Medical Tourism in India: Where Major US Health Insurers Send Their Insured.

Dr. Kumaresh Krishnamoorthy, International Provider at Apollo Hospital in Bangalore, India, performs procedures for Wellpoint Inc. insured employees of American corporations.

Health Insurers Send Insured Offshore For Procedures.

According to the November 13, 2008 issue of the StarTribune, the nation’s second-biggest health insurer, Indianapolis-based Wellpoint Inc., will offer employees of Wisconsin-based Serigraph Inc. the option of traveling to India for nonemergency procedures. 

Serigraph will waive the insurance deductible and coinsurance for employees who agree to go, paying all medical costs as well as travel expenses for the patient and a companion.

What if you’re footing your own bill? 

If US corporations are shopping foreign providers for price and quality, why shouldn’t you; especially if you’re underinsured? 

How do you choose a doctor and hospital?  T4H member and Seattle Sales & Marketing Executive, Torrey Russell, shares a check list of how to do your research. 

Physician Accessibility is Key to Establishing Trust and Repore

Just as quality and price considerations are critical, “it’s just as important to understand the process in detail before you make a decision.  A doctor who will make himself accessible to answer your questions is crucial,” says Seattle Sales & Marketing Executive Torrey Russell. 

Take, for example, Dr. Kumaresh Krishnamoorthy, currently a Senior Consultant in ENT (Ear Nose & Throat), Head and Neck Surgery and Neurotology at Apollo Hospital, Bangalore, India. 

Krishnamoorthy, delegates 1-2 hours every evening communicating with patients over the phone and via email.  You can expect him to answer all your questions and quote you a price on a procedure to include your hospital stay.

Cost and Comfort Considerations
 
A Tonsillectomy performed In India by Krishnamoorthy would cost you $250 to $450 including your hospital stay compared to $6,000 as an out-patient in the states.  Procedures are performed at both JCI and ISO (International Organization for Standardization) accredited hospitals.

For $250 you get the out-patient or multi-bed accommodation experience, or you can choose the “boutique” medical experience for $450 to stay in one of Apollo Hospital’s Platinum Suites where you enjoy amenities like an internet café and 24-hr nurse on call.
 
Even allowing for airfare of approx. $2,000, that’s a $3,000 – $4,000 cost savings.  So that nails the cost and comfort considerations.  What about the skill of the physician?

Physician Skill and Credentials
 
Krishnamoorthy’s credentials and honors include being the first Indian to obtain two prestigious fellowships – Head and Neck Surgery at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, and Neurotology & Skull Base Surgery at University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati OH in collaboration with Mayfield Clinic, world pioneers in Neurosurgery.
 
At the young age of 35, Krishnamoorthy has already distinguished himself as one of the most qualified physicians in India with advanced training in Head and Neck Surgery, Neurotology, BAHA implantation (Bone Anchored Hearing Aids) and Skull Base Surgery.  He trained under and is personally recommended by Dr. Robert K. Jackler, Chair of Otolaryngology at Stanford University School of Medicine.

“I joined Dr. Jackler for about three months, after which he gave me one of the finest letters of recommendation any gentleman can give,” said Krishnamoorthy, who chose to further his training in the States after graduation from Madurai Medical College with an M.S (ENT).
  
Krishnamoorthy has taken the effort to develop an educational website and makes it easy to schedule an online appointment in order to make himself accessible to patients.  If you email him for a time to talk on the phone, he’ll accommodate you.  He uses the Skype technology that many people already use to make free calls over the computer.  His Skype name is “kumaresh.krishnamoorthy”.

Willingness to Communicate With International Patients

“I started my own website and health blog because one of the things I found missing in India was patient education and also the ability of the patient to find out more about the doctor and check with some of the doctor’s patients,” said Krishnamoorthy. 

“I’m going to continue adding patient testimonies on my website and start a forum where if anyone wants to cross-check me with one of my patients they can do that.  I will ask patients their permission to give their numbers and contact details to others,” said Krishnamoorthy.
 
“We have a lot of international patients,” said Krishnamoorthy, “I built my website to make it easy to accommodate my English-speaking patients.” 

Krishnamoorthy demonstrates his excellent interpersonal skills by including on his website his willingness to dialogue via social networking sites like Blogger, Twitter, Facebook and, LinkedIn. 

Live interview with Rajeev Rameth

Click here to see map of Bangalore, India, location of Apollo Hospital.

Dr. Kumaresh Krishnamoorthy
Senior Consultant in ENT and Head & Neck Surgery & Neurotology
Apollo Hospitals (3.5 kms from Sagar Hospital)
154/11, Opp. I.I.M.Bangalore, Bannerghatta Road,
Bangalore – 560076.
India.
Phone: 080-26304351, 26304050
Email: drkumaresh@hotmail.com
Fax: 080-41463151
Skype:  kumaresh.krishnamoorthy