What does a clinic's quote include?
When you send your medical records to a clinic in Georgia, you receive a preliminary quote in reply: a document listing the planned services and their cost. It is not the final bill. The doctor bases the quote on what they have seen in your records, and after an examination on site or a new test the plan may change, and the price with it. So the very first question is: in which cases does the amount change, and who will tell you before you pay?
What a quote contains varies from clinic to clinic. One combines everything into a single package, another lists the surgeon's fee, anaesthesia, bed-days and consumables separately. A comparison is fair only when both documents describe the same scope. The table below shows the components on which you need a clear answer.
| Component | What to find out |
|---|---|
| Pre-operative tests | Whether tests and imaging that have to be repeated on site are included, or only the results you bring with you are used |
| Surgeon's and anaesthetist's services | How many consultations are included in the price and whether the post-operative check-up is charged separately |
| Implant, prosthesis, consumables | Which manufacturer's product and which model is planned, and what happens if a different one is needed during the operation |
| Hospital stay | How many nights are included, in what type of room, and what each additional day costs |
| Medicines | Whether the price covers only the medicines given in hospital, or also the supply you receive at discharge |
| A bed for your companion | Whether a family member can stay overnight and what this costs extra |
| Documents at discharge | Whether the discharge summary and copies of test results are included in the price, and in which language they are issued |
Georgian law gives patients the right to ask for this: under Article 18 of the Law of Georgia on Patient Rights, a patient is entitled to information about the medical services available, their cost and how they are paid for. This law also applies to foreigners in Georgia. How we compare the replies of several clinics and check a clinic's permit is described on the Choosing a clinic page.
Which costs fall outside the quote?
The most common mistake in a medical travel budget is treating the clinic's figure as the total cost. In reality, several independent lines are added to it, and some of them you pay not to the clinic but to other providers. Write them all down from the start, even if you do not yet know the exact amount:
- Flights. Yours and your companion's, including the return ticket, whose date may be pushed back. A flexible fare often works out cheaper than buying a new ticket.
- Accommodation. Nights before the operation, if you have tests before admission, and nights after discharge until the doctor clears you to fly. Your companion needs accommodation on the days you are on the ward too.
- Transfers and local transport. To and from the airport, for every visit, sometimes in a specially equipped vehicle if sitting is difficult after the operation.
- Interpreter. Interpreting at the consultation, when you sign the informed consent and at discharge, if the clinic has no doctor who speaks your language.
- Written translation. Translation of your records for the clinic before you arrive, and of the discharge summary for your doctor at home.
- Insurance. Since 1 January 2026, a tourist coming to Georgia needs mandatory health and accident insurance, separately for each traveller.
- Visa. If your citizenship requires an e-visa, the fee is USD 20 plus a 2% service charge, and it is not refunded if the visa is refused.
- Follow-up visits and medicines. Removal of stitches, a check-up scan, medicines after discharge and, if needed, rehabilitation or a caregiver.
- Day-to-day costs. Food, a mobile connection, your companion's days when they need to stay close to the ward.
We arrange many of these items: airport pick-up and transport, a medical interpreter and the translation of your records. The price of each appears as a separate line in our quote, so that it is never mixed up with the clinic's bill.
Who pays if treatment goes beyond the plan?
Every procedure carries a risk of complications, and only the treating doctor can explain how likely they are and what they involve. The financial question is a different one: who pays for extra nights on the ward, a repeat procedure, intensive care or rebooking a delayed flight? You should have the answer to this in writing before you sign.
Ask the clinic whether it has its own policy on complications: some facilities provide certain additional services within the original quote, while others charge separately for every extra day and procedure. Which model applies in your case you will only learn from the clinic's written reply. Also clarify for how long a problem related to the operation counts as "part of this treatment", and what happens if it appears after you have returned home.
A practical tip: keep a reserve in your budget that remains available on your card or in your account for the whole of your stay, and buy your return ticket on flexible terms. We cannot advise you on the size of the reserve, as it depends on the type of treatment and the clinic's policy, but having one turns a financial shock into a change of plan.
Advance, invoice and agreement: what should be on paper?
