August 8, 2008 – Atlanta, GA
GPS-Magazine launches global patient services and information for the first 1.9 Million people in the US insured for medical tourism.

Corporate America experienced a “Eureka!” moment in February, 2008 when the national and international press extensively reported the advent of two Columbia, SC group insurance experts’ foray into insured medical tourism to rein in runaway US corporate healthcare cost.

David Boucher, Companion Global Healthcare, and Morgan Armstrong, Plan Benefit Services, pioneered the way for group insurance medical tourism benefits.  Their programs provide high quality medical care, immense savings for US patients and their employers, plus economic prosperity for international destinations is a winning combination.  These options can provide significant financial solutions for strapped employers and employees.  An additional bonus for the benefit is a boost in employee morale.

The number of employees insured for medical tourism in the USA is on an accelerated trajectory for growth.  Currently, 1.9 Million people enjoying the medtour benefits provided by Companion Global Healthcare can choose both regional and international hospital options in their Blue Cross Blue Shield of SC PPO network.

GPS-Magazine is patient-oriented and serves as a knowledge-based source, delivering key information to people interested in utilizing the many advantages of medical tourism.  GPS will help medtour candidates discover just how exciting and “do-able” international medical travel is, even if they have never traveled outside of their state or have a passport.

The GPS focus is to alleviate patient apprehensions about international travel and medical services and introduce patients to a new realm of affordable global options.

GPS will address language concerns, serve as a resource for questions and source for answers about medical and travel concerns, provide resources for patients and their travel companions, and relay the best travel and medical opportunities available in the world.

Global Patient Services features information and personal attention that patients require to help them reach decisions about international destinations for dental or medical care.  GPS-Magazine reports on expediting passports, travel-medical packages to superior medical & dental destinations, medical specialties and break-troughs, certified travel chaperon companions, advice about best seasons for some destinations, currency exchange, translations services, and a forum for readers to report about their medtour experience.

It has been said that General Motors spends more on employee group health benefits than steel and Starbucks spends more on their group health benefits than coffee beans.  Medical tourism benefits provided by firms such as Companion Global Healthcare and Plan Benefit Services, Inc of Columbia, SC will be a positive step in solving those financial headaches for mid-size and large group self-funded employers.

GPS will provide the insight and information necessary to help employers, employees, and individuals make educated decisions to opt for the advantages of medical tourism, and successfully utilize and enjoy the international options.

Closing the knowledge gap and eliminating concerns about travel and medical opportunities for potential patients will enable employers, employees, international medical and dental facilities, travel venders, and destinations to benefit from the financial advantages at a faster rate.

ACF provides a venue for government ministers from the Western Hemisphere to come together with leaders from the private sector, academia, and non-governmental organizations, to explore innovative ideas and practices in specific areas of competitiveness, to develop new avenues for economic prosperity in the region.

Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez - Americas Competitiveness Forum

The upbeat atmosphere was punctuated with the flurry of successful cross-continent networking for business and tourism development.

Jeff Senior, V-P of Marketing and Sales for Fairmont Hotels and Resorts noted that their next opportunity for growth is South America.

Dawn Drew, V-P and Publisher, National Geographic Traveler magazine, framed the importance of countries funding advertising and marketing efforts to  promote their tourism industry.  Her experience has proven that educated and informed consumers gravitate towards affordable, sustainable travel.

His Excellency Alvaro Uribe Velez, President of the Republic of Colombia, His Excellency Elias Antonio Saca Gonzales, President of the Republic of El Salvador, and His Excellency Alvaro Colom Caballeros, President of the Republic of Guatemala offered frank and compelling rational for business development in their countries.

Columbia – His Excellency Alvaro Uribe Velez, President of the Republic of Colombia

The dynamic President Uribe of the Republic of Columbia presented a persuasive pitch for luring tourism to his country. Uribe, obviously driven to create economic prosperity via the development of tourism and industry; readily acknowledged that their first priority was to make Columbia a safe destination.

President Uribe highlighted a comprehensive government initiative to court industry and tourism. The Columbian government introduced a series of zero (0) taxes for foreign development and expansion of hotels.  Consequently, Columbia is enjoying the advent of tens of thousands of new hotel rooms and building development.

The country launched tourism schools to instruct their citizens in graces of the industry and in serving a variety of cultures.  A bilingual system has been integrated in Columbia’s service industry enabling taxi drivers, hoteliers, and servers to communicate in simple, conversational English and foreign phrases.

The government is stimulating airline and transportation connectivity to Columbia between other countries.  A new route from Bogata to Washington, DC has been established with non-stop flights.  President Uribe said the new hotels and infrastructure represented the “hardware” to build the tourism industry and equated their citizens to the valuable “software” for Columbia’s tourism success.  Columbia offers a skilled work force for building coupled with the comprehensive government initiative to effect change.

President Uribe is working aggressively to influence foreign embassies to update their travel advisories.  His marketing efforts have had a positive impact on foreign travel advisories for Columbia.  The more progressive embassies have updated their safety reports on the popular Columbian destinations.

US Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez & forum attendees

Columbia proudly announced the addition of a Minister of Tourism, owing to their success in solving some of Columbia’s image issues.  Noting Columbia’s past pervasive safety concerns, Uribe acknowledged that previously his government could not, in clear conscience, invite international tourist to vacation in beautiful Columbia when the safety of their own citizens was undermined in areas.

Thanks to the concerted efforts of President Uribe to rid the country of drug trafficking and his marketing drive to change Columbia’s image, the country is making great strides as an emerging destination for exotic travel.  Uribe compared Columbia’s current tourism expansion situation to Cambodia, another beautiful travel destination that overcame a controversial past to achieve prosperity through tourism.

The world’s past perceptions of Columbia will quickly change with President Uribe’s tenacious marketing and concerted efforts to compete in the global market.

President Uribe remarked, “While Columbia has changed for the better, we are not ‘perfect’.  Yet, Columbia is very fortunate that the government and the people are working together to close the gap between the former image and the reality of our new positive image.”  He added, “If you want to see and experience the Caribbean, Pre-Columbian culture, indigenous cultures, Andean Mountains, Amazon rain forest, great European influence and beautiful colonial architecture, as well as cosmopolitan cities, then go to Columbia where you can experience it all in one place.”

This smart, new ‘reality’ puts Columbia on an upward trajectory for success in global tourism, trade and industry.

Mexico – Rodolfo Elizondo Torres, Secretary of Tourism, Mexico

Mexico’s Secretary of Tourism approached the podium and pronounced that “Mexico Gets Tourism”.  It seems that they, indeed, do.

A tourism website, www.VisitMexico.com was recently launched, instantly generating interest in Mexican destinations. Mexico is expanding their former marketing campaigns touting “sun & beaches” to include promotions of other valuable destinations offering culture, food, music, and Mayan history.

Ten excellent golf courses have been built and residential real estate in Mexico has grown significantly due to the growth of the second home market.  Hotel room sales are another area of extensive growth.

40% of tourist entering Mexico do so to vacation in Cancun.  Elizondo wants to expand their options by offering tourist ‘products’ similar to Europe.

The Mexican government is creating legislation that provides laws favorable to foreign land investments and making land ownership in Mexico safe.

Mexico is developing urban areas and infrastructure balanced with the preservation of nature and their historic areas.

Technology and the World Wide Web has opened up a new world for Mexico’s tourism and economic development.  The government strives to facilitate travel to Mexico with their website information and online immigration application process.

Costa Rican Sky

Sheila Liner, an employee of Plan Benefit Services, INC., in South Carolina, will be traveling to Costa Rica in November for extensive dental surgery. The procedures she will undergo range from simple x-rays to crowns and partial dentures. The total for the work being done figures out to $3,125 including molds and consultation. After her fifty-dollar deductible, her insurance provider pays 50% of the remaining $3,075, leaving Sheila with an out-of-pocket total of $1,587.50. She checked with her local dental provider and after deductible and percentage paid by insurance, her out-of-pocket came to $5,900. Liner said “The financial benefits speak for themselves for the dental procedures. As a vacation destination, I have never been out of the country, but I couldn’t imagine anywhere better than a place with palm trees, beautiful weather, and beaches to recuperate during and after having dental procedures done!” Liner has been advised to remain in Costa Rica for nine days to guarantee a smooth recovery.

Hotel pool in San Jose, Costa Rica

As far as accommodations and transportation are concerned, there is a firm called Tropical Expeditions, Costa Rica (www.tropicaldestinationsofcostarica.com) that has teamed with Companion Global Healthcare to provide assistance with the vacation. Blue Cross Blue Shield members receive attractive rates on packages tailored specifically to the patient’s travel needs. And, there are many reputable hotels within a short distance from the dental facilities. Both clinics are located in San Jose, which puts the patient in close proximity to beaches, rain forests and volcanoes. So, whether it is the beach or a volcano that suits the mood, there are many natural wonders to explore before, during or after the dental treatments. There are also companies that will enable the traveler to ship back to the states the many treasure certain to be found.

Quick travel tips when considering Costa Rica as a dental healthcare destination:

• Travelers need a passport and a round trip airline ticket.
• Take raingear or be prepared to buy an umbrella while you are there. It is a tropical climate and rain is always a possibility.
• Packing a pair of hiking boots is a good idea if volcanoes and rainforests are your cup of tea.

Links to hotels in San Jose:

1. Parque del Lago HotelPhone: 011 (506) 2257-8787
2. Best Western IrazúPhone: 011 (506) 2232-4811
3. Apartotel CristinaPhone: 011 (506) 2220-0453
4. Apartotel La SabanaPhone: 011 (506) 2220-2422
5. Kalexma Bed and BreakfastPhone: 011 (506) 2232-0115
6. Crown Plaza CorobiciPhone: 011 (506) 2232-8122
7. Hotel Barcelo Palma RealPhone: 011 (506) 290-5060
8. Barcelo San Jose PalacioPhone: 011 (506) 2220-2034

After careful cost comparative research and minimal preparation, the traveler is sure to find Costa Rica to be

San Jose Costa Rica

at the top of the list of dental tourist destinations. There is a plethora of natural wonders to explore and quaint shops to browse or, if the traveler prefers, the sway of a simple hammock on the beach, sunning and dozing to the rhythm of the sea while wearing a brand new smile.