While medical tourism is usually safe, cost-effective and transparent, there are a few things you should be aware of when planning your trip. Try to avoid the following:

Member Cards sometimes offered by medical travel companies these cards promise -- for an upfront annual fee -- extra benefits for travelers such as a free health check-up, priority check-in at selected hotels and hospitals, welcome gift baskets and other sundries. Most of these benefits are standard amenities anyway, or you can usually get them just by asking. Be wary of things like automatic room upgrade at “preferred parter” hotels. Think about it: if a room upgrade is automatic either the hotel has lots and lots of rooms to guarantee this or, more likely, it’s not a very popular hotel or destination.