Would you travel to another country if you could receive cheaper HEMODIALYSIS care that is equal to or superior to your care in the US?

[tatica]

Would you travel to another country if you could receive cheaper HEMODIALYSIS care that is equal to or superior to your care in the US?

[KidneyCoach NKF Ambassador]

Travel to? Probably not as insurance won't cover treatments outside country. Cheaper txs outside USA still aren't covered by Medicare.

[orangecity41 NKF Ambassador in reply to KidneyCoach]

I agree, as I am on original Medicare and typically will not cover medical from foreign travel. My Medigap policy which pays 20% and does include foreign travel..

[jodaer]

No, You would have to move there permanently. Why do that?

[tatica in reply to jodaer]

It would only be for vacations. If you can receive your treatment, you would travel to another country. maybe for a week or two,

[jodaer in reply to tatica]

I'm not on dialysis but my understanding of it is that you have to have it done at least once a week or maybe more. Also, again, just assuming (yes I know) but that if you were on dialysis you really wouldn't feel up to traveling around the world. And, again... the cost?

[tatica in reply to jodaer]

hemodialysis should be received 3 times a week, I have the idea that you spend 1 or 2 weeks in medellin colombia , my point is. if you are a hemodialysis patient. Would you be interested in spending a vacation in Colombia? knowing that you will receive your treatment here.

[KidneyCoach NKF Ambassador in reply to tatica]

No

[jodaer]

No

[tatica]

Thanks for your answer.

I just want to help those who believe that because they have chronic kidney disease, they can't travel. It doesn't seem like a bad idea, I understand how exhausting a hemodialysis session is, there are patients who do very well, and I think this idea could work.

[Sophiebun11 in reply to tatica]

It almost sounds like you are spamming a specific place in your country. Are you on dialysis, or are you soliciting CKD patients needing dialysis to vacation at your specific location hoping to attract them as some kind of "Dialysis Resort" for Stage 5 CKD patients?

I don't get the 2 week travel idea unless that is the angle.

If someone is set up with a Neph. they like and trust and having routine dialysis I don't see how it would be cheaper to go anywhere else unless they are paying out of pocket for all of their medical expenses anyway.

Would you please be specific about why and what you are getting at with your question.

[Herkidney]

If I was in that situation, I would confer with my nephrologist (and transplant center if applicable) and follow their advice. I would not be as concerned about receiving dialysis in a different country as I would be concerned about becoming otherwise ill that would adversely affect my transplant status especially while COVID is not yet contained worldwide.

[tatica in reply to Herkidney]

Of course, the idea is that you have the permission of your nephrologist. Here too, a team made up of nephrologists, general practitioners, expert nurses in the hemodialysis process will be waiting for you. Covid limits too much if you want to think about the idea of a trip, but to be honest, just as you can get covid on a plane, you can also do it in your supermarket, at home, take precautions, get vaccinated, wear a mask, wash your hands,

[RoxanneKidney]

I'm actually in the Pacific right now. And I wasn't even told the years I Dr at Mayo that my kidneys were struggling...the point is that There is shitty health care everywhere, so it you trust in your medical team then live your life.

[kellyscats1]

I get my dental in Mexico.. it is the best and as a nurse I have seen patients get far better care abroad. i also lived in France with fantastic inexpensive health care. It depends on cost of course. most dialysis will be covered here. Once you go on dialysis you qualify for disability and then dialysis is covered. Even if too young for Medicare.If you can travel.. Heck yes.. do it....life is short. enjoy it

[tatica]

I want patients with chronic kidney disease to have the option of traveling safely, receiving their medical attention as they usually do on a day-to-day basis, this time traveling and getting to know a new city, starting with Medellín or Cartagena. it depends on your preference.

[KidneyCoach NKF Ambassador in reply to tatica]

Many dialysis persons travel internationally without problems. I personally wouldn't choose Columbia due to continued civil unrest. IF my insurance covered txs in other countries I would likely choose CHILE but not Columbia or Venezuela or Guatemala etc.

Are you here to promote vacations to Columbia? A certain clinic?

[tatica in reply to KidneyCoach]

no, I'm here because I want an opinion from people who go through this situation every day. Sorry, but the United States is not the example of civil order.

[KidneyCoach NKF Ambassador in reply to tatica]

So true. You want an opinion from people who go through this every day? You mean dialysis or international travel? Most of us on dialysis have Medicare to pay for our treatments. This will not cover any treatments outside the United States. You said something about treatments there being less costly. What would be out of pocket cost per tx there in Columbia?

