You have a quote. Before it becomes a booking, run it through a short series of yes-or-no gates. Each "no" points to one specific thing to fix. If you reach the end with every answer a "yes," you're ready to book.
The three possible outcomes
Every gate is a yes. Pay the deposit, get the confirmation, then book travel.
One or more gates is a no that can be fixed. Ask for the missing item and hold all payments.
A gate is a no the provider won't or can't fix, or you're being pushed to skip it.
The plan, clinician or facility changed during the gates. Treat it as a new quote.
How to use the tree
Take the gates in order. The early ones are about whether the quote reflects a real clinical plan. The middle ones are about whether you can trust and compare it. The last ones are about whether you can commit to it without losing too much if things change. A "no" doesn't mean the provider is bad. It means the next action is a question, not a payment.
Gate 1: Did a clinician review your records before the price was set?
If yes: go to Gate 2.
If no: what you have is an estimate. Many quotes start as intake estimates from photos or a form, and that's fine for comparing. It isn't a basis for a deposit. Ask for the treating clinician to review the records that matter, then ask for a revised quote.
Gate 2: Are the clinician and the facility named?
If yes: go to Gate 3.
If no: ask for both names in writing. A clinic brand isn't a clinician, and a consultation office isn't necessarily where the procedure happens. Without names you can't verify anything at Gate 6. For cosmetic surgery, the NHS (reviewed 2022) goes further: its advice is not to hand over money for a surgeon you've never met, or a hospital you've never seen.
Gate 3: Can you see what is included and excluded?
If yes: go to Gate 4.
If no: ask for an itemized version. Common blind spots are anesthesia, facility time, pre-op tests, implants or materials, medications, garments, overnight stays and follow-up visits. The CDC Yellow Book (2026) warns that aftercare charges can be significant on top of the headline price, so ask about them by name. This is also the gate where quotes from different providers become comparable. See how to get a quote from an overseas hospital for what a complete request contains.
Gate 4: Does the quote say what could change it?
If yes: go to Gate 5.
If no: ask what would change the price or the plan after an in-person exam, and how you'd be told. You want concrete answers, such as "if the exam shows X, the price changes by roughly this much, and here's what happens to your deposit." Answers like "we'll see when you arrive" don't count. An honest provider can usually name the likely contingencies for your type of case.
Gate 5: Does the expiry date leave you time?
If yes: go to Gate 6.
If no: ask for an extension long enough to finish the remaining gates. Watch how they respond. The NHS treatment-abroad checklist (reviewed 2023) treats a hard sell and being rushed into a decision as red flags. A deadline that falls before you can verify the clinician is a reason to slow down, not to speed up.
Gate 6: Have you verified the clinician and facility yourself?
If yes: go to Gate 7.
If no: check the named clinician on Colombia's ReTHUS registry (MinSalud), the Ministry of Health's register of licensed health personnel, which also records disciplinary sanctions. Then check the facility. Do this yourself rather than relying on screenshots the provider sends you. The CDC reminds patients that accreditation doesn't guarantee a good outcome. Verification is a minimum standard, not a ranking.
Gate 7: Are the terms written down?
If yes: go to Gate 8.
If no: ask for the cancellation, rescheduling and refund terms in writing. Make sure they cover what happens if the clinician decides after your arrival that you're not a suitable candidate. That situation differs from changing your mind, and the terms should treat it differently. Our checklist of cancellation and rescheduling policies lists the clauses to look for.
Gate 8: Does the payment method leave you recourse?
If yes: go to Gate 9.
If no: ask what other methods are accepted. The FTC (2026) says that being told there's only one acceptable way to pay (transfers, crypto, payment apps or gift cards) is itself a warning sign. It adds that card payments can be disputed. A legitimate provider may still prefer transfers for cost reasons. What matters is whether they insist, and whether the payee name matches the facility or company on the quote.
Gate 9: Can the travel plan absorb a change?
If yes: you've reached BOOK.
If no: leave flights and lodging until after the deposit and confirmation, or choose fares and rates you can change. A treatment date that moves after an in-person exam is a normal part of medical care, not a sign of failure. Your travel plans should be able to handle it.
A worked pass through the tree (illustrative)
A hypothetical patient gets a quote by WhatsApp for a dental treatment plan. It's based on a panoramic X-ray she sent, and the clinic's dentist reviewed it, so Gate 1 is a yes. The quote names the clinic but not the dentist, so Gate 2 is a no. She asks, and gets the name the same day.
At Gate 3 she notices that temporary restorations and a second visit aren't mentioned. She asks for an itemized version, which shows both. At Gate 4 the clinic explains that a CT scan on arrival could change the number of implants, and says how the price would move if it did.
The quote expires in ten days, which is enough time, so Gate 5 is a yes. She checks the dentist on ReTHUS, reads the cancellation terms and confirms that the clinic accepts cards. Her flights are still unbooked. Every gate is now a yes, so she pays the deposit, waits for the written confirmation, and only then books changeable flights.
When to restart instead of continue
If the clinician, the facility or the recommended procedure changes while you're working through the gates, don't carry on from where you were. Go back to Gate 1 with the new quote. A substituted surgeon or a different facility means the earlier answers no longer apply. For that situation in particular, see booking when the surgeon differs from your consulting doctor.
Frequently asked questions
What if my quote fails just one gate?
Pause and ask for the missing item before you pay anything. A single 'no' is usually fixable, for example by naming the facility, itemizing exclusions or putting terms in writing. It becomes a reason to walk away only if the provider won't fix it.
Does a quote need to name the surgeon?
Yes, if you're going to pay a deposit against it. Without a named clinician and facility you can't verify either one, and you can't tell later whether the person treating you is the one you agreed to.
Is a short quote expiry date a red flag?
Not always, since prices and schedules do change. A deadline that falls before you can review the plan, verify the clinician and read the terms is a problem, though. The NHS lists pressure to decide quickly among its warning signs.
Is it wrong for a clinic to ask for a bank transfer?
Not in itself, as some providers prefer transfers for cost reasons. The FTC warns against anyone who insists that one method is the only way to pay. Check that the payee matches the quote, and ask whether a card is accepted.
When should I book flights in this process?
After every gate is a yes, the deposit is paid and the written confirmation has arrived, using fares you can change if the clinical date moves.
Want help routing the trip or case?
Tell us the treatment area, destination preference, timing and the decision you are trying to make. This routes into the existing medical lead pipeline.
Related planning guides
Medical-travel network
- CDC Yellow Book — Medical Tourism (2026)
- NHS — Treatment abroad checklist (reviewed 2023)
- NHS — Cosmetic surgery abroad (reviewed 2022)
- Colombia Ministry of Health — ReTHUS
- FTC — How someone asks you to pay (2026)
These sources inform the general guidance above. None of them sets an individual treatment plan, candidacy decision or travel clearance.