<p>Look for the AMA to lobby hard to make this illegal. </p>
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<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/03/27/india.medical.travel/index.html]Link[/url”>Lower costs lure U.S. patients abroad for treatment - CNN.com]Link[/url</a>]</p>
<p>How many millions come to the US for treatment?</p>
<p>This is a growing trend. Also, people are going to Mexico and Canada for drugs, because our costs are so out of line with the rest of the world. We are burdened by paying about 25% of all our health care dollars to the insurance industry and this makes our health care much more expensive than it has to be. Then on top of that pharmaceuticals charge more here than in other countries where the government bargains down the price. It has to change because people just can’t afford this system.</p>
<p>It’s called “outsourcing” Great idea, but 6 million ? Challenge!</p>
<p>At the very least that number must include millions of illegal aliens who naturally return to their home country for minor surgeries… but wait… can’t they get that done for free here in the U.S?</p>
<p>NJres, you seem to like to ignore facts that you have problems with and make up others. The 6 million figure is not made up, see: [Lower</a> costs lure U.S. patients abroad for treatment - CNN.com](<a href=“http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/03/27/india.medical.travel/index.html]Lower”>Lower costs lure U.S. patients abroad for treatment - CNN.com)
Also, people who are here out of status are not eligible for the few government medical benefits that exist. Even those who are here in permanent resident status are not eligible. It seems you want to avoid discussion of a very real problem–out of control medical costs–by deflecting attention to immigrants. We have to stop looking for scapegoats and instead face the problem head on. Out of control medical costs are a real problem that is literally killing people. We need to get our costs in line of those of all other industrial countries. That means stopping the huge cut for the insurance companies that don’t provide health care, just excuses for not providing it.</p>
<p>I don’t see how you can make it illegal to get medical treatment outside the US. You can make it illegal to bring meds across the border, but you can’t make it illegal to leave the US to get a hip replacement.</p>
<p>Treatment in India has some real advantages that few other countries can replicate. Their doctors speak English, many were trained in the USA and costs are cheap.</p>
<p>I read that there are certain dental clinics in Mexico that cater strictly to US residents.</p>
<p>Actually, it’s called medical tourism. The health system I work for also has hospitals in Mexico and one of them was recently accredited by the Joint Commission for Healthcare Organizations, which accredits US hospitals. It’s hoping to ride this wave and is working with a company to arrange packages of travel/medical treatment for prospective patients at a fraction of the cost in the US.</p>
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<p>It also means cutting back on research… good or bad you pick.</p>
<p>You don’t need to cut back on research. In fact some of the best medical research is done abroad. You need to cut back on the 25% the health insurance companies take for producing nothing.</p>
<p>How many foreign-born people reside in the US? If my friend goes to Russia to visit her family and gets some dental work done, does it count? If my coworker goes back to his home in India and gets a mole removed, is it medical tourism?</p>
<p>I doubt there are any legal recourse if a bad outcome occurs. Doctors there don’t have malpractice insurance and the local courts often dismiss these cases for insufficient evidence. It’s all buyers beware.</p>
<p>Today, I had to read and sign, again, a 4 page disclosure and release form from my dentist for an Implant. He drilled a hole into my jar, that actually feels like a $4000 pit. I jokingly told him (in the fashion of Klick-and-Klack) that I promise to pay for his boat in 4 years. </p>
<p>He replied, “Actually, I only need two more years.”
