Expats are overcharged and over-treated
Spanish hospitals are among the biggest offenders for overcharging expat patients, according to an industry watchdog.
Carl Carter, chairman of the Association of International Medical Insurance Providers (AIMIP), claims expats are at serious risk of being duped by health professionals when receiving medical care abroad.
He told The Telegraph, “Due to very little competition, certain hospitals in China, Hong Kong and elsewhere in Asia are charging exceptionally high rates to expats who are demanding US- or EU-style private hospital facilities when perfectly adequate modern local facilities are also available.
“Among other major offenders are Turkish hospitals and clinics, for trying to admit people when it’s not required, as well as some of the tourist hospitals in Spain for charging ‘tourist’ rates to expats.”
Expats are “over-treated”
According to Mr Carter, it’s not just overcharging that’s a problem, some doctors are actually giving unnecessary medical treatment in order to boost their salaries.
Some doctors, especially surgeons, are paid based on the level of treatment or surgery they give to a patient. This gives them financial incentive to offer more complex, expensive and time consuming medical care, which is actually not necessary.
Many hospitals are currently under investigation for this unethical treatment of patients in light of several recent cases.
How to avoid being overcharged and over-treated
The best thing to do is to get in touch with your medical insurer to check that the hospital’s fees are in line with those charged to national patients. Insurers aren’t going to want to pay out for anything they don’t need to, so they too have a financial incentive to make sure the surgery is necessary.
Making sure you can communicate with your doctor can also help ensure you are not a victim of fraud. If you don’t speak the language of the country you’re living in, ask a friend or colleague to help interpret and investigate on your behalf.
You can also get in touch with AIMIP, who can advice you further on what to do when you suspect you are the victim of medical fraud abroad.
Have you ever been ripped off by a hospital abroad? Or been prescribed treatment you really didn’t need? Let us know in the comments section.