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The recent kidnapping of four Americans exposed me to the medical tourism going on in America. I have always thought that the US was a perfect country has very functional health, economic, and political systems. I thought all Americans have access to cheap and quality medical services until I read that over one million Americans go on medical tourism in Mexico yearly.

And the reason why some of them choose Mexico was because of its quality and low cost. These medical tourists are aware that it is risky to do to some parts of Mexico, but they still go there because they want to cut costs.
Is there any other reason why Americans go to Mexico for medical?

Americans don't have universal health care but even if they did, that doesn't mean that certain percentage of wouldn't go to Mexico or other cheaper countries and same thing happens all over the world.

For example, here in Croatia we have decent universal health care but if you want to do something faster and can't wait, you go to private clinics and then some people go to neighbouring countries like Serbia that have lower standard so its cheaper to do certain stuff there like teeth implants, plastic surgeries, eye related procedures etc. And in the same way people from more developed countries come to Croatia to do their medical procedures because we are cheaper than Austria/Switzerland etc but still good.

I believe that bearing costs is the reason why a person prefers one country over another. Good medical care will not be free, and then you may not be able to afford it, especially for individuals in the middle and poor classes. There are also consequences after the operation, such as care in the first months, medicines and other costs.

Also, some countries are better in certain disciplines, this chart may give you better information, although I am surprised at the reason for choosing Mexico, perhaps because of the flight costs)

I can understand that if the US go to Mexico for health care needs and that should be selected few, those who can afford to leave the shores of US in search of cheaper health services because it is expensive for them there not necessarily because the health care system in there is not good. Those few are the rich and wealthy American population. Those wealthy are the most targeted in the Obama's administration. I remember the tussle then during Obama's regime on his health care bill that was eventually signed around March 2010. That law is what the Americans are still running with in their health care and it seems not to favour the wealthy because of the tax attached to it but the ordinary people are most beneficiaries of US health care and moreover, the system is overwhelming overburdened, so if the rich are traveling to Mexico for health care, you can understand the immediate reason because I think there health care system is more affordable for the ordinary and low income earners compared to the wealthiest of US population.

The U.S. has the highest quality healthcare system in the world, but it costs too much partly because of the regulatory framework that exists around it. It's inherently anti-competitive. Universal healthcare isn't the answer if you want to maintain high quality healthcare that isn't rationed there's an attainable middle ground that doesn't involve government subsidies.

Mexico has cheaper healthcare, but lower quality. It isn't a bad option for people.


Just as a side note -- I'd wait for more information on this before we call medical tourism in Mexico dangerous. Seems odd Mexican cartels would target random U.S. citizens who were on their way for a cosmetic procedure. It's possible they were complicit in nefarious activities.

Wjen it comes to medical bills, it varies from place to place, it is wise to cut the cost by avoiding theost expensive places regardless of the conditions and settles for where it is less expensive, some medical treatment are not what can be taken care of within a day, some requires month and going to where the fee is less is a good idea, we have some surgical operations as well that could be affordable than in some expensive regions, when it comes to medical health treatment, we cannot predict the overall cost for it not until we got into it, but we can be sure to make it affordable if we choose the right and less expensive hospital for the treatment.

Some Americans may not have insurance coverage or have limited coverage, making medical treatment in the United States unaffordable. In contrast, medical procedures and treatments can be much more affordable in Mexico. Also another reason could be mexico is known for offering alternative treatments that may not be available in the United States. These treatments may include holistic and traditional medicine, which some patients prefer over Western medicine.

It is not just them but also other nations and nationalities goes to another country and continent for medical tourism. Wherever is the need they need to have, they'll go there just like those tourists that are going for cheap gadgets and other stuff, this isn't really something new.

Like in South East Asian countries, there goes Thailand where those tourists that wants to have themselves sex changed, they go there because it's cheaper there and that's the same with Americans going South for their medical needs and wants to cut a lot of cost for their medical bills.

