About Guatemala Medical Travel

We bring the most highly skilled surgeons, doctors and dentists of Guatemala together with patients from America, and other countries, who are seeking a more cost-effective solution to their medical needs. 

Before you even consider travel arrangements, think of Guatemala Medical Travel as your personal advocate -- in-country, on-site and on the job -- matching the patient to the appropriate physician, and making it work.  It is our job to find you the finest quality medical professional to meet your needs, to maintain your bills at 60-80% less than normal US prices, and to accomplish all the hundreds of details that will make your stay in Guatemala not just satisfying, but outstanding.

As a very specialized medical tourism facilitator, Guatemala Medical Travel investigates and thoroughly qualifies the doctors and hospitals we represent in order to assure that our clients receive the finest medical care in the country.  We verify credentials, conduct in-depth interviews and request letters of recommendation from both former patients and other doctors.  Your assigned agent uses a variety of quality indicators to determine that the doctors that we recommend have the medical talent, modern instrumentation and quality staff to perform to your expectations at a fraction of the price that you might pay in America. 

To complete a successful and exciting medical travel experience, we provide the patient with accommodations for their recovery, transportation to local and distant destinations, translation, transfer of funds, tour guides and all personal services. 

Guatemala Medical Travel also offers an "Emergency Contact Medical Network" to all travelers, workers and residents in Guatemala.  Receive priority treatment at the best hospitals and clinics in Guatemala City and Antigua. Alert surgeons and providers of your medical history in advance, and notify loved ones at home.  The agency provides assistance with transportation, logistics and finances, all prepared in advance. 

What is Medical Tourism?

Twenty or thirty years ago we heard vague stories of desperate cancer patients traveling to South America for the ancient cures found in exotic jungle flora, or fading starlets jetting off to Switzerland for bizarre rejuvenating treatments.  But in the 21st century, advances in information technology, transportation and international commerce, and the rules that govern them, have made overseas health care options, especially in Guatemala, a sensible and attractive choice for the aging North American and European population.

The industry of medical tourism, as a preferred option for routine surgeries and dental care, has grown at a tremendous rate in the last 10 years.  For example, India is serving more than 150,000 international patients every year and enjoying a 30% annual growth rate.  The World Medical Tourism and Global Health Congress in Los Angeles in September of 2010 attracted 2000 attendees representing top US insurance companies, major employers and government agencies from over 60 countries. The convention featured 200 expert speakers and 150 exhibitors covering such timely subjects as:

  1. The aging population and retirement living.
  2. The expanding role of E-Health and health information technology.
  3. Employer sponsored international health care plans.
  4. US Healthcare reform implications.
  5. Testimonials and recommendations from patients who have received health care abroad.

As Americans grow more frustrated with the bloated, deteriorating US medical system, they turn to the internet to access the vast amounts of information regarding the health care options available in other countries.  Patients now have the ability to choose from the best in the world, not just in their home state.  Working together with a medical travel facilitator, they are directed to the optimal destination for quality healthcare, not the provider who buys the best advertising placement.

According to Deloitte, the global business and finance consultancy, over 750,000 Americans traveled overseas for medical treatment in 2007 and they report that that figure may increase to to 6 million patients this year.  The Deloitte Center for Health Solutions reports indicate that 20% of Americans who are sick or injured DO NOT seek medical attention because of the high cost in the United States.  These patients could be treated and cured in Guatemala at a fraction of the cost of US medical institutions. 

We see Guatemala on the fast track to join the ranks of India, Malaysia, Thailand, Eastern Europe, Brazil and Costa Rica as one of the premier global healthcare destinations for American patients. 

And the information is definitely out there.  After many weeks of diligent internet research, you will be able to determine which hospitals are accredited by the JCI, the international division of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, by far the largest and most highly respected in the United States, and which doctors are board certified or have similarly high standards of accreditation in their home countries.  You may be shocked to find out that you can save $22,000 on a knee replacement in India, or $139,000 on a new heart valve in Colombia, or $7,000 on dental implants in the Czech Republic, or that an over-night stay in a high-tech, fully-equipped modern hospital in Guatemala City will set you back only $75.  Check with IRS.gov to find out that if your surgery costs over $10,000, a good portion of it is tax deductible.  And there is seemingly endless information about flight times and airfares.

Then, you have even more questions.  Is it safe to travel in Guatemala?  Who will arrange for transportation and choose the best accommodations for my recovery?  Who will fill out and translate the paperwork for me?  I forgot my x-rays or test results.  How can I Fed-Ex or email them to my Guatemalan doctor?  Who has used this doctor before and what is their recommendation?  On the day of my surgery, the doctor will need payment in full.  Who can I trust to handle the cash transfer and keep detailed financial records? 

At Guatemala Medical Travel, we have already done the research, and continue to up-date important, pertinent data every day. Right down to prescription delivery, cell phone rental and reservations for restaurants, tours and cultural events, you can depend on Guatemala Medical Travel to take care of all your needs with just a few phone calls.