Apollo Hospitals in Companion Global Healthcare network

Washington, Dec 24 (IANS) The Apollo Hospitals in Bangalore and Delhi have been accepted into a US medical travel company's network of international hospitals for getting medical care outside the US at affordable prices.

With the acceptance of the two Indian facilities by Companion Global Healthcare Inc, it can arrange travel, set appointments and provide other services to its individual clients and US employer group members who choose treatment at either facility.

Companion Global Healthcare network hospitals offer surgery and other care to American patients at rates substantially lower than those charged by most US hospitals.

The network includes 13 hospitals in India, Costa Rica, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey, Ireland and Taiwan. All network hospitals are accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI), and all have completed Companion Global Healthcare's extensive credentialing process.

The hospitals' fees are up to 90 percent less than those typically charged by US facilities.

'We are proud to have these Apollo facilities in network and to expand our offerings to employers and individuals,' Companion Global Healthcare President David Boucher said, according to a company release.

'Some of the employer groups that offer our network pay 100 percent of the cost when a worker elects to have a covered procedure abroad. The company can save tens of thousands of dollars for a single procedure, and the worker is not responsible for a co-payment or deductible.'

'Apollo Hospitals will provide not only great value but also world-class clinical outcomes to US patients at its Centres of Excellence for advanced procedures like cardiac, orthopaedic, spine surgery, transplants and cancer treatments,' said Pradeep Thukral, group head, international marketing, Apollo Hospitals.

'Apollo has pioneered introduction of the latest technology at its hospitals.'

Companion Global Healthcare Inc headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina, provides assistance to clients who travel to its network hospitals around the world.

The company serves uninsured and underinsured individuals, as well as employers and insurance companies that have included the Companion Global Healthcare network in their benefit plans.