Start with the same proposed care
Two prices are comparable only when they describe the same scope. Ask each provider to name the procedure or consultation, treating specialist, hospital, room category and expected length of stay. A starting price is a planning reference, not your personal estimate. Your clinical assessment may change the proposed care and its cost.
Ask for an itemised hospital estimate
Request separate amounts for consultations, investigations, the procedure, anaesthesia, implants or devices, medicines, nursing and follow-up. Ask how many ward or intensive-care days are included and what additional days cost. If the estimate is a package, ask for written inclusions and exclusions rather than comparing the headline figure alone.
Build a travel budget alongside it
Keep flights, visas, transfers, accommodation, meals and companion expenses separate from hospital charges. Include a practical allowance for changes to dates and a longer stay. Confirm the payment currency, exchange-rate basis, card or transfer fees and the estimate’s expiry date. Currency conversion on a website is not a guaranteed payment rate.
Understand deposits and changes
Before paying, obtain the recipient’s legal name, invoice, deposit amount, refund rules and cancellation terms. Ask who authorises extra costs if the plan changes, and how you will be informed. Keep written copies of the estimate and payment receipts. Do not assume insurance will pay: request confirmation from the insurer for the specific care and destination.
Use a simple comparison checklist
For every proposal, record: named provider; procedure and assumptions; included tests; room and stay; implant details where relevant; exclusions; travel budget; deposit and refund terms; follow-up contact. Ask the provider to resolve blank entries. The cheapest headline price may describe a different service, so decide using both the scope and the treating team’s explanation.