Many clinics ask for an advance before a planned admission, and some for the full amount before the procedure. There is nothing unusual about this, but every payment must be backed by a document. The sequence described below protects your money and also makes it easier to claim reimbursement later.
A written quote with a validity period
Ask for the quote on the clinic's letterhead, with a date, a validity period and the currency stated. An amount given verbally or in a messenger chat is not enough.
An advance invoice in your name
The invoice should show the clinic's legal name, its identification code, its bank details, your name as it appears in your passport and what you are paying for.
Payment only into the clinic's account
Transfer the money or pay by card directly to the clinic. Do not pay for treatment into a private individual's account or hand money to an intermediary.
Confirmation of receipt
After the transfer, ask the clinic to confirm in writing that the money has arrived and that your date is booked.
Final bill and reconciliation
At discharge, ask for an itemised bill showing the advance, the services actually provided and the balance due or the amount to be refunded.
Ask separately about the cancellation terms: how much is refunded if the doctor decides on site that the procedure is not needed, if you change your mind, or if your flight is cancelled. These terms should be written on the invoice or in a separate agreement. If the clinic's documents are in a language you do not know, have them translated before you sign; you can estimate the translation cost in advance with our Translation price calculator.
Who you pay for what: the clinic, us and other providers
We are not a medical facility and we do not treat anyone. Solidaroba.ge arranges the organisational side: reviewing your records, requesting quotes from clinics, the interpreter, transfers, accommodation and documents. As a result, you have three payment streams, which should not be mixed up.
| Who you pay | For what | With what document |
|---|---|---|
| The clinic, directly | Tests, consultations, surgery or other treatment, the hospital stay, medicines given in hospital | The clinic's invoice and receipt in your name |
| Solidaroba.ge | The coordination fee, according to the agreed package | Our written agreement, signed before work begins |
| Other providers | Flights, a hotel or apartment, insurance, sometimes translation or transport | Each provider's own receipt |
The coordination fee is neither hidden in the clinic's bill nor added on top of it. If a partner clinic pays us a fee, we tell you so in writing before you choose the clinic. The packages and what they include are described on the Personal coordinator page, and the service as a whole on the Treatment in Georgia main page.
Card, bank transfer or cash: what do you need to know in advance?
Georgia's national currency is the lari (GEL). A clinic's quote may be in lari or in a foreign currency, so check which currency the invoice will be issued in, which day's exchange rate is used for conversion and who pays the bank charges. A transfer between international banks can take several working days, so pay the advance in time for the money to reach the clinic before you arrive.
Before paying by card, tell your own bank that you will be making a large payment abroad: many banks have a single-transaction or daily limit and block unusual transactions for security reasons. It is a good idea to carry a second card from another bank or another payment system.
Cards issued in Russia
There are two official statements on this. On 19 March 2022, the National Bank of Georgia stated that no commercial bank or payment service provider registered in Georgia services the Mir payment system. On 5 March 2022, Visa announced that transactions with Visa cards issued in Russia would no longer work outside the country. In addition, according to the National Bank, Georgian financial institutions comply with the sanctions imposed on Russia by the United States and other countries.
This does not mean that a patient coming from Russia cannot pay, but it does mean that we cannot promise a specific payment method in advance. Which option a given clinic accepts, and which bank can transfer money to it, we check case by case before you arrive. Do not trust an intermediary who promises payment "with any card" and asks you to transfer money to their own account for this.
Cash
If the clinic accepts cash, ask for a receipt for every payment, stating the amount, the date and what it is for. Before carrying a large sum in cash, find out the customs declaration rules both in your country and in Georgia, and bear in mind that a cash payment is harder to prove later when you claim reimbursement.
Which documents should you keep for reimbursement?
Your insurer at home, your employer's health scheme or your tax authority may refund part of the cost. Whether they will depends on your policy and the law of your country, and we cannot advise on that. But one thing is the same everywhere: reimbursement is claimed with documents, and recovering a document months later is far harder than asking for it on the day of discharge.
- The clinic's final itemised bill, listing every service and its price separately.
- Every proof of payment: bank statement, card slip, cash register receipt.
- The discharge summary or discharge report with the diagnosis and a description of the treatment given.
- Test and imaging results and the operation report, if you had an operation.
