Is This the Best Health Care Option for North Americans?

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From: "International Living" <webeditor@internationalliving.com>
Date: Apr 7, 2010 2:05 PM
Subject: Is This the Best Health Care Option for North Americans?
To: <rbdeery@gmail.com>

You are receiving this e-mail because you subscribed to International Living's Postcards. Is This the Best Health Care Option for North Americans? International Living Postcards—your daily escape Wednesday, April 7, 2010 Dear International Living Reader, Here's some health news you won't get from Washington: U.S. expats in Panama City are quietly getting on with their excellent and inexpensive health care. The top-notch hospitals include the brand new state-of-the-art Punta Pacifica Hospital, affiliated with the U.S.'s well-respected Johns Hopkins Hospital. The latest technology is available (even more than in many hospitals in the U.S.), and most of the doctors speak fluent English. In fact, some procedures (especially anti-aging and preventative treatments) are available in Panama that you won’t find in the States or Canada. Of course, you already know how bullish we are on Panama. That's why I asked health tourism expert Josef Woodman (author of Patients Beyond Borders) for his thoughts. Josef has researched hospitals all over the world. Find out what he thinks of Panama below. Len Galvin Managing Editor, IL Postcards P.S. See today's coda after the Postcard below for a tip on…how to pay no tax! Health Care in Panama: U.S. Standards for a Fraction of the Cost By Josef Woodman Does it really make sense to have medical treatments in Panama? My answer: Absolutely. --Recommended By IL-- Is Law No. 9 The Holy Grail Of The Ultimate Overseas 'Retirement?' Thanks to Law No. 9, you can enjoy a first-class lifestyle in a beautiful tropical haven while saving thousands of dollars per year on just about everything, including restaurants, hotels, entertainment, travel, and more. Read more here. *********************************************************** I’ll give you the reasons why in a moment. First, let me share with you a story about a woman named Sandra, who traveled from Arizona to Panama for surgery and would happily do it again. This is what she told me: “I had wanted to get my breasts redone for some time. I already had breast implants. But after I had a child in 2000, they had become saggy and misshapen. I saw a plastic surgeon here in Arizona. He told me that I needed a breast lift and new implants, and that it would cost me $10,000. “I saw an article in the October 2007 issue of Good Housekeeping about medical tourism and about the agents who arrange medical travel. I chose one of them. And the agency booked me with a Harvard-trained surgeon in Panama. I had no problems with the trip. It was no different from flying to New York, except I had to go through customs. “In Panama, I got a high-quality surgeon whom I could never have afforded in the U.S. He and his team took wonderful care of me before, during and after the surgery. I saved $4,000 by having my surgery in Panama. “My husband needs about $12,000 worth of dental work (U.S. prices). Once I pay off my surgery on my credit card, I will accompany him to Panama to get the work done. The dentists there are U.S.-trained and certified, and it will cost us less than half [what the work would cost in the U.S.], including flight and hotel!” Panama’s hospitals now compete in the global health-care market with highly credentialed doctors, modern facilities and the latest equipment. Many Panamanian doctors and surgeons are U.S.-trained and board-certified. Treatment specialties here include dental implants, plastic surgery, assisted reproduction, cardiology, cosmetic dentistry and orthopedics. Panama has two major advantages for health travelers: The U.S. dollar is an official currency, and most Panamanian doctors speak fluent English. Best of all are the prices––medical procedures here can be half what you’d pay in the U.S. or Europe. Editor's note: Josef reviews Panama's major hospitals in the April issue of International Living magazine…and gives detailed cost comparisons for common treatments for knees, hips, eyes, as well as facelifts. As an IL subscriber, you can read his full article here. Tax Tips for the American Abroad #2: How to pay no tax For U.S. citizens, Uncle Sam has his hand out no matter where your income or capital gain is derived. However, you can defer capital gains tax on foreign property through Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code. It's simple to take advantage of...but timing is critical. - Taken from The Expatriate's Tax Bible—the Complete Guide to U.S. and Foreign Taxes for the American Abroad. International Living has been quoted in MSN Money, The New York Times, The O'Reilly Factor (Fox News), The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Forbes Personal Finance, ABC News, Smart Money, the AARP, The Dallas Morning News, San Francisco Chronicle, and elsewhere. For more, see the IL press room. 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