Frequently Asked Questions for International Patients

Yes, you do need to arrange an appointment. Please call or email us. You'll be assigned a Cedars-Sinai clinical coordinator, or medical advisor, who will help you every step of the way.

The assigned coordinator will make every effort to schedule all of the testing and procedures you'll need before you arrive.

If you're sponsored by an embassy or local consulate, your coordinator will work directly with them.

Yes, our doctors need to be well-informed about your condition before you arrive. Having your medical records (in English) will also allow the International Services to refer you to the best-matched specialist.

Medical records include doctor's notes, treatment history, operative reports (which provide details of medical procedures), and pathology, imaging and lab reports.

Basic information: Please fill out the pre-admission form (PDF) in English and email it to csinternational@cshs.org.

Medical records: Medical records need to be in English and should be emailed to csinternational@cshs.org.

Imaging: If you have digital files of your medical images and scans, you can email them to us. Please keep in mind that large files—bigger than 5 MB, in most cases—can't be sent as an email attachment. The following steps must be taken to ensure that imaging scans can be received and reviewed:

1. On your computer, create a new folder, using the patient's name.
2. Place all patient imaging scans in the newly created folder.
   
3. Once all patient imaging scans have been placed in the folder, compress the whole folder using the Zip format; DO NOT Zip individual files.
   
4. With all the files in the Zip folder, you can now upload the folder to your account on either box.com or other HIPAA-compliant FTP sites.
   
5. Send a notification to donna.bias@cshs.org and ronnie.riley@cshs.org; we'll download the folder.
   
6. Once the folder is downloaded. It will be put on media and sent to the appropriate specialist for review.
   

Pathology slides (if any): If you only have physical copies of test results, you can send them by certified mail or a secure delivery service to:

Cedars-Sinai 
c/o International Services

Attn: Donna Bias
8700 Beverly Blvd., Suite 490 West
Los Angeles, CA  90048
Phone:  1-310-423-7890

We accept most major international insurance plans, including Bupa, Geo Blue, Cigna, United Healthcare and Aetna International. The team at Cedars-Sinai will work with you and your insurance company to make sure all authorizations are obtained for billing. Please call our office directly (001-310-423-7890) to start the process or for any help you may need. 

If you are paying out of pocket for your medical care at Cedars-Sinai, we will create a cash agreement for you before your treatment. This cash agreement covers medical testing, diagnosis and treatment. The cost is first determined by the recommendations of the Cedars-Sinai doctor who is treating you. Payment is due in full before any services provided and must be in U.S. currency (USD).

In addition to cash and cashier's check, payments can be made in any of the following ways:

• Wire Transfer — Upon request, wire transfer information is provided with amount due and all needed information to facilitate the transfer. Send a copy of your payment request to the Cedars-Sinai finance team and you will be sent a receipt for your records. Remember to pay the additional cost of wire processing.
• Credit Cards — All major credit cards are accepted. Remember to notify the credit card company in advance of making this payment in the United States to ensure that payment is approved. We also advise that you check whether there are any additional fees for using your card in the U.S. 
• Flywire International Payment Portal — Cedars-Sinai has partnered with Flywire to provide an easy and secure way of paying your bill. Your payment is made directly to Cedars-Sinai using your medical record number and will allow you to pay in your country’s local currency, save on bank fees/ exchange rates, track your payment and receive multilingual support. Please use this web address to initiate a Flywire payment: https://www.flywire.com/pay/cedars-sinai

Yes, we provide remote video consultations to international patients and their doctors. For more information, including eligibility requirements, please contact our clinical coordinator.

Our clinical coordinators can suggest travel plans based on your appointment times at Cedars-Sinai.

In some cases, we can issue a letter for a visa application, after you have submitted all pertinent information and have an appointment and a possible treatment plan. If you're paying cash, we may ask for a deposit—the visa office may require you to prove you have the funds deposited in the U.S. before issuing a travel visa. Please check the local visa office in your country.

We're unable to issue visa letters for baby deliveries.

We have offices in Mexico City and Shanghai with representatives who will be happy to speak with you. Patients from other countries can get help by contacting our U.S. offices. Contact us.

The International Services team can supply a list of hotels and rental housing at various price ranges, including some nearby hotels that offer special rates for Cedars-Sinai patients. If you need help, please contact our clinical coordinator.

Temperatures are generally mild, but can vary depending on location, time of year and time of day. Summer months, from May to September, range from warm to hot and are mostly sunny, but can be overcast in the morning. During winter months, from October to April, the temperatures are slightly cooler—especially at night—with a low-to-moderate chance of rain.

Your identification card and passport.

The length of stay varies, depending on the type of procedure you're having and other medical factors.

Yes. In our non-ICU setting, every room is a private room. One family member or friend can stay in the inpatient room with you overnight. You can ask your floor nurse for a cot for them to sleep on.

Yes, we have chaplain services. To learn more about them, contact the Spiritual Care Department.

You'll spend some time recovering. You'll also need follow-up care before returning home. Your care team will schedule follow-up appointments, help you fill prescriptions and get any special equipment.

Los Angeles is a diverse, cosmopolitan city with attractions such as: