Every one in America has somekind of insurance? Wonder what LAZ would look like with a Turbin on his head?
LISA SYLVESTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Howard Staab, a Durham, North Carolina, carpenter made the difficult decision not to buy health insurance because of the high cost. So, when he found out he needed to replace a valve in his heart, he made another hard choice. He flew to India to have the surgery.
HOWARD STAAB, FLEW TO INDIA FOR SURGERY: It was excellent care. They kept so many doctors with us, and they were attentive.
SYLVESTER: To replace the valve at the Durham Regional Hospital in North Carolina would have cost at least $200,000. To have the surgery in India, including airfare, cost less than $10,000.
Howard Staab is part of a growing trend, medical tourism. One way middle-class workers are contending with rising health-care costs. U.S. insurance premiums have increased 36 percent in the last four years, and rates are rising three times faster than middle-class workers' wages.
RON POLLACK, FAMILIES USA: They have fewer services covered, they have to pay more in deductibles and copayments, and so, increasingly, working families are saying we simply can't afford this care.
SYLVESTER: But, while workers can save going overseas, there are risks. Howard had complications in India, blood clots and four mini strokes. His partner, Maggi, says his case highlights the need to bring U.S. health-care costs in line with the rest of the world.
MAGGI GRACE, HOWARD STAAB'S PARTNER: They're keeping their costs down to what it actually costs, instead of inflating them, which we know they do here, and I don't know the answer, but I think there's some way to come to some medium place.
SYLVESTER: Howard says, given the high cost of health care, if he has to have another surgery, he'll go back to India in a heartbeat. |