There is a joke going around that if you get a cold in US and visit a hospital you'd go bankrupt.

Ever since they infected US economy with capitalism, everything went south. From all the industries that went bankrupt and had to migrate overseas leaving millions unemployed and many homeless in America to every other service that got worse over time. Over all the quality of life in US has been going down every year for the past 40+ years.

Medical services is not an exception either. It slowly got more expensive and at the same time the quality of services dwindled. At this point it is safer to receive medical services elsewhere including Mexico than inside US not to mention that it is way cheaper.

It will mostly not be for any other reason other than to cut cost. With the rising cost of things people seek alternatives that offer same quality but at a lesser price. The same behaviour can be observed even amongst people in my country who travel to neighbouring countries to book international flights because of the very high cost of international flights in my country. People usually go through extra stress when they know it is cost beneficial especially when they see no particular difference between the services offered by the two parties in comparison with one having a higher cost than the other.

It would be nice to hear from someone who is from USA if it is legit and if it is really happening in considerable scale, because there have always been a lot of negative propaganda about US in order to defame the country's image launched by its foreigners rivals with tendencies to leftist policies, so it's not the kind of thing which looks credible at first glance. And in case medical treatments in Mexico are much cheaper, someone must ask himself what is the reason for that, which looks pretty suspicious in every csses, right?

I read on the Internet that even in the UK there are not enough good doctors. 

At the same time, Great Britain (Foggy Albion) is famous as a country with a very high standard of living.  There are not many highly qualified doctors. 

At present, rich people, representatives of the world elite, are provided with very qualified medical care.  In some cases, modern medicine works wonders. 

However, there are 8 billion people in the world.  It is not easy to organize a stable functioning system for the provision of quality medical services.  So I'm not surprised by the news that some US states have failed to do so.  It is likely that medical services in these areas are either too expensive or of insufficient quality. 

That is why some Americans prefer to travel to Mexico for treatment.  This is common practice.  This is called medical tourism.

The healthcare on the US is very expensive to the point that if you are going to have to go through a major procedure and you are in the conditions to travel to other countries like Mexico or Brazil many US citizens prefer to take their chances and go to those countries, and then an event like the one we watched recently can unfold, and while this has opened a debate about the dangers of going to Mexico, this tragedy also needs to open a debate about a healthcare system which is forcing the people they are supposed to serve to go to those countries to begin with.

Medical tourism exists everywhere and we can't pin point any particular country and say every citizen has the accessibility to highest tier medical assistance irrespective of their financial status and these stats about country and how much they spend is an average value but it can't be realistic when it comes to individual.

It is not only about medical costs, since the pandemic began I have also seen some news on Americans going to Mexico so they can get cheaper gasoline. There is a brief documentary film of a couple who decided to move from California to Mexico, because both the food and a home was more affordable for them (since they worked online).

I wonder how the average American manages to do all these things, keeping in mind the language barrier and the culture.

In developed countries like America you can survive well as long as your income is good. Although these countries are technologically more advanced than other countries, you also need to be financially stable to avail these services. And currently, the energy crisis caused by the war between Russia and Ukraine has increased the cost of all services around the world.  In this case, the low-income people in every country are unable to adapt, so most people try to find alternative ways. In this case too I think this point has been repeated.

Well, you obviously thought wrong. No country is perfect and all Americans doesn’t have access to cheap nor quality medical health care service. Americans travel all over for health care services not cause they offer better services but they offer cheaper services that can’t be gotten back at home.
Medical tourism happens everywhere and people from so called developed nations travel out to seek cheaper but not necessarily better healthcare

Purely cosmetic procedures like butt lifts and breast augmentation are another known reason for americans seeking medical services abroad.

Dentistry is another known example.

There is a potential for cross border business opportunities as well. Texans have travelled to mexico to buy cars, trucks and other equipment at low cost. Which they would haul into the united states to resell with a prick markup in a practice resembling arbitrage trading. Is one common practice, I have heard of.

