A survey conducted by Patients Beyond Borders shows the jaw-dropping differences in cost. In 2011, you could pay $88,000 for a coronary artery bypass graft in the U.S., or $9,500 in India (which saw the highest average savings, at 65 to 90 percent). For a hip replacement in Mexico, it’s $12,500 instead of $33,000 on average in the States.
And for those uninsured adults -– 16.5 percent of Americans between the ages of 45 and 64 in 2010 -- that extra “$20,000-$30,000 ... can be the difference between refinancing your home” and being out thousands, said Woodman.
So given all the cost benefits, why hasn’t medical tourism taken off?
"We’re so used to the adage that you get what you pay for, it takes a little thinking outside of the box," Rao said. "By just going outside, you end up getting a lot better quality and a lot better care for a lower cost. Until you actually see it, it’s hard to believe."Read it at The Huffington Post
Medical Tourism: Why More Boomers Are Going Abroad For Treatment
by Anthonia Akitunde
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ReplyDeleteo given all the cost benefits, why hasn’t medical tourism taken off?
Simply because if you are insured or on medicare/medicaid you don't need it. And if you are among the unwashed, uninsured lower classes, you still cannot afford "Medical Tourism" The only people who can afford medical tourism are the very well off uninsured - people who are uninsured because their wealth allows them to.
That may be a bit restrictive, Clonal. For instance, there are a number of people, e.g., self-employed, that cannot afford health insurance in their monthly nut when they hit around 60 and premiums skyrocket. So they take a chance on making to Medicare eligibility and "self-insure." These the prime candidates for medical tourism, and there are quite few of the in the boomer generation. They are not "wealthy," but they have assets they would rather not see disappear into the black whole of monopoly rent that constitutes the US health care system. Why do I say, "monopoly rent"? Look at the price/value differential. It's way to great to be accidental. The US health care system is expensive because it is designed to be expensive. Same with virtually all US markets, which is obvious to world travelers, who laugh at how stupid Americans are. I had friend who used to wander around shaking his head and saying, My God, Americans are stupid," whenever he was back in this country.
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