:(</p>
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<p>Not many Indian physicians who receive US training would go back to practice in India. They have to pass through a host of exams before they are qualified for training here. Indian doctors make about a fraction of what US doctors make.</p>
<p>My Indian friends tell me that many rich Indians come here for medical care. They are full-pay patients.</p>
<p>Maybe I missed something, but I don’t see people without medical coverage flocking overseas to get treatment. Seems to me that if one can’t afford health insurance that one can’t afford a flight to India or Mexico and also pay for the procedure, plus there might be hotel stays to cover. How does one get follow-up care if your physician is in India and you live in New Mexico?</p>
<p>Bromfield, it’s very affordable. A friend here, self employed, but in that terrible place where her rates were hiked as she’s in her early 60’s. She has major medical, so covereage doesn’t start till a $5000 deductible is paid, and even that coverage is very expensive. She needs another colonoscopy, as she has a history of polys. Cost in this country, ball park $4000 to $5000. Can’t remember exactly. </p>
<p>To have it done in Delhi. was going to be around $500. The flight, another $1200 or so. Another few hundred for a nice hotel. </p>
<p>Your physician here should be informed, and in on the plan. As at any hospital, you can request medical records, details of treatment.</p>
<p>Just another bit of evidence as to why our current medical “system” is inexcusably broken. </p>
<p>Overhead for insurance companies is usually somewhere between 15-20 percent. Compare that to 2-3 percent or so for Medicare. Things could be so much better. Can you guess what the number one cause for bankruptcy in America is? Medical costs.</p>
<p>I live overseas, so have done most of my medical stuff outside of the U.S. For the most part, I have had excellent care. It is important to choose doctors with a good reputation (just like in the states).</p>
<p>Inquisitive mom, you said
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<p>What an outrageous ignorant comment. Do you believe everything you read on the internet as fact? My only objection was that the 6 million number seemed high. The topic title is "6 million from U.S. travel abroad for treatment" That is in the present tense. The article simply states:
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<p>So that is an estimate, not an actual, and it is for next year, not for this year so how do you dare tell me I like to ignore facts? Is there a fact in there anywhere to be ignored? I would like to read this study to find out what they were actually estimating. A number like that could be taken totally out of context, just like the OP did. And even if Deloitte did actually predict that 6 million American citizens will leave this country next year for surgery abroad I would still apply the common sense/ reasonableness test and suggest that number is too high. </p>
<p>I am not trying to deflect anything. There are plenty of real problems with the US health system without making stuff up.</p>
<p>Inquisitivemom and anyone else who is interested. Here is a start:
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<p>Sorry, but I am laughing so hard I can’t type. So you see, the number is 6 million because we start with the assumption that the number will be 6 million. But it’s a Deloitte study and I read it on the internet so it must be true!!!</p>
<p>It looks like the latest actual data they might maybe have is from 2007, not all that long ago, and that number appears to be “approximately” (not actually) 750,000. So if you can go from 750,000 to 6 million in 3 years fine, but for me that is a bit of a leap.</p>
<p>I think this is the study… not 100% sure. I dont have time to read it.</p>
<p>Please be a little skeptical about what you read.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.deloitte.com/dtt/cda/doc/content/us_chs_MedicalTourismStudy(1).pdf[/url]”>http://www.deloitte.com/dtt/cda/doc/content/us_chs_MedicalTourismStudy(1).pdf</a></p>
<p>Another interesting tidbit:
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<p>Medical care outside the U.S. can be excellent just like care in the U.S. can be excellent. It is much cheaper outside of the U.S. I have health insurance that covers me for care anywhere on the planet except the U.S. (unless I am only on a short visit and a health issue arises). If I want full coverage there then I have to pay a huge supplement because of the costs to my international health insurance company. Until my parents’ deaths, I spent hours in their doctor’s offices, at hospitals etc. when I stayed with them for the summer or at Christmas break. So I got a peak into their medical world in the Bay Area, CA. They had for the most part excellent care and they did have excellent health insurance. I couldn’t believe the cost of their medications! I was treated for frozen shoulder syndrome in the states and abroad. I had one on each shoulder over a period of 3 years. My treatment abroad was far superior to the treatment in CA.</p>
<p>I guess what I am trying to say is that medical systems worldwide are coming closer and closer together. My son was at a huge medical center in Israel for a spinal tumor and the procedure that was used on him was created by his doctor, the one who was treating him in Israel. I believe it is a lie to think that the U.S. healthcare system is superior. It depends on the hospital and the doctors.</p>