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador]

Before traveling you would have to have everything all set up ahead of time before you leave home. Many medical facilities out of the country DO NOT take any of our insurance. Now if you are taking a cruise, they have the facilities to do dialysis on board & insurance is accepted.We were in Europe a few years ago, and I became ill. Our credit card got a work out, because we had to pay up front for the ER fee, the 2 doctors I saw - their fee, lab fee and x-ray fee. My husband had to follow the nurse around and pay for everything before they ran my labs or did the x-rays. You can wind up with a very large charge on your credit card, larger than the cost of your trip.

I have had a transplant but when I was on dialysis I had trust in my nephrologist and the dialysis center I went to three times a week. It would have been a huge leap of faith on my part to trust a center in another country - with my hemo dialysis. All kinds of horrible thoughts come to mind. Why would I go to Medellin or Cartagena?

Now I do know a lot of people that have travelled in the US. Centers in other states are set up ahead of time. A lot of times the centers are all apart of the same company. Easy to contact your doctor if there were issues, etc.

[tatica in reply to WYOAnne]

I am only proposing an option to those who are already destined to receive their hemodialysis for life. If you are a patient waiting for a transplant, this is not the time for you, because you must be careful not to damage the process. ABOUT the cities, it is because that is where you can arrive and receive your hemodialysis session. This would be aimed at people who want to know Colombia. It is not an obligation, just hopefully everyone could have the ease of getting out of the routine. Have your hemodialysis session, a vacation in perfect weather. doesn't seem like a bad idea

[KidneyCoach NKF Ambassador in reply to WYOAnne]

Medicare will not pay for dialysis performed by Healthcare staff on a cruise. Now if one takes their own portable machine and supplies it would be covered. Dialysis at Sea cruise lines offer dialysis similar to clinic setting but txs are paid out of pocket costs. Last I checked, around $800 each treatment. Most cruises travel in international waters thus Medicare would not cover. Private insurance may or may not cover. Blessings

[Darlenia]

Hi Tatica. People on dialysis are indeed traveling worldwide. Many are on peritoneal dialysis but those on hemodialysis can do so too. (Some travel for their jobs, others do so for vacations.) Arrangements are generally handled through the dialysis centers - for instance DaVita books through their Guest Services Group. Simply be mindful of insurance and related costs. I'm sure the dialysis centers won't book you if you're not well or the centers abroad aren't trustworthy. In the case of some forms of dialysis, e.g. peritoneal dialysis, there is no need to check in with a center at all. The hotels simply receive and hold the supplies for you or you take them with you.

[tatica]

Thank you for sharing this information, just my management would be with recognized centers such as Davita or Fresenius. I want to offer a qualified medical tourism, which adjusts to the needs of patients,

[Darlenia in reply to tatica]

I see you're interested in offering vacations in dialysis friendly nations. That's a nice idea! I suggest going directly to Fresenius and DaVita - maybe they already have lists of centers abroad that are trustworthy. It's likely, however, that the patients will have to initiate the treatments and appointments in those centers as medical authorization including "prescriptions", appointments set by medical designees, and more will be needed - dialysis is highly individualized and sensitive. I'd like to add it certainly would be a blessing if dialysis patients could see the sights in a trouble free manner - whether alone or as a group together. Nothing wrong with creative thinking!

[tatica in reply to Darlenia]

How nice you are, thank you. Certainly, here in Colombia, the health professionals are having a very bad time. I work 8 hours from Monday to Saturday I have 18 patients per connection in my connection room. you can't imagine how exhausting it is. Also, unfortunately that connection between the patient nurse is lost. This idea arises from listening to my patients who, for example, did not travel on holidays, stable patients. that they could perfectly travel, only it was not possible because they did not have the center where to perform their hemodialysis session

[Darlenia in reply to tatica]

Bless you for looking into possible solutions for your patients. Everything starts with questions. And I truly hope you find answers and arrangements. Wish all medical professionals were as kind and forward thinking as you. May you find success!

[KidneyCoach NKF Ambassador in reply to tatica]

If health professionals in Columbia are having such a hard time, I can't imagine any reason to vacation there. Clinic nurses/techs work long days here as well. No I can't imagine how exhausting your work is. But I know how difficult and exhausting dialysis can be especially after 20 years. I don't have the luxury of reversing my kidney failure. For me, it is forever. Wishing you well.

[Chimama]

No