Medical Tourism Association to Launch Patient Financing in Spring 2008

West Palm Beach, FL, January 11, 2008 --(PR.com)-- The Medical Tourism Association (MTA) is finalizing negotiations with a large financial institution that will provide patient financing of up to $20,000 per patient for Americans going overseas to international hospitals for surgery and medical care.

"This will open up the doors for millions of Americans who wish to go overseas for surgery through medical tourism, but do not have the financial means to do so," said Jonathan Edelheit, president of the Medical Tourism Association. “Once this is implemented, it should significantly grow the medical tourism industry.”

The financing will be available through hospitals, medical tourism companies and the MTA website.

“There is one catch,” advises Edelheit. “Patients will be able to use the financing through only those international hospitals or medical tourism companies that are members of the Medical Tourism Association.”

The financing will not be available through any non-member hospital or medical tourism company.

"It is important that we protect the integrity and reputation of the medical tourism industry and make sure that patients are considering only the top international hospitals when utilizing the Medical Tourism Association's financing mechanism," he says.

Edelheit says this is also very exciting for MTA members and should give them a significant advantage over non-members in growing their international business and being given preference when patients choose a hospital or medical tourism company. The financing can also be used in the event that complications during a surgery result in higher than expected costs for the procedure.

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