A Time’s report has shown how a huge number of UK residents are jetting off abroad for surgical procedures. These include cosmetic surgery such as tummy tucks, and breast enlargements, to vital operations such as hip replacements, and heart bypasses. Surgery shows to be more appealing abroad, as the savings that can be made outside of the UK are huge.

The report showed that 50,000 people went abroad for surgery in 2006, and this number is expected to increase. Many patients will go abroad for dental work, whilst others with source their health treatment from countries like Thailand and India. This is not surprising, as the cost of a hip replacement in India will cost around £3,500, compared to £10,000 in the UK.

This does implicate problems for individual private health and medical insurance. The policies that offer a cash payout upon approval of a claim are also able to deliver what an increasing number of the UK population want. A cash payout for a gall bladder operation would be approximately £4,362 from a freedom health insurance policy, whereas in Belgium it would cost £2,500. The cash saving is the policy holder’s to keep, tax free.