In countries with public healthcare systems, extended waiting lists for your needed procedures can severely impact your daily life, mobility, and mental health. If you need consultation or surgery and cannot wait for months or years, traveling abroad is a practical solution.
And for patients in high-cost regions, it lets you access high-quality treatments at a fraction of the cost compared to out-of-pocket expenses locally. Or, patients travel to receive advanced specialized treatments and cutting-edge technologies that may not yet be available in your home country.
We don't just list clinics, we rigorously audit them. We only partner with board-certified or equivalent specialists and facilities holding top-tier international accreditations such as RTAC and JCI, as well as the highest local medical standards. We conduct site visits, track patient success rates, and mandate strict communication standards. This rigorous process ensures only the top-tier hospitals and doctors join the Kibo network.
You can directly consult multiple specialists and hospitals with proven experience in your specific condition. Since everyone's situation differs, we encourage you to use our platform to seek second medical opinions, ensuring you feel fully confident in your personalized care plan. Furthermore, for complex cases, you can reach out to a multispecialty hospital within our network, where your case will be reviewed by a Multidisciplinary Team (MDT), a collaborative group of medical experts rather than just one doctor.
Yes, we encourage you to gather as much advice and information as you need to make the best-informed decision. You can arrange preliminary virtual consultations with several different specialists to discuss your treatment plan and get multiple opinions, ensuring you have found the best fit before you commit to travel.
Patient safety and surgical success are paramount. Our vetted partner hospitals maintain strict clinical protocols to minimize risks. In the event that a revision surgery is medically necessary due to a surgical complication, the hospital's medical team will evaluate the situation immediately. Kibo acts as your patient advocate to help mediate the hospital's specific revision policies and warranty guarantees, ensuring that you receive the continued medical attention you deserve with your medical needs fully addressed without delay, and advocating for your well-being until you are fully recovered.
We believe in pricing transparency. After you speak with the doctor during your consultation, the doctor will provide a detailed treatment plan and a corresponding cost estimate. Because every patient's medical situation is unique and individual needs differ, an exact final price can only be determined after the doctor has fully reviewed your specific case and medical history. Once your doctor has finalized your treatment plan, you will not be hit with surprise medical bills or hidden hospital fees. Except for the cases of additional medications or treatment adjustment, where the doctor will discuss with you any necessary clinical adjustments, with your informed consent.
Meanwhile, Kibo generates revenue from software services provided to healthcare providers, and there are no extra fees or platform fees for patients.
Provincial reimbursement: Most provinces require prior approval before providing meaningful coverage for medical procedures abroad. Without approval, you will likely only receive minimal emergency rates. However, if the procedure is not available anywhere in Canada, or if wait times exceed clinical guidelines, provinces may provide coverage, but this requires prior approval demonstrating medical necessity. How Kibo helps: Navigating government applications can be complex. For eligible patients, the Kibo care team can help guide you through the provincial out-of-country funding application process, ensuring you have the correct documentation from your overseas specialist to submit to your local health ministry. Tax credits: Regardless of provincial coverage, you can claim medical expenses abroad on your tax return if they exceed 3% of your net income or $2,759 (whichever is less), providing tax savings of approximately 20-25%. You can also claim travel expenses if traveling more than 40 km. Disclaimer: This is general guidance. Consult your provincial health ministry for your specific situation and for the latest information.
Financial constraints should not prevent you from accessing quality healthcare. For our US-based patients, we are currently working on partnerships with trusted medical loan providers to offer specialized medical financing. These loans will be designed to cover treatment, flights, and accommodation, eliminating the need for large upfront payments. In the meantime, the providers on our network can help you review transparent cost estimates so you can plan your budget effectively. For Canadian patients, you can see our Q&A above regarding provincial funding and tax credits.
You hold your personal medical records or have a basic understanding of your health status. Ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel dates. Verify your budget covers the cost estimates plus accommodation. Book flights with flexible date change options to accommodate possible extended recovery, and obtain the latest post-operative care instructions for your case from your specialist.
For short-term treatment, usually under 90 days, many countries and places including Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, UAE, and South Korea allow medical treatment on regular tourist status using your passport, without requiring a specific medical visa.
Clear communication is critical for your safety and peace of mind. All our partner doctors and medical staff are highly proficient in English, and medical records are handled securely in English. For patients receiving treatment in Japan, we offer the added service of arranging ICM, JME, or MIAJ certified interpreters to ensure complex medical terms, documents and patient-doctor consultations are properly understood.
Yes, we highly encourage it. Having a loved one by your side can significantly aid your emotional well-being and recovery. While you focus on your consultations and treatment, your companion can stay with you. We can provide guidance on the destination country's visa requirements for companions and can offer recommendations for recovery-friendly accommodations located near your chosen hospital or medical center.
You will typically have initial in-person follow-ups with your surgeon abroad before being cleared to travel. Once home, your ongoing care transitions to virtual follow-ups with the surgeon and in-person check-ins with your primary care doctor. The partnered doctors and their teams on Kibo do regular check-ins with you to monitor your situation, recovery, and offers rehabilitation support, and Kibo ensures all data handling on our platform remains strictly compliant with privacy regulations.
Kibo protects your medical information through enterprise-grade cloud infrastructure with strict encryption for data at rest and in transit. Our compliant tech stack and strict data handling procedures ensure your protected health information remains secure and private at all times, with no identifiable information transmitted without your explicit consent.
Getting started is simple and free. First, browse our network to find a specialist or hospital that fits your medical needs. Once you select a doctor, simply fill out their specific prescreening questionnaire. The doctor and their team will review your information shortly and reach out to you directly for an arrangement of remote consultation first, where they would preliminarily evaluate your case based on info you provide, and explain your personalized treatment plan, cost estimate, and next steps.
Some doctors offer free initial consultation on Kibo.
And there is no obligation to proceed. If you feel the doctor is not the right fit, you are completely free to stop and not proceed. Even if you are just seeking an additional reference or a second medical opinion, that's real value on its own.
The timeline depends on the complexity of your case and provider availability, but generally, patients can expect to receive their treatment within a few weeks after the initial assessment and virtual consultation.
You are in complete control of your healthcare journey. You have the right to adjust or cancel your treatment plan at any time. Your health decisions are entirely yours, and we are here to support whatever direction feels right for you.
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