As the American medical system becomes more complicated and fewer citizens are unsure about their health, those who need care have begun to look abroad for affordable options. Prices for medicine, care, and regular, annual checkups have drastically risen, and many find themselves looking for ways that they can get the care they need without paying too much or waiting to see their doctors.
“It’s not uncommon for these medical tourists to save tens of thousands of dollars—or even more—on medical treatments without sacrificing on quality,” writes International Living for the Huffington Post.
Because major surgeries can cost so much money for patients, many find that the cost of a plane ticket and the expense of having the procedure in another location can cost much less than it would in the United States. Much of this has to do with the current insurance plans offered for millions of Americans, which often do not include dental and vision care.
“In 2015, medical tourism—a component of healthcare tourism—generated between U.S. $60 and U.S. $70 billion. Within five years, it is very likely that health tourism will generate at least twice these revenues,” states Russ Alan Prince for Forbes.
While expense is the main reason that many citizens from more developed nations are choosing to visit other countries for care, there are also several other factors that have brought about the medical tourism boom. The opportunity to visit a new place and recover is a significant factor, but many find that the care they receive abroad is just as good if not better than what they would find at home.
Daniel Carlin, the founder of WorldClinic, comments, “In the USA, because virtually all hospital revenues come from third-party reimbursement, it is ultimately the third party—the insurer or Medicare—that decided what care most people are going to get. Informed people with serious medical problems look globally for treatments that are superior to what they can get at home under Medicare and they are willing to pay for it privately.”
Many medical professionals in other countries have often spent more time in training and have been through medical college in the United States. After years of working in America, they then return to their native countries and open a practice there. They are also able to try new treatments without the strict regulations brought about by the FDA.
“[I]n addition to traditional medicine, they can provide stem cell therapy and other ground-breaking treatments not offered in America,” writes Miguel Forbes.
This can be beneficial for a number of patients who are looking for solutions to conditions that cannot be cared for in the United States. Many countries have also capitalized on the fact that tourists are wanting to visit their area for medical treatment. Various medical tourism operations in Poland have received funding from the government as the country hopes to increase the amount of people arriving for healthcare.
“We offer clients the complete package—we pick them up at the airport and they can stay in our apartments next to the clinic…they can visit the beautiful city of Krakow while getting their treatment done by staff, who are absolute experts in their field. The treatment plan is designed to fit entirely around the customer,” states Dr. Krzysztof Gonczowski for The Guardian.
Overall, this lends a spa-like feel to the experience and can help patients to feel more comfortable than they would in a traditional environment. This can be especially true if this requires advanced medical care and invasive surgery that requires bedrest for a number of days. Also, the more up-to-date machinery and treatments tend to be a reason for many to pack their bags.
“We understand that people have outdated images of Polish medical facilities but we are here to say we now have world-class facilities,” says Magdalena Rutkowska, the head of Poland’s medical tourism development program. “It amazes me that people can be asked to pay $100,00 for heart bypass surgery in the US, but they can fly nine hours to us, they can have as good or better treatment, and pay just $15,000.”
Healthcare is becoming a difficult issue to solve in the United States, and many are aiming to create a better system with Medicare supplement plans and by trying to lure citizens back to America for care with their own medical tourism plans. States like Florida have been trying to create a vacation-like experience for United States citizens, but the price of treatment continues to remain a problem for many.
“After a lot of coverage of international medical travel, facilities in the United States started promoting models of domestic medical travel,” comments Leigh Turner, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota. “They’d basically say, ‘Think of all the concerns you’d have if you go abroad for care; everything can go wrong.’”
While this might be a consideration for some, many predict that patients will still be looking abroad for care once they see that prices are still an issue and that cost outweighs the distance that they will have to travel for quality care.