Frequently asked questions
Honest answers to the questions patients ask most often. If yours isn't here, your Care Companion will answer it during consultation.
How is MyCureVoyage different from booking a hospital myself?
Booking a hospital abroad yourself means navigating a foreign language, an unfamiliar system, no local contacts, and no one to advocate for you if complications arise. MyCureVoyage provides a dedicated Care Companion who handles every step — plan design, hospital liaison, travel logistics, on-the-ground support, and follow-up. We've also pre-vetted every hospital in our network through a 27-point review, so you're not guessing.
Is the $149 deposit really credited toward my trip?
Yes, in full. If you travel with us, the $149 is applied directly to your trip cost — it's not a separate service fee that you also pay. For patients who go ahead, the deposit costs them nothing extra. The only case where it's retained is if you decide after your consultation not to travel — in which case it covers the professional work already done for you.
What happens if I decide not to go?
The deposit covers the work your Care Companion has already done — researching your case, building your plan, getting hospital pricing, and answering your questions. You keep the full plan and all the pricing information, which you're free to use however you like. There's no additional charge, no subscription, and no pressure to book. We'd rather you go only if you're completely ready.
Are the hospitals really internationally accredited?
Yes. Every hospital in our network is either JCI-accredited (Joint Commission International — the global gold standard) or holds an equivalent national accreditation, and has passed our own independent 27-point vetting process. We verify this annually and remove hospitals that don't maintain standards. You can ask your Care Companion to walk you through any specific hospital's credentials during your consultation.
What does a Care Companion actually do?
Your Care Companion is your personal advocate and guide throughout the entire journey. Before departure: they research your case, recommend the right hospital and procedure, build your itinerary, and answer every question. During travel: they meet you at the airport, travel with you to appointments, interpret (they are bilingual), sit in on consultations, and handle any unexpected situations. After you're home: they follow up on your recovery, help with questions, and support any remote consultation needs.
What procedures do you cover?
We focus on planned, elective care — specifically: advanced diagnostics (MRI, CT, PET-CT, ultrasound), dental procedures (implants, full-mouth restoration, periodontal care), orthopedics (knee and hip replacement, shoulder surgery), comprehensive health screening and executive check-ups, and selected aesthetic/reconstructive procedures. We do not handle emergencies, acute care, or conditions requiring immediate treatment.
Do I need special travel insurance?
We strongly recommend comprehensive international coverage that includes medical evacuation and trip cancellation. Your Care Companion can recommend providers who specialize in medical-journey policies during your consultation. Some patients' existing policies already cover this — your Companion will help you understand what you have and what gaps exist.
How do I get my medical records to the hospital in advance?
Your Care Companion handles this. Once you've decided to proceed, they'll guide you through gathering the relevant records (scans, reports, GP notes), help you understand what the hospital needs, and coordinate the secure transfer. Many hospitals in our network accept digital records; your Companion will advise on format and timing.
What languages do you support?
Our Care Companions are fluent in English and Mandarin Chinese (for China trips) or English and Thai (for Thailand trips). Our written materials are in English. Hospital staff at our partner hospitals in Thailand are English-speaking throughout; in China, your Care Companion provides interpretation. If you need a language other than English, please mention it during consultation and we'll do our best to accommodate.
How long does the process take from first inquiry to departure?
It varies by procedure and destination, but most patients move from initial inquiry to departure within 4–8 weeks. Diagnostics and health checks can often be arranged in 2–3 weeks. More complex procedures involving pre-operative preparation may take longer. Your Care Companion will give you a realistic timeline based on your specific case during consultation.
Can I bring a family member or friend?
Yes, and we actively encourage it. Many patients feel more comfortable with a trusted companion on the trip, and it often makes the experience better for everyone. Your Care Companion can help with logistics for a travel companion — accommodation, airport transfers, day activities while you're in appointments. Additional travel costs are at your own expense.
What if something goes wrong during treatment?
Your Care Companion is on the ground with you, and our hospitals have international patient departments experienced in handling complications. In the rare event of a clinical complication, your Care Companion advocates for you, coordinates with the medical team, and — if necessary — helps arrange alternative care or medical evacuation. We also maintain relationships with medical advisory board members who can provide remote second opinions. While complications are rare at our partner hospitals, we plan for them.
What's included in the price, and what isn't?
Your personalized plan itemizes exactly what the quoted hospital pricing covers — the procedure, related hospital services, and the Care Companion support throughout your journey. Costs that sit outside the medical quote (such as your flights, accommodation, and any travel for a companion you bring) are shown separately so there are no surprises. Your Care Companion walks you through the full breakdown before you commit, and the $149 deposit is credited toward your trip if you travel with us.
How do I know the quality of care is as good as at home?
Every hospital in our network is either JCI-accredited (Joint Commission International — the global gold standard) or holds an equivalent national accreditation, and each has passed our own independent 27-point vetting process. We verify accreditation annually and remove hospitals that don't maintain standards. Your Care Companion can walk you through any specific hospital's credentials and clinical track record during your consultation so you can judge for yourself.
What does recovery and aftercare look like once I'm home?
Recovery doesn't end when you leave the hospital. Your Care Companion follows up after you return home, helps with questions as you heal, and supports any remote consultation needs with your treating team. Before you travel, your Companion also helps you understand the expected recovery timeline for your procedure so you can plan time off and arrange support at home. For complex cases we can coordinate remote second opinions through our medical advisory board.
Do I need a visa, and who handles the travel logistics?
Most patients from the US and EU will need a visa for China or Thailand depending on the destination and length of stay. Your Care Companion guides you on the visa requirements for your trip and timeline, and coordinates the travel logistics — hospital appointments, airport transfers, and on-the-ground movement between your accommodation and the hospital. We handle the moving parts so you can focus on your treatment and recovery. Visa fees and travel costs are at your own expense.
Will language be a barrier at the hospital?
No. Our Care Companions are bilingual — fluent in English and Mandarin Chinese for China trips, or English and Thai for Thailand trips — and they interpret during consultations and appointments. At our partner hospitals in Thailand, the international patient staff are English-speaking throughout; in China, your Companion provides interpretation end to end. Your written materials and your plan are in English.
Can I get a second opinion before deciding to travel?
Yes. Your consultation and personalized plan are designed to help you make an informed decision, not to pressure you. We maintain relationships with medical advisory board members who can provide remote second opinions, and you keep your full plan and all pricing information whether or not you travel. We'd rather you proceed only when you're completely ready.
How are complications or unexpected costs handled?
We strongly recommend comprehensive international coverage that includes medical evacuation and trip cancellation, and your Care Companion can recommend providers who specialize in medical-journey policies. Clinically, our partner hospitals have experienced international patient departments, and your Care Companion advocates for you on the ground and helps coordinate alternative care or evacuation if it's ever needed. Your Companion will also help you understand what your existing policy covers and where the gaps are.
Is medical travel with MyCureVoyage actually safe?
Safety is the reason our model exists. Rather than booking a foreign hospital blind, you travel to a hospital we've pre-vetted through a 27-point review and confirmed is JCI-accredited or equivalent, with a bilingual Care Companion beside you who advocates for you at every step. We plan for complications even though they're rare at our partner hospitals, and we recommend medical-evacuation coverage as a backstop. Your Care Companion can answer specific safety questions about your hospital and procedure during consultation.
Related guides
Go deeper on the questions patients research most before they travel.
Still have questions?
Your Care Companion will answer them — and they know your specific case, not just the general policy.