Three Reasons Why I Love Peruvian Healthcare

Updated: November 2016

I first wrote this post in 2015, and since then it’s been plain to see that costs for US healthcare have continued to rise rapidly, along with health coverage premiums and deductibles. It behooves everyone to at least investigate other options for commonplace surgeries and therapy that can be had for a fraction of the cost with just a short trip easily combined with a vacation.

 

Three Reasons Why I Love Peruvian Healthcare

Back in 2010, I herniated a disc in my back, and long (painful) story short, I ended up in Peru for treatment due to the cost (That story here.)

Over the last 5 years, I’ve had very little problem, only occasional discomfort or at most a day or so of lower back pain.

That’s how it was, until recently. Weeks of running around Peru in small, cramped cars, bad hotel beds, and trying to act like I can still handle 100+ pound bags of coffee, combined with lack of stretching finally led to a full blown sciatic pain episode. Once we got back to Lima, I immediately sought therapy. Here’s what I found:

10 Physical Therapy Sessions & a Consult for Less than $77

We found a variety of options from massage to therapy, but I found a great private practice that offered ultrasound, analgesic current, as well as massage. I really hit a home run. The therapist running the clinic is excellent, and the care is top shelf.

After a couple of weeks of walking lopsided, and trying to hide the pain, within two days (and two consecutive days of therapy,) I was feeling immediate relief. I know that it will be a few more weeks before I’m completely back to 100%, but I still have 6 more sessions to go, and I’m already at about 80% pain reduction, with only a little discomfort at night.

The cost is laughable. When using the prices (pre-China devaluation, ya know – last week,) it was all under $77. (Since then the Peruvian Sol has fallen even a little more vs the US Dollar.)

I’m thinking about acupuncture, it’s only about $12-15 for a session.

Why I Don’t Even Consider Healthcare in the US

As I was writing this article, I wondered aloud how much it would cost to receive therapy in Kingman AZ,  which would be the closest and most convenient place to go. I did a quick search online, and found the Del E. Webb service center near the hospital. Naturally, they would tend to be one of the most expensive, but it was still quite shock to hear that just a consult would be $350 & each PT session would be $200-300. While I’m sure they would do a good job, but really, 15-20 times better?

Peru should have a new slogan: “Come for the therapy, stay for the food.”

Three Reasons to Love Peruvian Health Care

So regarding those three reasons, here they are: Number 1)  the price is affordable, and 2) Gee, I forget number two and number three, because the price is so good, who cares…

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Postscript: A few folks asked where this was. Here’s the details:

Centro de Terapia & Rehabilitacion Integral

Jr Tacna 843

Magdalena del Mar, Lima

2636707 and 992786792

La Señora Noemi.

©2015 Ben Gangloff

Please also  see:

Charles Hugh Smith-How Healthcare Is Dooming the U.S. Economy (Three Charts)

Rapidly Rising US Health Care Costs Will Lead to more Medical Tourism, Here’s Why

Medical Tourism Cost Comparison (Outsourcing Your Healthcare)

What if You Could Save $10,000?

Saving Money on Healthcare in Peru

Separating Coffee By Weight for More consistency

 

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