COLUMBIA, SC – Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina has become the first major U.S. health insurer to offer its members access to Joint Commission International-accredited medical facilities in Turkey, Thailand, Costa Rica, Singapore and Ireland, through its subsidiary, Companion Global Healthcare (CGH).

With rising healthcare costs, clinician shortage and multinational companies with mobile workforces, medical tourism is “part of the solution” to the U.S. healthcare crisis, said David Boucher, BCBSSC’s vice president of healthcare services.

Formed in March 2007, CGH added three hospitals in Singapore to its network in March 2008 bringing the number of hospitals to seven. Three of BCBSSC’s self-funded employer groups – two in South Carolina and one in California – have amended their benefits plans to give their employees access to CGH’s network hospitals at discounted rates.

All three groups offer 100 percent coverage, and one of the groups covers six major procedures and coach airfare for the member and a companion.

BCBSSC has a “significant” number of self-funded employer groups, which Boucher said is a good market for this opportunity. By the end of 2008, he anticipates 10 to 20 employer groups changing their benefits plans.

“If employer groups see a 3 to 10 percent savings in medical trend, they would be open to this,” he said.

Aetna is working with one of its customers interested in providing this option to its employees through a pilot project. Infrastructure, culture, language, licensing, supplies and other issues need to be worked through, said Charles Cutler, MD, national medical director for national accounts.

“It’s a great opportunity, but we’d like to be sure it’s not only cost-efffective but a safe place to get care with comparable outcomes,” he said.

Cigna is responding to “growing interest” from its employer groups.