Regardless of where you’re going for medical treatment abroad, American baby boomers, singles, couples or families should register with the State Department, which is very easy to do online, so they can contact you in the event of an emergency situation at home. Registering is a way of helping agencies find you in the event of trouble overseas, and enables you to receive up-to-date warnings if anything’s going on in your intended travel area.

Medical tourism is a growing option for affordable heart surgery, anti aging, chronic disease treatment,  surgery abroad, cheap surgery (not to be equated with inexperienced or lesser quality surgery) and medical travel. Baraitric surgical procedures, cosmetic surgery and orthopedic surgeries offer Americans huge savings in health care costs. But take the time to plan and organize not only for your medical stay in a beautiful and high-quality medical facility in a foreign country such as the Madras Joint Replacement Center in India to Terme Selce in Croatia, but for friends or relatives at home. Make sure family or friends get a copy of your intended travel and stay itinerary, with contact phone numbers.

Make sure before you venture off for any type of wellness tourism that you have a valid and signed passport and a non-expired visa if you visit a medical facility in a country that requires visas. Don’t forget to complete the emergency contact information in your passport.

Always have the contact name and phone number of consular personnel from the nearest U.S. Embassy to your intended destination for emergencies.

PlacidWay wants you to enjoy and benefit from your medical travel abroad. Still, be prepared, plan accordingly and have a safe trip.