A Tale of 2 Countries: The Cost of My Mother’s Cardiac Care in the United States and India

In Brief

A Tale of 2 Countries: The Cost of My Mother's Cardiac Care in the United States and India

Sowmya R. Rao

Background A health services researcher compares the cost of surgical cardiac care in the United States and India after her Indian mother fell ill while visiting her in the United States.

What This Study Found The author describes the challenges she and her family faced in making well-informed decisions in the United States due to the lack of cost transparency and the minimal flexibility offered in the choice of care. They ultimately sought care in India, where cardiac specialty care is world-class, with comparable morbidity rates. In addition, cost information is readily available and significantly lower, and they were able to freely choose their type of care.

Implications

• The author asserts that "developed" countries have a lot to learn from the ways health care is delivered in ?developing? countries.
• Increased transparency, the author concludes, is essential for choosing not only the hospital and provider of care, but also the appropriate course of action.