For Immediate Release
Barbados, DATE AUG 29, 2007 --- Medical tourists are increasingly opting for cheaper and quicker healthcare alternatives but are equally becoming exposed to long term and unsatisfactory claims in the event of medical malpractice, according to AOS Assurance Company Limited. In response, the insurer has launched a unique insurance policy, Patient Medical Malpractice Insurance (PMMI™), to give financial compensation for overseas medical mistakes to both individuals and group schemes worldwide, without litigation.
Last year, over 500,000 U.S. citizens and thousands of international residents traveled abroad for healthcare* to avoid domestic waiting lists and the high cost of health care in their own countries. For example, a hip replacement in India costs just US$6,200** in comparison to 6 times as much in the U.S. However, if something goes wrong during the procedure due to the incompetency of the medics, the financial rewards will not necessarily meet the same standards as expected in the patient’s home country.
Much like traditional travel insurance, the PMMI™ policy can be purchased by the patient before traveling for the medical or surgical procedure, whether elective or non-elective. Should a medical malpractice occur abroad, the claim is handled in accordance with the patient’s own home country standards and claims are paid in U.S. currency. There are no lawyers or lawsuits involved and claims are estimated to be settled 80 percent faster than in the traditional litigation environment.
Paul Laverty, director at AOS Assurance, said: “Many individuals who would benefit from lower cost or faster access to medical care do not choose foreign medical travel because they fear something will go wrong. Should a medical malpractice occur abroad, there is presently little recourse available to the patient in a foreign country. The new policy ensures that patients can focus their attention on getting well, knowing that however remote the possibility of a medical malpractice issue, they will be able to claim satisfactory financial compensation."
“Recognizing a gap in the market, we also wanted to create a product to help mitigate the liability risk assumed by medical tourism companies and/or insurers arranging the foreign practitioner and hospital on behalf of the patient.”
AOS’s group version of the PMMI™ product is called Group Medical Malpractice Insurance (GMMI™) to provide employees with additional security from their work healthcare benefits.
To help patients receive a high standard of overseas healthcare, AOS will check that the patient's chosen hospital is accredited by the JCI, the international accreditation arm of the U.S. Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and that the practitioner is also US Board Certified or the international equivalent.
For patients who need more information, please visit our website http://www.aosassurance.bb or e-mail us at info@aosassurance.bb
Notes to editor:
* CNN Money
** Apollo Hospitals 2006 price list
For more information, contact:
Vinston Hampton, Director
AOS Assurance Company Limited
Email: Vin_Hampden@
Tel: 246-436-4895