While it may not make news headlines often. For those who live near to the border and have easy access, it could be a way of life.

It is just too obvious that Americans will prefer going to Mexico for healthcare than staying there because healthcare services is very cost in America. We know that American government would rather prefer to spend money of weapons and military than that of an healthcare. That is why many foreigners that need healthcare services would prefer to go to other countries like Germany, India and the rest than to have healthcare services in the country. It is not that the healthcare services is poor but too expensive for a common man.

Wait, what? I can't see The United States on that list. Does that mean that one of the most powerful nations and a very developed country spends less than 6.3% of its GDP on its healthcare systems? That's pretty surprising, and no wonder why people from there travel to neighboring countries for their medical necessities.

And I believe that it happens in almost every country where the lower classes who can at least travel go somewhere else to get proper treatment at less cost. Governments need to take good care of their healthcare systems more than they do right now.

Definitely shocking to read that chart. I did the same thing when I saw it and was looking for America. TO the surprise its not even on the list.

Something is definitely wrong with the chart above because other sources are showing the USA is one of highest spender on the per person when it comes to the healthcare. Also, by hearing itself one can get convinced considering the nation is highly developed and understands the value of healthcare sector.


https://i.ibb.co/nRnNLTP/health.png

If you look at the chart above then the case is actually reverse of what that post suggested. It is possible that the data is mis-circulated in that one. Above source is from the valid sources such as KFF analysis of CDC, OECD, Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare, Australian Bureau of Statistics, and UK Office for Health Improvement and Disparities.

As one can imagine mostly powerful nations are on the list who spends most of the money per capita.

Now why those people are travelling to the Mexico is whole new story here and mostly it has to be about costs. The insurance in the American system can hugely impact the decision making process of any person going for high level of illness.

Hell no! You have to change word America with word Europe. For example, countries like Germany and France have very good healthcare that is also affordable for every citizen. Turkey and Israel have great healthcare too, Israel is a little expensive but Turkey is pretty cheap with very high quality and standards in terms of medicine and medical services.

The USA is a very different country. Drugs that are illegal in many countries, are perfectly legal in the USA with prescription.
Pharma is a huge business in the USA. For example, average price per vial of insulin in the US was more than $98 in 2018 while it's was 10 times cheaper in Australia, Canada, UK. Price per vial of insulin in Turkey is 2.64 USD. No country should be profiting from people whose lives are dependent on medicines like Insulin. Btw as far as I know, things are going to get better in terms of Insulin in the USA.

Also, in the USA, doctors sometimes charge enormous amounts of money to their clients. Healthcare is very unregulated, America is a very capitalistic country. If you earn a lot, you'll living the best life in the USA, if you are below-average, or probably average too citizen with chronic health problems and don't work in a company that offers you private insurance, you will have very bad times in the USA.

P.S. I am not an American but I have friends there and that's what I know from them and from my own research too.

It's not that abnormal really, maybe America has it slightly worse because their healthcare system is seriously overpriced but you will find the same things happening with other countries too. Europeans might end up in Turkey for dental operations or similar cosmetic procedures. In the right scenarios it makes sense, but sometimes tourists can be clueless and only look at saving money, which can get them into seriously dangerous situations like this. As one of the worst hot spots for crime and cartel problems in Mexico, it's really not a bright idea to go across the border in this area - no matter who you are. If it's the difference between a $20,000 operation and a $2,000 operation, it can be a huge incentive.

The price of things ,I e, services, goods, globally has been on the increase. It is not just an all American issue.
Inflation not forgetting is one key factor.
If Americans prefer going to Mexico for cheaper treatment/medicals, it could be they lost faith in their health care too, notwithstanding.
It shouldn't really be a problem. Every other country citizens, like mine, with good means of livelihood, mostly prefer going outside the shores of their country for better evaluation or medicals too.

