Frequently Asked Questions

GESTUR PrimeCare is a Canadian guided medical travel coordination service operated by GESTUR CONSULTANCY INC. (BC Corp. No. BC1576975). We help Canadian and American patients access world-class surgical and medical care at internationally accredited facilities abroad. We are not a medical provider — we coordinate specialist assessments, at-destination logistics, and full patient support from your first call to your return home.

Medical tourism (also called medical travel) means traveling to another country specifically to receive medical or surgical care, usually to access shorter wait times, lower costs, or specialized procedures. Unlike regular travel, every part of the trip — appointments, transportation, accommodation, and recovery support — is planned around your treatment and coordinated by a service like GESTUR PrimeCare rather than arranged independently.

The most common reason is wait times. Many Canadians face waits of a year or more for procedures like hip replacement, knee replacement, or spine surgery through the public system. Guided medical travel lets patients access the same categories of surgical care in weeks instead of years, while working with board-certified specialists at accredited facilities.

Patients facing long public wait times for elective or semi-elective surgery, patients seeking a second opinion or faster access to a specific procedure, and Americans facing high private healthcare costs. It is not a fit for medical emergencies — those should always be handled by local emergency services.

Yes. While our primary focus is Canadian patients, we also work with American patients seeking more affordable access to the same categories of specialist care and accredited facilities.

Yes — when done through a service that works exclusively with internationally accredited facilities and board-certified surgeons. The key is vetting. Every hospital and physician in our network meets international accreditation standards. Medical tourism is well-established globally — millions of Canadians, Americans, and Europeans travel for surgical care every year. We work only with providers we would recommend to our own family.

Every facility and physician in our network is assessed against international accreditation standards before being included, and continuously monitored afterward. We do not operate as an open directory of options — quality and safety are non-negotiable conditions of participation in our network.

Every accredited facility we work with has protocols for managing surgical complications, the same as any accredited hospital. We strongly recommend travel medical insurance designed for patients undergoing procedures abroad, which typically includes coverage for complications. Your coordinator remains reachable throughout your recovery period.

Yes. Every physician in our network is board-certified in their specialty, and many hold additional international fellowships or training from North American or European institutions.

Our partner facilities meet international accreditation standards for patient safety and quality of care, comparable to the standards expected of accredited hospitals in Canada and the United States.

It depends on the procedure. We provide a comprehensive quote covering all planned and foreseeable costs before you commit to anything — procedure, facility, coordination, accommodation, and logistics. In general, procedures through GESTUR PrimeCare cost significantly less than equivalent private surgery in the United States. The Step 2 Specialist Assessment is $250 CAD ($180 USD) and is applied in full toward your care if you proceed.

No. You receive a complete, itemized care proposal with every cost explained before any payment is requested beyond the initial specialist assessment. No payment is required until you have reviewed and accepted your full proposal.

Yes. Specialized medical financing options are available for Canadian and American patients through healthcare financing partners, which can help spread the cost of your procedure over time. Ask us for details during your free guidance session.

Payment structures are explained clearly during your care proposal so you understand exactly what you're paying for and to whom, before you commit to anything.

Lower facility overhead, different cost structures for staffing and administration, and regional cost-of-living differences all contribute. This does not mean lower quality — our network facilities meet international accreditation standards regardless of location.

Our network covers hip and knee replacement, spine surgery, bariatric surgery, cardiology procedures, neurosurgery, stem cell transplants, dental care, cosmetic and aesthetic surgery, and oncology and complex general surgery, among others. If your procedure isn't listed, contact us — we'll tell you honestly whether and how we can help.

Timelines vary by case, but patients typically move from initial assessment to surgery in a matter of weeks rather than the many months or years often seen on Canadian provincial wait lists — subject to individual medical assessment and surgeon availability.

Yes. We coordinate gastric sleeve and gastric bypass procedures for patients with obesity-related health conditions, working with board-certified bariatric surgeons at accredited facilities.

Yes — dental implants, veneers, crowns, full mouth reconstruction, and cosmetic dentistry are all part of our network's scope, typically with significant savings compared to Canadian dental prices.

Our medical network covers a wider range of specialties than any single list can show. Contact us directly — we will tell you honestly whether and how we can help with your specific case.

Yes, you book your own flight to your destination. From the moment you arrive, your GESTUR PrimeCare coordinator handles everything else — airport pickup, accommodation, local transportation, hospital transfers, and pre-operative preparation.

Yes, and we encourage it for many procedures, particularly for recovery support. Let your coordinator know during your guidance session so accommodation and logistics can be planned accordingly.

Accommodation is arranged as part of your coordinated care plan, appropriate to your procedure and recovery needs. Details are confirmed as part of your written Care Agreement before you travel.

Airport pickup and all local transportation, including hospital transfers, are arranged and included as part of your coordinated care from the moment you land.

A valid passport is required for international travel. Your coordinator will advise on any additional documentation specific to your procedure and destination during your care preparation phase.

Your physician speaks English at every appointment. A bilingual coordinator is present at every key consultation and procedure, so there is always someone who can communicate clearly with you. All key documents are provided in English.

Yes. Free guidance sessions and coordination support are available in English and French, serving patients across Canada, coast to coast.

That's the norm, not the exception, for our patients. English-language support is built into every stage of the process specifically so patients are never left without someone who can communicate with them clearly.

We are a coordination and information service, not a medical provider. We provide information, coordinate your specialist assessment, connect you with accredited facilities and physicians, manage logistics, and support you throughout. All medical procedures are performed by independent, licensed physicians, and all medical decisions are yours, made with your doctors' advice.

A 30-minute call with your GESTUR PrimeCare coordinator. You share your situation, and we explain what's possible for your case. It's available in English or French, with no commitment required.

A telemedicine appointment with a board-certified specialist — the actual doctor who may perform your procedure. It's a genuine medical assessment, not a sales call, and costs $250 CAD ($180 USD), applied in full toward your treatment if you proceed.

Not until you have received a complete, itemized care proposal, reviewed every cost, and explicitly accepted it. There is no pressure to commit at any stage before that point.

This depends entirely on your specific procedure, medical assessment, and specialist availability. Many patients move from first contact to treatment in a matter of weeks, but your coordinator will give you a realistic, case-specific timeline after your specialist assessment.

Yes — we always encourage consulting your Canadian physician before proceeding, and we provide discharge documentation for your doctor after your procedure to support continuity of care.

Provincial health insurance generally does not cover elective surgery outside Canada. Some provinces offer partial reimbursement in specific circumstances — check directly with your provincial authority. We recommend travel health insurance for all patients and provide guidance on coverage options during your care preparation phase.

Yes. We work with medical travel insurance providers whose coverage is specifically designed for patients undergoing procedures abroad, including protection for travel accidents and potential complications, which standard travel insurance often excludes.

Usually not fully. Standard travel insurance often excludes coverage related to the planned medical procedure itself and may not cover complications from it. Insurance designed specifically for medical travel is strongly recommended.

Your coordinator remains reachable throughout your recovery period at your destination, and your English-speaking surgical team oversees your post-operative care before you're cleared to travel home.

You receive discharge documentation for your Canadian physician to support continuity of care, and your coordinator remains reachable, including via a dedicated Canadian support line.

Your dedicated coordinator, reachable via our Canadian support line, is your point of contact throughout your recovery — not just during your trip.