Travelling abroad for private medical care is becoming increasingly popular, with over one million people worldwide now opting to make the most of state of the art facilities overseas. With the freedom of cash plan medical insurance policies, patients can receive their treatment wherever they like, whether via their local hospital, or in brand new clinics in places such as Thailand, Hong Kong or across Europe. Despite the many benefits of making a trip across the border, the prospect of being in a strange country at a time when you may need reassurance can be daunting and a number of questions may spring to mind.

How safe is it?
There are risks attached to any kind of medical treatment, whether carried out in UK, or abroad, but you could visit some of the world’s best clinics, by taking advantage of just one of the benefits of private medical insurance and going abroad. There are bodies that accredit health centres so it is worth investigating the checks they carry out, before stepping on a plane, but with success rates as high as 98.5 percent in some areas of Asia, for complicated cardiac procedures, there should be no need to worry.

Does quality drop alongside cost?
It’s true that the cost of private medical care abroad is much cheaper, however this does not necessarily affect the quality of treatment. Lower wages for doctors, more modest living standards and less expensive costs of private health care are the dominant factors.

What happens if complications arise?
Normally, patients will stay in the country for long enough that staff can ensure that the treatment was successful and that any follow up care and therapies are being undertaken correctly. This means it is very unlikely that complications will occur in the first place. However, on the off chance that something unexpected should happen, a private medical insurance policy should help to cover any further care whether you chose to have it at home or in the original clinic.