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SELF-FUNDING For the past few years, the “I ACTUALLY SNUCK INTO THE Since the implementation of
+
World Medical Tourism &
the medical tourism plan at
VERY FIRST WMTC IN SAN
Blue Lake Rancheria, they
Global Healthcare Congress
MEDICAL TOURISM (WMTC) has integrated with FRANCISCO, I LISTENED TO A have had seven cases to date.
FEW OF THE PRESENTATIONS
There are approximately 320
the Employer Healthcare &
Benefits Congress (EHBC).
including both members and
The purpose of this integration AND FIGURED OUT HOW TO GET covered individuals on the plan
STARTED,” he added.
is to open up opportunities dependents. The average age is
32 years old. Norton said that
for both medical tourism
What Does professionals and U.S.-based Norton is in charge of the health they are a reasonably healthy
plan at Blue Lake Rancheria,
group, which keeps medical
employers, and all the players
located in a very rural area
One Have to in between, to realize the of Northern California where expenditures low compared to
variety of ways they can work
the average. Normally, out of all
access to high-quality health
Do with the together. The EHBC is host to is not always available. Since their members, they have about
many self-funded employers
four surgeries per year, with no
they began offering medical
more than two cases exceeding
from across the United States.
tourism as an option for
Other? These are employers that cover healthcare, Norton has seen $50,000 for a single year. This
year, Norton shared that they
the healthcare costs of their
some significant savings. Here
workforce without relying on
the four take advantage of the
an insurance company. The are just a few examples: are looking to having three out of
By: Renée-Marie Stephano employer assumes the risk international travel benefits.
for payment of the claims for
benefits. Employee Engagement
75%
One self-funded employer sat The concept of traveling abroad
down with Medical Tourism The average savings per for a medical procedure and
Magazine (MTM) at last year’s medical treatment on combining it with a vacation at
conference to talk about his a gross basis has been no extra cost to the employee
experience with implementing realized at 75 percent is attractive, yet, employees
medical tourism into the reduced cost per are apprehensive to travel.
company’s health plan. procedure. For employers that want to
implement or have already
Back in 2007, Jack Norton, implemented medical tourism,
Director, Health Plan for Blue 57% introducing the employees to
Lake Rancheria, heard a radio the idea can be difficult.
broadcast about a man who The net savings after
needed a triple bypass. His expenses are satisfied At Blue Lake Rancheria,
choice was clear, he was either for those individual employees first learn of the
going to go bankrupt or pass cases is 57 percent medical travel option during
away. But instead, that man their benefits orientation.
made the decision to travel They watch a video featuring
to Thailand for his life-saving an employee who traveled to
procedure. 10% France for a procedure through
the travel benefits program.
“AFTER HEARING THAT STORY I The total medical Here, they are informed that
when an employee actually
THOUGHT, WOW, IF THIS GUY CAN expenditures for the needs the service, and the
year have experienced a
DO IT, WHY CAN’T WE DO IT AND 10 percent reduction. TPA sends out the letter of
SAVE MONEY ON OUR HEALTH authorization for medical
PLAN,” said Norton. treatment, a company
60 September 2017 MedicalTourismMagazine.com 61
