Health Care Tourism

I decide to write and investigate this industry because of my experience living in the border of El Paso U.S. and Juarez MEX.

All my family and many people who live in a U.S. border city crosses over to Mexico to get their dental care, even people who have health insurance in the U.S.

Dental care has to be one the most common cares that U.S. citizens go to Mexico. The prices without insurance in the U.S. are ridiculously and in Mexico they know how much someone pays for treatment In the U.S with health insurance and that is what they charge you, whether you have health insurance or not. Maybe less sometimes but care providers are going to price accordingly for profit.

Another reason why I’m writing this is because the creative DESIGN dental industry in Juarez is applying to their services.

In my experience when I showed up to the dentist clinic in Juarez MEX. the place is spotless is in a good neighborhood and I notice that all receptions are talking in English .

I thought how interesting and then later on I figure out that they set up transportation for clients. They setup a pickup point in the U.S. then they drive them to the clinic in Juarez Mex. after their appointment they get drop of the bridge to cross back to the U.S.

I had heard about this services but hadn’t been to one of the clinics, it seems like most of clients where U.S. citizens and where talking in English and the clinic accepted American insurance.

Health Care has turned into a political topic but here in Designandfinance.com we are focusing on how creative service design is being implemented in the current marketplace and what are the finances attached to the industry.

How much money are Americans spending in other countries when it comes to healthcare?

Why is it that in one of the world’s richest country and more advance society, have their citizens look elsewhere for healthcare ?

Short answer:

They have been priced out.

The American Journal of Medicine, In 2007, it is estimated that’s 750,000 Americans traveled to other countries for health care. In 2017 more then 1.4 million Americans sought health care in a variety of countries around the world.

Because the U.S. have the most expensive health care system in the world, it is not difficult to find other countries for health care that offers various procedures at 30% – 65% of the cost in the United States.

The total cost for hospitalization, physician fees, airfare, and hotel expenses for the patient and spouse is far less than the cost of the procedure in the United States. Several US medical center including Harvard , Boston Univ., Johns Hopkins, and the Cleveland Clinic , have established hospitals and clinics outside of the United States, hoping to capitalize on local and foreign medical tourism.

Below is a list of top countries for medical tourism and list of top procedures medical tourist seek out.

Top 5 countries for medical tourism:

1.Costa Rica 2. India 3.Mexico 4. Malaysia 5.Singapore

Top 5 medical treatment medical tourist seek:
1. Dentistry
2. Cosmetic Surgery
3. Cardiac Conditions
4. In Vitro fertility
5. Weight loss

Below is a list of countries who are key players in the medical tourism.

India
India is one of the key players in the medical tourism industry as it strives to provide health care services with cutting-edge technology. Healthcare in India saves patients between 65% to 90% of money compared to the cost of similar service in the US, making India one of the most visited countries for health care.
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Patients visit India not only for the quality andaffordability of healthcare service but also for the beautiful scenery and architecture in India’s landscape. In India, medical travel brings a mix of pleasure, luxury, and quality healthcare for medical travelers.
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Many hospitals in India are accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) and Joint Commission International (JCI). Some private hospitals in India now provide health care packages for foreign patients which offer pick-ups from the airport to the hospital, free in-room Wi-Fi, and private chefs.
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Additionally, in India, there is close to zero waiting time, as scheduling surgery or intervention is done quickly once the diagnosis is confirmed.
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Brazil
The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that Brazil ranks as the best in healthcare delivery in Latin America. Brazil has 43 hospitals accredited by the JCI and it boasts of having world-renowned surgeons.
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Brazil is the hub of cosmetic and plastic surgery, being the third most visited country, below US and China, for patients needing those procedures. Brazil offers high quality cosmetic and plastic surgical services at affordable rates, drawing more and more health travelers to the country.
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Florianopolis and Sao Paulo are two cities in Brazil best known for cutting-edge medical technology, medical advances, and innovation.
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Brazil is also a favorite for patients who seek special procedures such as the Brazilian butt-lift or other specialty services from world-renowned surgeons. Health travelers from the US save 20% to 30% on health cost if they receive their health treatment in Brazil.
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Malaysia
Malaysia has won the number one spot in the International Medical Travel Journal’s award for “Health and Medical Tourism Destination of the year” in 2015 and 2016. Malaysia ranks among the best providers of healthcare in all of South-East Asia.
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Health travelers who visit Malaysia save 65% to 80% on health cost compared to the cost in the US.
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Malaysia offers excellent patient comfort with five-star rooms that look more like hotel suites than hospital rooms. In Prince Court Medical Centre, for example, there are indoor pools for hydrotherapy. How exquisite!
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At both Penang international airports and Kuala Lumpur airports, is the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) which provide lounge and concierge services to medical tourists to ensure their comfort from the very minute they arrive in Malaysia.
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Thailand
Thailand is well known for its unique hospitality and exotic beaches. Having the highest number of internationally accredited hospitals in South-East Asia, Thailand draws a good number of medical travelers each year.