I don't see anything surprising in "medical tourism". I can say one thing - from about 2015-2016, medical tourism began to come to Ukraine from the EU. The main direction: dentistry, intracavitary operations, and similar general medical procedures. The reason is banal - with high quality, a noticeably lower price.
To clarify, in 2014-2015, many state clinics were reequipped, provided with new equipment, separate well-equipped wards, and high-quality staff. The price difference is really noticeable and the trip is economically justified

according to the research that I read the costs there are cheaper compared to America, have good quality and mostly why Americans go there because it's convenient

Maybe, if you have no health insurance, that's when your medical expenses will be expensive in the US.
Based from the kidnapping story, the woman was about to have a tummy tuck procedure.
Most health insurances I believe, do not cover such operation as it is categorized as cosmetic surgical procedure.
This is why maybe Mexico is considerably cheaper from their US counterparts. However, your safety is at risk.
We can't blame others to go to this path as they can really save a lot of dollars, however, think of your security also.

America is a superpower country with high economic power, so all medical needs or costs are also high. However, not all people have the economic capacity according to the standards in that country, so they choose to continue seeking treatment outside the area. In principle, all countries have poor people, but the poverty rate is measured by country. Maybe if we compare it with other countries, they might fall into the category of rich people.

Those who are american citizen - they have good medical facilities
For the one who are illegal they might look for the other options. So they would definitely look for the other option like going to Mexico for the cost cut.

Medical tourism is not new, and it's widespread! Sometimes it's cheaper but in some cases, people choose other countries with "more flexible laws"... simply said you can get any kind of medical intervention if you have money. In the past years, there's been a big drama in Poland and new regulations about abortion, and girls/women go to nearby countries for that.

Not so long ago, a young boy died on the operating table, and a woman had complications after the operation, when she returned to Serbia, they tried to save her, but unfortunately, she also passed away. They decided to be treated in Turkey, through some agencies that promised them the best care at much more affordable prices. Their families are trying to find some justice, but it's so complicated according to their statements that I had the opportunity to read.

Definitely, it's a hard decision to make, but when people are short on money and they desperately need/want some medical intervention choosing the risky path is sometimes the only path.

Each and every country have more economic issues, but very few countries expose is to the outer world. When it comes to America, we can see more number of people suffering and unable to pay medical insurance. In such a situation people moving to Mexico for medical needs is not at all a big thing. Even my country hospitals have got separate section for Foreigners, mostly people from Island nations like Maldives reach my country.

This is likewise with any third world countries perhaps with education, just to share. I live on a third world country and I saw how foreign individuals or students migrated here in my country. I had a chance asking one group of foreign students and they had the same answer to why they chose my country for them to finish their studies, and that is because education costs less. And I assume same thing goes with medical needs of them, by moving onto other countries for treatment. It would be fine doing so , i guess, if the professional they are seeking, is available on the country they are planning to move in. It is a fact in the first place that medicine or medical treatments are expensive on bigger countries and not all people could afford using their wealth for that matter if there is an alternative way.

Yes the US healthcare is a big mess. Its one of the worst and most expensive health care out there. And its common sense why many go to Mexico for some treatments. In Canada since we got health coverage we generally have people going to Mexico for dental work, especially implants.

Its maybe 1/3rd of the cost even with the flight plus hotels compared to what it costs here. So they are guides and everything giving you steps on how to go to Mexico to get the procedures done. Since the USA doesn't have health coverage, obviously many go there for general health issues. Even having a baby at the hospital in USA is crazy expensive.

I wouldn’t blame the Americans. They have a health system that prioritizes those who can pay compared to those who cannot. When I compare the prices of a lot of basic health needs in the US here in our country, I can’t help but think that I’m still somewhat blessed to be here and receive all of those simple medical and dental care without paying a fortune for them. The quality is almost the same for the two countries, and the only difference is the technology that is being used and that’s it. If I’m an American and I will have to pay so much for healthcare, might as well fly outside the country and be treated there while getting more for my money. Such a flawed country with healthcare, really.

