What is Traveling Hearts? 

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Traveling Hearts is a non-profit organization founded in 2023 to provide medical, cosmetic, and dental tourism in Colombia for people in the United States who cannot afford the procedure and desperately need it. 

 

What are the Challenges? 

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The United States is known for having some of the best medical and dental care in the world. However, while the country has some of the best medical and dental care in the world, it is unfortunately not accessible to everyone due to the high prices. Here are the top reasons why medical and dental expenses are so high in the United States:

1. Lack of price transparency: In the United States, knowing how much a medical or dental procedure will cost upfront can be challenging. Prices can vary widely, and it is common for patients to receive unexpected bills for procedures or services that they thought were covered by their insurance.

2. High administrative costs: The United States has a complex and expensive healthcare system, with high administrative costs associated with billing and insurance. These costs are passed on to patients through higher prices for medical and dental care.

3. High drug prices: Prescription drug prices in the United States are some of the highest in the world. This is partly due to the high cost of research and development, but it is also due to the lack of price controls on drugs in the United States.

4. High cost of living: The United States has a high cost of living, affecting medical and dental care costs. For example, providers in areas with a high cost of living may charge higher prices to cover their expenses.

5. Profit motive: Many medical and dental providers are for-profit businesses whose primary goal is to make money. This can lead to higher prices for care as providers try to maximize their profits.

 

Our Mission 

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The Traveling Hearts organization believes that access to high-quality, safe surgery and dental procedures to better people's physical and mental health shouldn't be a privilege but a given right. We aim to provide the opportunity for our Traveling Hearts to restore their dignity, improve their health and live lives of better quality and confidence. Our goal is to see them smile and make possible what they thought was impossible due to financial restraints. 

 

Our Partners 

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Traveling Hearts works with top hospitals and medical centers in Colombia to provide a range of procedures, including dental work, cosmetic surgery, and bariatric procedures. The organization helps people navigate the process of traveling to Colombia for medical and dental treatment. The organization assists with travel arrangements and accommodations while they are in Colombia. They also support people while in the country, including coordinating transportation and helping with communication if there are language barriers.  

My Body by Design worked hard to research & provide our clients with high-quality professionals and facilities. We ensure the following: 

1. All Medical and Hospitality Partners follow the industry's best practices and quality standards.

2. Excellent infrastructure at the Hotel & Clinic (clean A/C rooms, T.V., Internet, Food)

3. All Medical Professionals are Licensed to practice in their home country.

4. Track record of quality service and personal attention from all Medical and Hospitality Partners.

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Colombia 

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Colombia is located in South America with a rich culture and history. Colombia has positioned itself as the regional leader in the cosmetic surgery medical tourism industry because of its beautiful cities, friendly people, and excellent medical professionals in the medical, dental, and cosmetic fields. Dentists and surgeons in Colombia are world-renowned for their skills and eye for beauty and have long been serving a population where the commitment to looking great is a national obsession. In addition, several prestigious international surgeons now also base themselves in Colombia, providing the region with additional expertise and sophistication. As a result, there is high demand for dental procedures and aesthetic plastic surgery in Colombia, with one of the highest rates of procedures performed per capita in the world. Unfortunately, many misconceptions about Colombia can paint an inaccurate picture of the country. It's important to remember that every country has its unique culture and history, and it is never accurate or fair to make assumptions based on stereotypes or misinformation.

 

You can learn more about Colombia and our partners here.  

 

Who Qualifies to Become a Traveling Heart?

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We encourage people needing expensive and extensive dental, cosmetic and bariatric procedures unable to get them done in the United States due to insurance and financial limitations. However, these procedures do not apply to individuals with perfectly healthy bodies looking to enhance their looks. All applicants must be able to provide proof of income, inability to qualify for financing or layaway plan with My Body by Design, medical/dental records along with pictures, and family/friends referrals and testimonials. 

 

Example of Procedures

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• Extensive Dental Procedures. All dental procedures that need implants, restoration, veneers, and root canals, among others, are priced in the United States at $15,000 or more. 

• Reconstructive Plastic Surgery. We encourage breast cancer survivors who need breast restoration to apply—all types of facial abnormalities or any other physical consequences of accidents or situations out of their control.  

• Bariatric Procedures. Individuals who are morbidly obese but not covered under their insurance or have no insurance. 

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How to Donate

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Please click on the GoFundMe link to make your donation. All donations go directly to the medical/dental, accommodation and airfare expenses. My Body by Design does not charge a service fee. 

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How to Apply to Become a Traveling Heart? 

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Please fill out the form below. We encourage you to be as detailed as possible and provide complete and precise answers. We will select the application for a round of interviews to make our final decision. Unless your application is permanently rejected for not meeting the qualifications, we encourage you to re-apply.