Healthcare Industry News > Medical tourism is becoming more popular with Americans

Medical tourism is becoming more popular with Americans

Known as medical tourism, this practice of traveling to save money on procedures not covered by health insurance is becoming more popular with Americans. One source claims 150,000 Americans went overseas for medical procedures, mostly cosmetic procedures. However, more Americans are following in the Palmers' footsteps and opting for low-cost procedures that also improve their health, such as heart surgery.

The savings for medical tourists can be significant. The cost for a coronary bypass in the United States in 2006 averaged $70,500 while the same procedure cost only $7,500 in Indiana and $16,000 in Thailand. However, choosing a facility and a physician overseas must be done carefully. Some view medical tourism as a sign of growing problems with the health care industry in the United States. In 2006, Oregon Senator Gordon Smith told a Senate committee, "Americans should not have to travel overseas to obtain affordable health."

* required

* First and Last Name
*Your date of birth Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Day 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Year 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1916 1915 1914 1913 1912 1911 1910 1909 1908 1907 1906 1905 1904 1903 1902 1901 1900
*Gender Select Male Female	*Smoker Select No Yes
*Zip Code	* Phone - -

Complete Health Insurance Guide
Health Insurance News Covered
Health Insurance at VitalOne
Family Healthcare Plans at VitalOne
How to Buy Health Insurance Online
How to Buy Short Term Health Insurance
How to Determine Your Health Insurance...
How to Determine the Right Health...
HealthCare Plans for Young Adults
 Children Health Insurance Plans
 What is a Co-Payment? a deductible?
 Health Savings Account (HSA)

 
Read Ana's HealthCare blog  How to Buy Individual & Family Healthcare Insurance Plans: Know what type of healthcare coverage you need because comparing Health Insurance Plans can be tricky, more of choosing Health Insurance