Sadly as the wealthiest nation in the world our healthcare coverage is ranked somewhere in the teens I believe (by world health organizations) when it comes to best coverage.  We arguably have the best hospitals and hospital technology, but when it comes to coverage, it's a corrupt system that only seems to be getting worse.

To put thing in perspective I've worked for Fortune 500 and even Fortune 100 companies in my last 3 positions over the past decade or so.  My healthcare coverage, at these massively wealthy financial institutions, has progressively gotten more expensive and worse as time has gone on.  It infuriates me. So yes this is why so many go over seas for procedures.  Also keep in mind "elective" procedures often get little to no help from insurance coverage, as it's not considered necessary to maintain ones health.

there is no harm in going to the place where one can get good and cheap medial services
Most of the asian go to their hometown to do their medical treatment

I think its everywhere
Health care system are getting so much money from the pockets of the people.
And when people find ways - they go there to get their medical treatment

For a while I thought they did, Obamacare was something that have been in talks during 2014-2015 and frankly speaking a relative of mine was able to receive its benefits too. I do not know what happened after that however. In any case, the lack of a universal healthcare system in America is partly (and correct me if I'm wrong with this), a product of the capitalist society that bit them in the ass hard. Like insurance companies would most often mess them up with costs and stiff off of absolving hospital bills in order to pocket the client's money. Another would be the fact that since there's a lot of monopoly in the country, companies could easily jack the prices of all their products and services. One good example is the impossible markup that hospitals impose on people's bills, i kid you not tylenol when administered in the hospital will cost more than if you'd just bought it yourself from the drug store.

I dont find any harm in going to the other places if you think you can save some money and get good services in return
In my country health care is good but once I got a treatment from Bangkok and I wish if I could take my mother there to get that treatment

They go to Canada as well if they are closer to that border, basically they can travel to Europe, get the medication they need or surgery they need, and go back to USA and they would still be fine. That is the end result of being the nation that spends the most money on healthcare and still being worse than almost anyone else in the world.

You can claim whatever you want for the reason, but the reason is that politicians do not want to fix it since it's a too big of a trouble to tackle. There are few like Bernie, but people never vote for those people so it ended up being something terrible for them like this, hence they will keep traveling for many more decades until they finally elect someone who will fix it.

People do things which is beneficial to them. And there is no harm in doing that - saving some extra buck
There are many local who does this in our country too.
They don't get their haircut abroad. They get their dental treatment when they come back for vacation.

Access to specialized procedures: Some medical procedures are not available or are very expensive in the United States. For example, some dental procedures or certain types of surgeries may not be covered by insurance, or may be too expensive for some people to afford. In Mexico, these procedures may be more accessible and affordable.

and there is no problem if they go there - everyone look for the option where they can save some extra money
however in my case - I am so dumb in realising that I have lost so much money due to my stupidity and trusting other. I seriously regret and I will keep doing that for the rest of my life

I don't know a whole lot about how the Mexican cartels operate (aside from their extreme brutality), but I'd have to assume that killing random tourists from the US would bring unwanted attention to them from law enforcement, and as bold as they are that's something they wouldn't do.  Nor would they really have a reason to kill random tourists who pose no threat to them whatsoever.

By the way OP, I don't follow the news and thus don't know anything about what happened.  Perhaps linking to a source to the incident you're referencing would help ignoramusses like me (derp) understand things better without having to google-ize it.

And as to your question, the only thing I've heard is that folks from the US go there who want very odd surgeries that American doctors won't perform because of ethical or other reasons.  I don't know how common it is.  I think way more Americans go there for the drugs that are available over the counter.  Viva la Mexican pharmacies!

