Testimonial Mike Huber for general medical surgery
Caracas, Venezuela March 2007
Mike Huber was diagnosed with cataracts in his right eye and required cataract eye surgery in Marion, Indiana in March of 2006. The quote on the cost of the surgery was over $6,500 and was not covered by insurance. Research found that the cataract eye surgery would be covered by Venezuela’s Miracle Mission (Milagro Mission) project started by President Chavez in September of 2005 for all of latin America and uninsured people in the United States. The Milagro Mission was staffed by Cuban doctors under the 2003 trade agreement between Cuba and Venezuela.
In March of 2007 Mike and his wife Ivisa Huber had made travel arrangements to Caracas, Venezuela and met Health Travel Planner named Nancy Zambrano. Nancy had made arrangements for Mike and Ivisa to live in a furnished apartment located in San Antonio de Altos for the next 30 days. This furnished apartment was equivalent to a 5 star hotel at ½ the price.
Nancy made arrangements for the necessary doctor’s appointments at the nearest Milagro Mission clinic for Mike to meet with his assigned Cuban doctor for final diagnosis to determine if cataract eye surgery was the best treatment. Mike’s appointments to diagnose the best treatment confirmed that eye surgery for cataracts was necessary. The diagnosis took 4 days and the next Wednesday the cataract eye surgery was performed. It took 3 more weeks and 3 followup appointments at the Milagro Mission clinic by the Cuban doctor to confirm the operation had been successful. Quoting Mike “When American and Cuban relations are normalized I’m gonna visit Cuba”. The cataract eye surgery was FREE.
http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/cataracts.htm cataract eye surgery
Mike and Ivisa Huber at home in Upland, Indiana
Testimonial Ivisa Huber for general medical surgery
Caracas, Venezuela March 2007
Ivisa Huber was diagnosed with Trigger Finger in her right hand. The quote on the corrective surgery was $1,800. However her health insurance in Upland, Indiana did not cover this medical procedure. Ivisa was in Venezuela to support her husband Mike for his cataract eye surgery and she inquired if they knew about this medical procedure.
The Milagro Mission in Venezuela accepted her as an outpatient and she was assigned a Cuban doctor. The Cuban doctor confirmed the previous diagnosis and scheduled an appointment for the surgery on Ivisa’s right hand. The surgery was completed 4 days later as scheduled. Followup appointments over the next 2 weeks confirmed that the surgery had been successful.
Ivisa has been an RN in Marion, Indiana for more than 12 years and was amazed by the excellent healthcare provided by Cuban doctors working in the Milagro Missions. Quoting Ivisa “The healthcare Mike and I have received is perfect and I would not hesitate to come back for any medical or dental procedure”.
http://www.davidlnelson.md/Trigger_Finger.htm trigger finger website
Testimonial Bill Hewitt for dental surgery
Caracas, Venezuela March 2005
Bill Hewitt required 4 dental crowns or
porcelain veneers as diagnosed by dentists in Marion, Indiana. The office
visit for diagnosis and xrays cost $120 and to have the porcelain veneers
completed would cost $4,000+. Bill's dental insurance would only cover
$1,000 after a $300 deductible was paid. the dentist said if the dental work
was postponed until December the insurance company would pay $2,000 split
between 2005 and the start of 2006. However that still left $2,000+ to be
paid by Bill Hewitt.
Research of medical tourism destinations located a dentist in Caracas, Venezuela that would complete the dental work for less than $600. Bill requested a copy of the xrays and mailed them to Health Travel Planner Yina Zambrano. The xrays were delivered to dentist Maria de Freitas located in Caracas, Venezuela and Maria made an official quote of $400 for the dental procedure. The quote was accepted and Bill was scheduled for the dental procedure.
Bill purchased a roundtrip plane ticket from Indianapolis, Indiana to Caracas, Venezuela through discount broker Hotwire for $580. The flight was scheduled for Delta airlines with one stop in Atlanta, Georgia. When Bill arrived in Caracas, Venezuela he was met at the airport by Health Travel Planner Yina Zambrano and then driven to San Antonio de Altos where he rented a furnished apartment for his 7 day stay. The apartment was like a 5 star hotel at 1/2 the price for $50 a day. Dentist Maria de Freitas had scheduled the dental work of porcelain veneers to be done in 4 appointments that had to be completed in 5 days. Health Travel Planner Yina Zambrano drove Bill to every appointment and performed the required translation for necessary communication between Bill and dentist. Bill spoke very little spanish and dentist Maria de Freitas spoke no english. The first appointment took 30 minutes longer because the dentist took new xrays to confirm the original diagnosis. The dental work was completed as scheduled and quoting Bill "that was fast and was smooth....I would do that again in a minute". Health Travel Planner Yina Zambrano suggested that Bill take a tour of the archipeligo called Los Roques. Bill had only spent $1,350 to date and the tour of Los Roques only cost $350 (roundtrip by plane + boat rental + catered fresh seafood meals). The tour was fantastic and the catered meals on the beach were something special. When we returned to Caracas that night Health Travel Planner Yina Zambrano suggested taking a tour of Caracas nightclubs for dinner and local entertainment. The Health Travel Planner deserved a large tip and received one. The trip Bill took for medical tourism turned out to be the experience of a lifetime and saved Bill money.
http://www.venezuelatuya.com/losroques/indexeng.htm Archipelago Los Roques a tropical paradise that made a wonderful tour
http://www.animated-teeth.com/cosmetic_dentistry/t_porcelain_veneers_crowns.htm cost & description of porcelain veneer and crowns in USA.
This website lists medical and dental procedures costs internationally which average 50% less than American hospitals and clinics. http://www.medicaldiscounts.com/2007_price_list.htm Surgery costs internationally