Replies to post #216 on Geron Corp (GERN)

[geronrocks]

I think the issue of getting stem cell treatment overseas is currently a moot issue. So far it appears that the government is not going to ban stem cell treatment, nor fund it. Once Geron lets the treatment genie out of the bottle there is a zero chance that they'll ever ban it. With this in mind I don't see why leaving to country to get ESC treatment is an issue. As far as I know, ESC treatment is not available anywhere right now, but when it is, there's no reason to assume that it won't be available in the U.S. Unless such circumstances arise there's not much point in talking about them, but if you do want to raise an hypothetical one, if an insurance company has the choice of paying over $100,000 for open heart surgery or flying someone over to Japan to get a stem cell treatment for a fraction of the cost, the insurance companies might see an incentive to pay for the lower cost treatment, after all, less they pay out, the more money they make.

[hasbro123]

"Medical tourism" plans that provide deep discounts to those who are willing to go abroad for medical procedures are growing in popularity. These innovative products are portable and allow consumers to pick and choose what they need and can afford.

http://www.bizjournals.com/bizwomen/houston/content/story.html?story_id=1313495

[hasbro123]

I think most Americans can find 10,000 dollars for life saving surgery that here would cause BK.


Medical tourism has long been associated with patients wanting low-cost plastic surgery. Venezuela, in particular, has become well-known for quality, relatively cheap cosmetic procedures. But with the number of uninsured rising yearly in the United States, patients needing critical procedures and having to pay out-of-pocket are looking overseas. Countries like India and Thailand are touting world-class medical care accessible for a fraction of the price in the United States. Heart bypass surgery, for example, costs $176,835 retail in the United States. The same procedure performed in India, however, runs about $10,000.

http://news.monstersandcritics.com/lifestyle/consumerhealth/article_1176757.php/Surgery-seekers_set_...