Not all people in America have full health insurance that covers all illnesses. If the insurance does not help, then people are treated in the second country, where it is cheaper. For example, in Russia, in a good private clinic, you can cure caries with a dental filling for 140 dollars. Very high quality medicine. If treated in a state clinic, the service will cost 30-40 dollars, but this is not the best quality.
In Uzbekistan it is possible to cure teeth, but for the same operation you will pay 50-70 dollars instead of 140.

But then they go to mexico - unless it is a big surgery they have to pay hotel expense and the airfare or the travel expense as well.
So in both the case they are paying good money.
I can't comment on it because I am not sure about medical facility in Mexico

America is a large country, if you find people who go to Mexico for treatment, of course we also need to know the location where these residents live. If they live at the border of course it is better to go to Mexico for treatment to reduce costs even if they have to pay passport and visa fees. This is not a quality problem, but it is very influential on the costs they have to spend. Sometimes high quality also cannot reach the ability of the community in general.

You really thought US was good at providing cheap medical services? US have one of the most expensive medical structure. So expensive that most of the Americans won't be able to use it without   insurance. I have seen so many people going to Asian countries for better healthcare. India infact has lot of healthcare tourism. So it's pretty normal for them to go to Mexico for such things.

This happens everywhere. You will always find people who will take such steps to get the treatments that serve them the best and that also don't become a burden on them due to the affordability. If someone can afford to do so, they go to a different country, and if they can't, they would at least go to a different city with better facilities and treatments for illnesses, etc.

Private hospitals and medical facilities charge a hell of a lot of money while government ones don't provide the best treatments or facilities to the patients, so they probably have no other option but to look for other places where they can get things done at lower prices.

How correct is this chart?
Will it be possible that a country like US will not appear on this list? Is the caption actually what it is?
USA is the highest spender of the GDP to ammunition and USA also tale good care of the man force in the army, and they have good insurance system. So I doubt they will not allocate something much more than 6% of GDP to health care.
Well the information in the media is not always correct, some are sensored, others mutilated in order to give to the audience what they feel the audience should know.

True, not just medical services, but Asia seems to attract a lot of Americans who just want to retire and have their money valued so much in such countries. As for those who travel to Mexico for medical procedures, yes, they are cheap but there is also risk as well just like the kidnappings and killings of the American. You can say that it's normal because this has been exposed now, but then again, as I have said, they have to be very careful when they venture to a country such as Mexico and they need to weigh the pros and cons. There's even one, who supposedly who went to go, but back out in the last minutes. So she is very lucky, otherwise she could be one of those victims that unfortunately die.

A short summary on what went down.
1. Four Americans crossed the border and went into Mexico for a medical procedure(not sure all of them needed the procedure)
2. They were shot at and later kidnapped
3. Unfortunately, two died.
4. The Cartel, knowing the shit storm they’re about to come under quickly condemned and disowned the actions of the perps, forwarded an apology letter along with the guys who were responsible.

Here’s a link to an article.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/gulf-cartel-apologizes-americans-are-kidnapped-killed-mexico-rcna74242

The medical expenses vary a lot between the two countries. The same medical treatment provided at $10000 can be availed at $1000 on Mexico. This is a big difference, and in particular I've heard about Dental treatments were very expensive in America. With the ongoing economic issues things could've gone even worse. Rich might not be the sufferer, mostly the middle class people who are at the level of moving to next level growth suffers with these kind of expnse.

what is the main attraction of these Americans is the low price and fairly good quality.
when it comes to cheap costs, many people are willing to travel far to pick up these cheap prices. not only in the world of health, but in many cases low prices are the goal, especially for the lower class.

maybe also because of the travel distance that can still be reached using land vehicles, which makes many US citizens come to Mexico for treatment even though they have to travel without permission.

because I'm sure, surely everyone also, if asked about health, must be number one. because the health of the body is indeed second to none in the pleasures given by the almighty God. so surely everyone will continue to struggle to maintain their own health even though they have to seek treatment at hospitals in different countries, different islands, different continents, and even desperate to break into other countries without permission (but don't imitate this).

