Uninsured given an alternative health care option

There are an estimated 46 million Americans without health insurance, with the largest portion coming from the 18 to 30 age range.

A new organization, Patients with Passports (PWP), helps send Americans without adequate insurance abroad for less expensive health care.

The organization gladly arranges everything that is necessary for traveling abroad for health care. This includes setting up transportation, hotels and hospital visits.

The organization works with hospitals and clinics in Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, Singapore, India, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines.

According to Robin Elsham, managing director of PWP, "The program can save people 30 to 90 percent on the cost of health care."

For example, a coronary artery bypass surgery costs around $125,000 in the United States, but only $20,000 in Singapore, and $10,000 in India.

Similarly, a spinal fusion surgery costing approximately $65, 000 in the US would only cost about $15, 000 in Latin America and $10, 000 in Thailand.

Traveling abroad is obviously cheaper, but is it safe?

According to PWP, it is. All of the hospitals and clinics within their program are Joint Commission International (JCI) accredited.

Also, these hospitals are regulated by Jhaco, "with almost the same procedures for international health care as in the U.S. Additionally, these locations are visited annually by PWP staff," Elsham said.

He also said that the hospitals and clinics in this program "are elite institutions comparable to the Mayo Clinic."

Additionally, information is easily accessible for patients according to the PWP Web site.

"Extremely detailed information about all the health care facilities in our service network is available to registered clients. Our database includes comprehensive information about each hospital and care facility in our network. It also includes highly detailed information about staff surgeons, dentists and plastic surgeons, displaying details of their training, credentials, professional experience and treatment specialties."

Some are apprehensive about traveling abroad for health care. "No way. I wouldn't even consider it. In the case that I had to, I would do tons of investigating ahead of time. I've heard all the stories," said Pam Killingsworth, an RN at Fairview Northland Princeton Clinic.

Zac Abukhodair, a freshman at SCSU is also skeptical about the idea.

"I would not even consider going to another country for health care because I wouldn't feel safe. Even though they claim the hospitals' standards are equivalent to those of the United States, I would rather pay more for quality health care here in the U.S."

There are several other options for the 30 percent of college students lacking health insurance.

One option is contacting the school about health care coverage.

Many colleges will work with health care providers to find more affordable care for their students.

Another option is to ask about local income-based clinics. These clinics can provide general health care such as check-ups, birth control, and less expensive prescription medicine based on income. This usually means that college students will pay the minimum or nothing at all.

For more information about PWP, visit its Web site at www.patientswithpassports.com.