Outsourcing Your Heart

Sunday, May. 21, 2006 By UNMESH KHER
Technicians draw blood samples, for testing, from Wayne Steinard in his room at the Max Devki Devi Heart & Vascular Institute prior to his angiography. Wayne Steinard, a US citizen, has come to India for medical treatment of a heart condition.
PRASHANT PANJIAR / LIVEWIRE IMAGES FOR TIME
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... 8,300 MILES LATER, IT'S FIXED

... and found out that he was closer to a heart attack than he had imagined. Steinard had a double bypass last week in New Delhi, where he is recovering CUTTING-EDGE VACATIONS In the U.S. insurers negotiate discounts, but the uninsured pay retail rates for medical procedures. Here's how the prices of one surgical tourism agency compare. Its packages include airfare and hospital and hotel rooms, but costs can climb if there are complications. [This article contains a table and a map. Please see hardcopy of magazine.]

Procedure U.S. Insurer's cost U.S. Retail price India Thailand Singapore Angioplasty $25,704 to $37,128 $57,262 to $82,711 11000 13000 13000 Gastric bypass $27,717 to $40,035 $47,988 to $69,316 11000 15000 15000 Heart bypass $54,741 to $79,071 $122,424 to $176,835 10000 12000 20000 Heart-valve replacement (single) $71,401 to $103,136 $159,326 to $230,138 9500 10500 13000 Hip replacement $18,281 to $26,407 $43,780 to $63,238 9000 12000 12000 Hysterectomy $9,591 to $13,854 $20,416 to $29,489 2900 4500   Knee replacement $17,627 to $25,462 $40,640 to $58,702 8500 10000 13000 Mastectomy $9,774 to $14,118 $23,709 to $34,246 7500 9000 12400 Spinal fusion $25,302 to $36,547 $62,778 to $90,679 5500 7000 9000

Sources: Subimo (U.S. rates, including at least one day of hospitalization); PlanetHospital (international rates)

With reporting by Aryn Baker/New Delhi, Simon Montlake/Bangkok, Hilary Hylton/Austin, Chris Daniels/Toronto, Jenn Holmes/London

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