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Why is medical tourism so popular in the United States?

In recent years, medical tourism has become extremely popular in the United States. There is a growing trend among Americans to travel outside the country for elective surgeries and procedures; and this trend has also been observed in Western Europe, Australia and Asia. It is estimated that around 500,000 Americans travel abroad for medical treatment each year to take advantage of affordable medical and healthcare procedures.

Medical tourism is a term coined by the media that defines going to another country for medical treatment. Almost all over the world, people not only go on vacation abroad, but also combine their vacation with a medical procedure. Medical services in other countries are estimated to cost 10 to 90 percent less than in the United States. This fact has given a boost to medical tourism in the United States.

This does not mean that health associations, insurance companies, and healthcare providers in the US are not aware of this growing trend. They are; and many health insurance companies now offer coverage for certain medical procedures that the insured may have had performed in another country. Additionally, insurance companies also offer discounts if the person opts for medical tourism.

From cosmetic surgery to dental care and hip replacement, they are available at cost-effective prices in countries such as Mexico, India, Thailand, Argentina and Malaysia. In fact, many facilities in these countries are accredited by the American Medical Association accreditation boards.

The reason medical tourism has become so popular is the rising cost of health insurance and healthcare in the United States. The appeal of being able to save money and combine the medical procedure with a vacation is very strong. This is also a source of treatment seeking for Americans who do not have insurance, and the cost of travel, stay and medical procedure works out much cheaper than what the person would have paid in the US.

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