- Travel and accommodation receipts, if your policy or the law also provides for reimbursing them.
- Translations of all these documents into the language your insurer or authority requires.
Before you travel, ask your insurer which documents it needs as originals, which as copies, and whether translations must be certified. Financial documents are translated by our financial document translation service, and we prepare your medical records pack to take home through our Documents for home service. If your insurer refuses reimbursement, our complaint template shows how a written complaint is structured, although it was written for Georgian companies and a local lawyer should check that it fits the rules of your country.
Frequently asked questions about costs and payment
How much will my treatment in Georgia cost?
We do not give prices on this page, because the cost depends on your diagnosis, the doctor's plan, the clinic and how long you stay in hospital. Only the clinic's written quote, prepared after your records have been reviewed, gives an exact figure. We ask several clinics for quotes, compare them in a single format and add to each one the costs the clinic does not cover: travel, accommodation, interpreter, insurance and your companion's days. That way you see not just the clinic's price but the full cost of the trip.
Can I pay the whole amount to Solidaroba.ge and have you transfer it to the clinic?
Our standard rule is different: you pay for the treatment directly to the clinic, against an invoice it issues in your name. That way the clinic's bill and the proof of payment are in your name, which matters both in a dispute and when you claim reimbursement. You pay us only the coordination fee, which is agreed in writing before work begins. If a partner clinic pays us anything, we tell you before you choose the clinic. Any other arrangement for getting money to the clinic must first be agreed in writing.
Will I be able to pay with a card from a Russian bank?
We cannot promise this in advance. According to the National Bank of Georgia, no bank or payment service provider registered in Georgia services the Mir system, and in March 2022 Visa announced that its cards issued in Russia no longer work outside Russia. Georgian financial institutions also comply with international sanctions. So before you arrive, we check with the specific clinic which payment method it accepts. Until this is confirmed, do not finalise your hospital admission date.
Will I get my advance back if the operation does not take place?
That depends on the clinic's terms, which is why you need to know them before you pay the advance. Ask separately about three situations: the doctor decided after examining you on site that the procedure was not needed; you changed your mind; the trip fell through for reasons beyond your control. For each, ask for a written answer showing how much is refunded, what is deducted for services already provided and how long the refund takes. These terms should be written on the invoice or in an agreement, not only in a messenger chat.
The clinic's final bill is higher than the quote. What should I do?
First, ask for an itemised bill listing every service and its price separately, and compare it with the original written quote. Find out which line was added and why: a change of plan, an extra day, a different implant or medicine. Under Georgian law, a patient has the right to information about the cost of services and how they are paid for. If the explanation does not satisfy you, the coordinator will, with your consent, write to the clinic's management, and in the event of a dispute our partner lawyers will review the case.
What documents will I need for my insurer to reimburse the cost?
Your insurer sets the exact list, and you should ask for it before you travel. Usually you need the clinic's itemised bill, proof of payment, the discharge summary with the diagnosis and the treatment given, the test and imaging results and the operation report. A translation is often required too, sometimes a certified one. Many policies reimburse planned treatment abroad only with prior approval, so get that approval in writing before you arrive. Collect all originals and copies on the day of discharge, before you leave Georgia. Keep digital copies in a separate folder so that you have everything together when you fill in the claim.
Sources and official pages
- National Bank of Georgia: clarification regarding the Mir cards payment system (19 March 2022): nbg.gov.ge/en/media/news/another-clarification-of-the-national-bank-regarding-the-mir-cards-payment-system (accessed 2026-10-12)
- National Bank of Georgia: on compliance with international sanctions (28 June 2023): nbg.gov.ge/en/media/news/natia-turnava-actions-taken-by-nbg-are-in-full-compliance-with-international-sanctions (accessed 2026-10-12)
- Visa: statement on suspending operations in Russia (5 March 2022): usa.visa.com/about-visa/newsroom/press-releases.releaseId.18871.html (accessed 2026-10-12)
- Law of Georgia on Patient Rights (Articles 9 and 18): matsne.gov.ge/en/document/view/16978 (accessed 2026-10-12)
- Georgia's e-visa portal: frequently asked questions (fee): evisa.gov.ge/GeoVisa/en/Home/FAQ (accessed 2026-10-12)