if u were looking for medical help what country would u go to?

Personally, I would go to Germany or Switzerland. It is my understanding, one does not have the choice to go to another country for medical treatment and have Medicare pay for it.

If you have an accident or some unexpected medical problem come up while overseas....that is different.

That is why it is very important to have Travel Insurance. Which I purchase at the time I buy my airline ticket.

However, if one has the means to pay out-of-pocket for medical procedures that is different.

It is my understanding, one does not have the choice to go to another country for medical treatment and have Medicare pay for it.

That is correct, for the most part. You can get reimbursement for emergency expenses incurred while on vacation. Rarely, Medicare has made compassionate exceptions for services not available in the US, but I place emphasis on the word `rare´. Almost all insurance companies take their cue from Medicare and will only provide extensive foreign coverage for US nationals who work overseas.

Personally, I think in terms of cost efficiency, delivery, outcomes, preventative medicine, and ease of access, the Netherlands has the best medical system in Europe, but it´s a system all but closed to non-residents.

It’s well understood that Western Europe’s model is far superior in any number of measures, but why would you seek medical care in Europe instead of in the U.S.? In terms of medical standard, the EU and U.S. are comparable. There are a lot of logistics you need to consider – insurance/means to pay, access to a system, etc. A lot of people go south of the border or to Asia because of the significant savings involved. Others with means may go to Germany or other places in Europe for treatments not yet approved here (i.e. Farah Fawcett comes to mind). Even Eastern Europe is getting in on the medical tourism gig. You should probably do much research in this area.

BTW, France is number 1 according to the last WHO ranking done several years ago.

Are you going overseas specifically for medical care? If so, you need to do A LOT of research. Getting the best overseas care has a lot more to do with finding the right hospital or medical center rather than choosing a particular country. You have to find out where the best specialists are for your particular condition. Your own doctor here might be able to help.

Medical tourism to Asia is a huge business, according to an interesting article I read some time ago. Unfortunately, I can't remember where, could have been in the New Yorker. Evidently a lot of the doctors are US trained. Seems lots of people go there for not only elective surgery but underinsured consumers go there for the better prices.

I'm not sure if you are inquiring about having medical insurance on your trip in case something goes wrong or if you are thinking about taking a trip specifically to get medical help, but if it is the latter then you might be interested in reading THIS article that was coincidentally on CNN.com yesterday.

That link/CNN story was really good Angela.

60 Minutes did a story on people who go to Thailand (it's one of many countries that's considered to have excellent medical care) for surgery. A few days after surgery, they move to a 5 star beach front resort to fully recover and it's still a tiny fraction of what it would cost here.

Thank you.
But.... could someone read & answer my question.

I don't know where Thailand....etc. got started.
I am vacationing in the countries mentioned & wonder if I needed medical care and could wait til I got to the country that had the best medical which country do you know (have heard or experienced) would be best.

2nd part of question. I have supplemental ins. for $50,000. as stated b4 in my question. Do u think in Europe that I would need more?
Thanks

Connie, any of the countries you listed have great care, it would be silly to wait and go to another one,, ??

Frankly I think some of us may have misunderstood your post, if a person actually needs medical care on vacation , they are rarely worried about going to another country to get it,, I mean you are not travelling on a continent with a bunch of third world countries where picking and choosing may make a big difference in care.

Any care you recieve will be as good or BETTER then what you may get in your own country.

Connie, this may not directly answer your question, but I will share some thoughts that may be useful to you. I have found medical care in Germany to be good. Some things I like better here, and some things I like better in the US, but that's an individual matter. Doctors here are generally very accessible and do many of the procedures, such as drawing blood, that technicians do in the US. I can get a non-emergency office appointment very quickly, sometimes the same day. They do not seem to be big on medications for pain control, and often recommend rest, relaxation, and meditation. I have found the fees to be generally comparable to US. Many physicians, but not all, speak English very well, but often support personnel do not.

Customs regarding procedures are sometimes quite different. It may be helpful to realize this ahead of time, since when you are sick, in pain, or upset, these differences might seem jarring or confusing, especially if you do not speak the language well and can't ask or understand the answers. For example, some hospitals expect you to bring your own towels. They have different standards of privacy and nudity; there may be a lot of other people in close proximity and they may not drape patients as Americans would expect.

I have not received any care in the other countries you mentioned, so I am unable to offer any thoughts on them.

Regarding how much insurance you need, I would think that whatever procedure or treatment you have and/or length of hospital stay would determine your needs. You may need to pay upfront and then submit to your own insurance for reimbursement.

I've read the question, and I'm still not sure what you refer to.

If you got a medical emergency (i.e. anything that needs immediate treatment) the best medical care is the one that is closest to you in that moment. If it isn't an emergency it can probably wait the two weeks until you're home.

All the countries you've listed are rich industrialized first world countries. The differences between individual hospitals and doctors are bigger than the national differences.

Connie, I would suggest you re-read your own questions.

"who has best?" What is/will be your ailment?

"max $50k. is that enough?" Again, what is/will be your ailment?

People are trying to help you but your questions are confusing- at best.

The wording of your question implies you are shopping for health care abroad? A good number of people are doing that these days out of choice- not necessity.

The curtness of your last post seems to indicate you aren't doing that. So-

Are you concerned with the quality and cost of care should health issues arise while you are out of the country? (if so, consult with your doctor)

Are stating you will travel to the listed countries and have a $50k max supplemental insurance policy and are inquiring if that is "enough" (if so, ask you insurance agent)

No one reading these posts have any idea how healthy you are, your personal tolerance for risk or your ability to pay potentially big medical bills if something tragic should happen.

If your taking a big trip to Europe and have health care concerns, those concerns are valid and your are correct to address them.
However, I would suggest getting travel advice here and health care/insurance coverage advice from experts on those subjects. They are the only sources that will matter if the worst should happen. Telling a hospital bill collector you read this or that on a Rick Steves' website won't do you a bit of good- regardless of which country they hail from.