Why Americans Are Traveling to Mexico For Medical Care

Everyone in America is talking about healthcareAmerican price in Mexico. The tens of thousands of
reform, skyrocketing medical costs, and thepatients who come to Mexico each year know how
increasing inability of average Americans to affordsignificant those savings are, even after factoring in
even the most fundamental medical and dental caretravel costs.
due to unreasonably high costs. The news is full ofLack Of Insurance Increases The Demand For
statistics: 45 million people are without healthLow-Cost Healthcare
insurance, and that figure is increasing every monthSadly, many Americans do not have adequate health
as unemployment soars. Another 45 million are 'underinsurance to cover the high costs of necessary
insured' -that is, with out-of-pocket costs andmedical care. With record job losses and a continuing
deductibles so high that they are unable to affordeconomic recession, Americans continue to lose
doctor and hospital fees when the need arises. Moreemployer-sponsored medical insurance at an
than 110 million are currently without dental insuranceunprecedented rate, forcing them into expensive
and unable to get the care they need. Yet even theCOBRA payments of up to $12,000 per year, and
uninsured have another option. In response to risingdeclaring medical bankruptcies at a rate of 2 million
healthcare costs at home, more U.S. citizens haveper year. Frustrated with the broken American health
gone abroad to take advantage of the excellentcare system, more Americans than ever before are
doctors and dentists available through medical tourismdiscovering that they can receive the same high
to Mexico.quality medical care and identical prescription drugs at
Convenient, significantly less expensive, and featuringa much lower cost in Mexico than they can get
the same or a better quality of care, sophistication ofdomestically. According to research by the U.S.
treatment, and breadth of medical services as theMedical Tourism Association, the vast majority of U.S.
U.S., Mexico's state-of-the-art private hospitals makepatients who have taken advantage of medical travel
medical tourism to Mexico an ideal solution for anyoneto Mexico rate their experience as equivalent and
struggling with the high cost of medical expenses ineven superior to U.S. hospitals and doctors.
America. Medical travel connects patients with new,Savvy employers in Texas, California, and South
modern facilities located in upscale residential andCarolina are joining this trend, taking the step of
international business districts. There are a number ofinvesting in Mexican health care programs for their
prominent Mexican hospitals in cities such as Tijuana,employees frequently at one-fifth the cost of
Monterrey, Juarez, Mexicali, Guadalajara, and MexicoAmerican health coverage. These plans are
City regularly working with medical travelers from allsignificantly less expensive for employers as
parts of the globe to treat all types of medical issues.compared to traditional American medical insurance
For example, Mexico hospitals host American andprograms. Employees also save on deductibles and
Canadian patients for orthopedic, spinal, cardiology,out-of-pocket costs as well as on prescription
cosmetic, and weight loss surgery and dentalmedication costs. The fact that most hospital medical
procedures on a daily basis.travel packages include such extras as travel
Cost Is The Major Issuecoordination services, lab work, and hotel stay makes
Medical travel to Mexico is more popular than evermedical tourism to Mexico, even more appealing.
before, but traveling to Mexico for treatment is not aConvenience And Travel Options
new idea. Residents of the southern states have longResidents of Arizona, California, and Texas have long
taken advantage of the inexpensive health carecrossed the border to major Mexico cities such as
across the border, with many taking advantage ofTijuana, Monterrey, Guadalajara, Mexico City, and
medical travel on a monthly basis. Currently, nearlyJuarez for sophisticated medical care in
one million Californians make regular use of thestate-of-the-art hospitals, most less than five years
Mexican health care system, crossing the border forold. Nearly half of all American citizens live within
check-ups, prescriptions, family dentistry, anddriving distance of the major Mexico hospitals
surgeries of all types. Some 1.5 million Americans haveregularly serving medical travelers. For everyone else,
taken the further step of retiring to Mexico, takingthere are frequent and inexpensive flights to the
advantage of the lower cost of living, temperatemajor destinations for medical tourism in Mexico,
climate, and access to affordable health care. For asmaking it easy to get quality, affordable health care
little as $250 a year, Americans who move to Mexicojust a short car ride or flight away.
are able to receive medical care with no deductibles,Without doubt, medical tourism to Mexico has done
low cost x-rays, eyeglasses, dental work, and freemore than any other industry to put high quality
prescription medicines.medical care within financial reach for all American
In its report, "Medical Tourism: Consumers In Searchcitizens. Mexico hospitals are responding by teaming
of Value," the Deloitte Center for Health Solutionswith experienced medical tourism facilitators, hotels,
estimates about 5 million Americans traveled abroadresorts, and airlines to create discounted travel and
for medical care in 2009. Researchers expect thislodging options for Americans coming to Mexico for
number to grow substantially, rising to over 20 milliontheir medical care. These complete packages ensure
within ten years. Medical tourism destinations vary,that American patients get access to the best
but for Americans Mexico is the ideal solution. Inpossible medical teams, but are also able to enjoy a
Mexico, Americans can get the same quality andstress-free recovery period. A good medical tourism
standards of care for less than half the cost of thefacilitator will handle everything, allowing the patient
same procedure stateside - often working withto focus on the most important part of treatment:
surgeons who have train and practice in the US, andyour recovery. With a comprehensive company and
work closely with American medical devicethe right hospital, medical tourism to Mexico, is a
manufacturers. For some procedures, the differencegreat choice for any American.
in cost is even greater, costing only a third of the