Picture this: You need surgery. But before going under the knife, you hop on the next flight out of the country.

It’s called medical tourism — and at IDMI Systems, employees who are willing to travel out of the U.S. for medical procedures can cut their expenses by up to 80%.

The Georgia-based software developing company has added an international medical travel option to its employee benefits package.

Those covered by the company’s health plan can visit their choice of 29 hospitals and four dental clinics around the world, which are all part of the Companion Global Healthcare network.

We know what you’re thinking: I wouldn’t let docs from another country cut me open. Who knows whether or not they even went to med school?

Would it comfort you to know most of those foreign hospitals and clinics are staffed with U.S. board-certified physicians?

Of course traveling overseas for treatment wouldn’t work for all medical procedures (like emergencies and some major surgeries) but it could be a cost-effective option for a range of other procedures.

Some employers in Companion’s network waive deductibles and co-pays for workers who travel overseas for their treatment — and some even cover travel expenses.

Does this sound like something you’d consider offering your employees? Let us know in the Comments Box below.

Tags: Companion Global Healthcare, health plan, IDMI Systems, international, medical tourism, medical travel