is a no brainer; the USA is ridiculous. Also buy pills on the internet….
Karen

On my recent trip to Costa Rica I met a woman from Colorado who was there for 2 weeks so her & her husband could have dental work done. She said the prices are about 2/3 less than the United States. I’ve only gone as far as Tylenol with codeine over the counter in Australia and Retin A in Mexico
http://twitter.com/Peachfront Peach Front

A quick trip mileage run style no…but for big jobs it’s really worthwhile. My husband had a whole mouth reconstruction in Mexico, something ridiculously costly in Louisiana — and of course the Mexican dentist had far more experience with the process than my husband’s local dentist. Where dentistry and medicine are affordable, the doctors and surgeons may have more opportunities to keep their skills sharp, because they are seeing more patients, at least for the elective procedures. Here is a place where the more affordable choice may actually be superior to the more expensive choice.

Jfadds

Do you know what kind of metal is in his recon?

Probably loaded with beryllium since the crowns were probably done in the Philippines

When he has dark lines around all the crowns down the road and your u.s. dentist is not sure what it is– tell them he had his lovely rehab done abroad

After perio,surgery and a re do he may or may not be ok

You get what you pay for and deserve

nskh

It’s at best irresponsible to publicize this idea of a “medical mileage run.”

I defend U.S. doctors in medical malpractice cases. The absolute worst offenders, the ones whose claims warrant punitive damage awards, when their American medical licenses are in jeopardy, they defect to the middle east, central America, south America, south Asia, and the far east. Once there, they practice medicine in fields outside their areas of training. Cosmetic surgery is probably the most popular avenue. Prospective patients have no idea because there’s no system of physician accountability comparable to what we have in the west. These patients are lured by low prices, picturesque vistas, and western university credentials.

Save money, earn points, great. But really, when it comes to your health, take a very close look at what you’re getting and who’s providing it.
Really

Please delete this trash. And consider liability insurance if some of your readers turn against you, just saying.

You really want someone to do EYE SURGERY in a country where you don’t even speak the language or have any idea of the laws?

Why don’t you next post about russian roulette. Most of the time it’s safe and fun!
Jamie

Sounds like a good idea to me. It’s ridiculous to suggest that the US is the only place with reliable healthcare. Not something to do without the background research, but it sounds reasonable to me to go somewhere that you can ask how much a procedure will cost and have them actually give you an answer.

Medical Mileage Runs?

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