Thailand is most reputed for advanced dental work as well as cosmetic and dermatological procedures. Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok, accredited by Global Health Accreditation for medical services, is one of the best hospitals in Thailand, providing advanced healthcare services to over 400,000 medical tourists annually.
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The rich culture and beauty of Thailand also afford patients private recovery gardens, Thai massage and other forms of relaxation therapies Thailand is known for. Medical services in Thailand saves a patient 50% to 75% on medical expenses they would have incurred for similar services in the US.
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Turkey
Turkey is a strong contender in the medical tourism market. Turkey boasts of zero waiting times, affordable and quality healthcare delivery. Specifically, in the areas of transplant surgery, radiation therapy for cancer, orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, and genomic medicine.
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What’s more? The country’s national carrier, Turkish Airlines, offers flight rates at discounted prices to medical travelers. Cost of receiving quality healthcare in Turkey is 50% to 65% lower in Turkey than in the United States.
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Mexico
Mexico is well known for its rich culture, delicious cuisine, and its good taste for art. Mexico has since opened its doors widely to medical travelers from around the world.
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Mexico has 98 hospitals accredited by the country’s Federal Health Ministry and 7 hospitals which are JCI-accredited. Mexico is most reputed for advanced care in dentistry and cosmetic surgery. Medical care in Mexico saves a patient 40% to 65% compared to the cost of similar services in the US.
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Costa Rica
As Costa Rica rebuilds its economy following the damage that was done by the Tropical Storm some months ago, it is fast rising as a leader in the medical tourism market.
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This Central American country has ranked high in dentistry and cosmetic surgery, above Canada and US, consistently in the last few years. The country is also building a name in the fields of eye surgery, cancer therapy, and bariatric surgery.
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The CheTica Ranch located in San Jose provides exotic recovery retreats for medical travelers for patients who relish recovery in a relaxing ambiance. This ranch is also staffed with highly-trained nurses to cater to the medical needs of these patients as they recover.
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Cost of healthcare services in Costa Rica is 45% to 65% lower than in the US, saving patients a lot of money.
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International healthcare accreditation

The process of certifying a level of quality for healthcare providers and programs across multiple countries. International healthcare accreditation organizations certify a wide range of healthcare programs such as hospitals, primary care centers, medical transport, and ambulatory care services.There are a number of accreditation schemes available based in a number of different countries around the world.

The oldest international accrediting body is Accreditation Canada, formerly known as the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation,[23] which accredited the Bermuda Hospital Board as soon as 1968.

Every American, any human in that matter should be able to get their health needs taken care as soon as possible, even if you have to travel to take care of them your self.

Health should be everyone’s first priority because we are not healthy we cannot work we cannot produce.

U.S. does provide health care assistance to lower income individuals and to elderly but middle income individuals and family are the ones that get priced out.

They have out weight which procedure to get done and who are working individuals and productive member of society but still not make enough money to afford health care.

A individuals starting a businesses are sacrificing everything including their health insurance for a piece of the American dream.

College students who are working part time and going to school full time don’t qualify for full benefits because their part-time situation.

Insurance companies are such experts at large numbers that they will include children and young adults all the way until 26 years of age in their parents plan. It’s interesting to think back but as soon as my insurance was done under my father’s plan that’s when I wanted to visit a doctor and got to dentist primarily.

It seems like the health insurance companies are one the biggest beneficiaries of the American health care system because their expertise in numbers and influence.

I’m concluding this article and research by tagging on of my last blogs about giving Americans health care and what type of an impact would that have in the world.

What impact would it have on health care tourism, illegal narcotics, if Americans could go get the health care, drugs and counseling they need. What difference would that make in the United States and in the world?

References:

https://info.healthtravelmexico.com/about-medica-sur/safe-hospital.html

https://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(18)30620-X/pdf

https://www.magazine.medicaltourism.com/article/top-10-medical-tourism-destinations-world