On this page:
- What is medical tourism?
- What to think about before travelling for a medical procedure
- The cost of medical treatment overseas
- Insurance and medical tourism
- Consular services and medical tourism
What is medical tourism?
Medical tourism is when you go overseas for medical treatment.
Many Australians travel overseas for health care to save money. Some go for treatments that are unavailable in Australia.
The most common procedures Australians go overseas for are:
- cosmetic surgery
- dentistry
- heart surgery
- fertility treatments
- surrogacy
- gender affirming surgery
- stem-cell therapy
- cancer treatments.
What to think about before travelling for a medical procedure
Before you go, research the destination, doctor, hospital and procedure. This helps you reduce the risk of things going wrong.
Talk to your doctor in Australia about your plans. Ask for their advice. Get a health check at least 6 weeks before you go. Make sure you've got appropriate vaccinations.
Choosing a destination
Research the health system of your destination. The quality of care may not be what you're used to in Australia.
- Read your destination's travel advisory. See the 'Health' section for advice about local healthcare.
- Minimum healthcare standards in some countries can be low. Standards can differ between regions, hospitals, and medical professionals within a country.
- Learn about your legal rights in your destination. Find out if you can take legal action against the hospital and surgeon if things go wrong.
Choosing a hospital
Many hospitals overseas are a similar standard to hospitals in Australia. But quality and standards in some countries can be poor. Some may have low training standards for doctors and nurses. Others may have high rates of infection and complications.
- Find out if the hospital is accredited by the local authorities. Don't go to an unofficial medical facility.
- See if there are reports of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the hospital. These infections may not be treatable.
- Compare the complication risks they give you to those mentioned in Australia. Be wary if a hospital overseas suggests much lower risks.
Choosing a doctor
Check if the surgeon who will do your procedure is qualified and accredited. Most countries have this information on an official website.
- Find out the reputation of the doctor and the experiences of past patients.
- In some countries, doctors and hospitals don't have to get professional insurance. Make sure your surgeon and hospital have indemnity and malpractice insurance.
Preparing for if things don't go to plan
There are always risks with medical procedures. You could suffer from complications, or you could die. Even if you're young, fit and healthy.
- Take someone with you. You'll need their support if things go wrong. They may need to make decisions for you.
- Make sure your will is up to date.
If your procedure goes wrong, you may end up with a new or worse problem. It could cost more to fix it. Make sure your travel insurance covers complications and medical evacuation.
The cost of medical treatment overseas
In some countries, elective procedures can cost much less than in Australia. But make sure you consider all possible costs.
- If you have a complication during or after the procedure, you may have to pay more to fix it. Make sure your estimate also covers this.
- Your travel insurance may not cover issues caused by your procedure. Check your policy.
You're responsible for the cost of your treatment overseas. You, your family or your travel insurer will have to pay if you need further care or a medical evacuation.
- Medicare doesn't cover you when you're overseas.
- Reciprocal health care agreements only cover some situations in some countries.
- You're not likely to get subsidised care through your destination's public health system.
The Australian government can't pay your bills or loan you money.
Medical tourism and insurance
Basic travel insurance policies rarely cover medical tourism. Get a specialised policy that covers the costs of your specific procedure. Some offer this as a paid extra on their policies.
Ask your insurer about:
- post-operative care
- complications
- medical evacuation.
Be open about your plans. You may void your policy if you don't tell them everything.
Know what you're covered for and what's excluded. Always read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS).
Learn more about medical tourism and insurance from the Better Health Channel. Also, read our general advice about travel insurance.
Australian private health insurance for medical tourism
Some private health insurers in Australia have arrangements with hospitals overseas. They may give you the option to have a medical procedure overseas. Some may cover your travel expenses and medical fees. They may help organise your trip.
Tell them about your plans. Ask your insurer if they:
- will cover your procedure and travel costs
- have a list of hospitals and surgeons overseas that they endorse
- offer a travel insurance policy that covers you if things go wrong with your procedure.
Even if your health insurer won't cover you, always tell them about your plans. If you don't, you may void your insurance policy if you suffer a complication.
Consular services and medical tourism
Read the Consular Services Charter to understand how and when the Australian Government may be able to help you overseas.
What we may be able to do
- With your consent, contact your friends or family for you.
- Give you a list of local hospitals and doctors who speak English.
- Give you a list of local lawyers who speak English.
What we can't do
- Pay your medical expenses, evacuation, or legal costs.
- Get you out of trouble or jail if you can't pay your bill.
- Represent you in legal cases or intervene in local legal processes.
- Recommend local hospitals or surgeons for your procedure.
Read more
- Read our advice about going overseas for an organ transplant.
- Read the travel advice for your destination. Understand what each advice level means.
- Read general advice about vaccinations and preventative health.
- Learn more about choosing the right travel insurance.
- Understand what happens if you die overseas.
- Learn how to get medical help overseas.
See also
- Read the suite of travel health information (Department of Health and Aged Care).
- Read about medical tourism (United States Government).