Are You One of the Thousands Going Overseas for Affordable HealthCare?

This is not exactly a new phenom -- this has been growing for at least ten years. But flying overseas to countries like South Africa, Thailand, India, or even Canada to get some amazingly affordable (and high-quality) surgery or other healthcare is a real option for thousands of Americans. They find that even with the travel expenses, their trip is a real money-saver plus the care is top-notch, often featuring private rooms and attentive nurses.

But do your homework first. I will have to stop back in again and post a summary of all the sources and groups that will help you get set up for your own medical travel. Also I might mention that Mexico is also very popular for DENTAL care -- the right clinics have up to date equipment and low pricees.

One of the more recent articles in the press is this story from Business Week called:

[Outsourcing the Patients
More U.S. health insurers are slashing costs by sending policyholders
overseas for pricey procedures.

For years, Americans have been traveling abroad to save money on elective procedures or dental work. David Boucher, 49, doesn't fit the usual profile for such medical tourists. An assistant vice-president of health-care services at Blue Cross & Blue Shield of South Carolina, he has ample health benefits. But Boucher recently chose to have a colonoscopy at Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok, mainly to make a point about the expanding options available to Blue Cross customers. And his company happily picked up the $640 tab—a bargain by U.S. standards.

Blue Cross and other insurers would like to see more policyholders traveling abroad for medical care. Since the start of the year, Boucher has signed alliances with seven overseas hospitals and hopes to add five more by yearend, including them all in coverage for his company's 1.5 million members. As health-care costs continue to rise in the U.S., "medical travel is going to be part of the solution," he says.]
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_12/b4076036777780.htm?chan=search

"Outsourcing the patients" it said. Yikes, I never would have thought it was possible. But with many elective (non-emergency) surgeries, it is so cost effective that even some insurers are paying for such trips. Best wishes to you and bon voyage.