The cost of health care USA is high some people can afford it. Im not american but i watch news and read some article how much the cost of health care there. It make sense why people go traveling to other country for cheaper medical treatment.

On the top 24 on that list, neither Mexico nor the US made it in there. It shows the dip in the health sector of both countries. Now I know why those seeking medical help outside my country don't head to the US. Instead they head to either the UK or Germany.

On a lighter note, it isn't for nothing that we've the Red Cross symbol on the Switzerland flag. The reason is clear.

Good piece of info shared - I went to read why Switzerland flag has red cross symbol on it, thanks for the share.
edit - but there are different reason for the cross - which one it the right one? it is a tribute to Henry Dunant, the Swiss founder of the International Committee of the Red Cross?

and there is no harm in doing so, people find the places where they can get good treatment and on the other side in less budget.
I would also do the same for so many reasons.

That is correct - if the treatment is big and you can save some bucks while having lodging and food there then its worth doing it
Otherwise one can have treatment in the home town and pay a little extra.

Clear? Not for me, care to elaborate?
One is 700 years old and one is not even 200, and it's not in the order you think it is.


The Red Cross simply got this symbol because it was established in Geneva at the initiative of  Swiss citizens so they simply used the flag of the country where they did it. The Turkish flag, for example, has the same relation with the Red Crescent and as you can see in that table there is no trace of it in the top 20 countries, Israel uses also a different design based on their own flag.
Just like the guy above you've got it backward.


One thing about this, it was a cosmetic medical procedure:
Dental and cosmetic surgeries are the top reasons for these trips, so it's not like people go there only for life-threatening procedures and more for ones that are not that needed. One article claimed that every 1/20 is a breast augmentation procedure, so this would paint a completely different picture.

many people go to south Korea too for cosmetic surgery
I was watching a documentary - and it is funny that people go with their original face and come back with a different face. There is so much trouble at immigration when the face is scanned

Yeah, I know people have their lives to lead when it comes to stuff like that. It's their choice and the consequences should also solely be theirs. Besides moral grounds, I think people shouldn't be getting under the knife if it isn't to balance up or correct medical conditions. I don't have any pity on those who go for cosmetic surgeries and don't make it out alive. The aesthetic is needless.

This is the result of capitalism, Healthcare in America is expensive and if you don't have good healthcare insurance that covers your case you will need to pay for it through your nose. It is not only Mexico that Americans go to, there was a time I was told some Americans went to Cuba for treatment because their healthcare system there is affordable. The thing is that you can't compare the quality in Mexico with that of America, also there are some countries like Canada where you will need to be in the queue to get attended to see the doctor, so don't just look at it from one angle alone

Health care is expensive everywhere. Be it America or Russia or Mexico or Canada.
Mostly people work there - and save their money and get the things done when the go back to their native countries - mostly Asian does this too. They dont get hair cut but they do when they come back to their country

Although I am not so conversant with the American Healthcare system, I can however remember that during Barak Obama's administration, he introduced the Obamacare. Whatever happened with it? Well, it is obvious that there are reasons why Americans would want to go to Mexico for healthcare treatment. Many roadblocks to quality, accessibility, or affordability of medical services especially among minority populations. You would almost go bankrupt to have a surgery or any other medical procedures.

Medical Tourism isn't new, in the field of dentistry for instance, people often visit third-world countries like the Philippines to get cheaper and stronger dental implants that lasts as long, if not longer, than a typical dental implant in the US. Just funny how their previous president is so indignant with building a tall-ass wall so no Mexicans can cross the border and illegally import themselves to US, and then we have Americans right here who may or may not have deported themselves illegally just so they can pay reasonably priced medical bills. Makes me wonder too, what the fuck happened to Obamacare right there? I saw a post back then featuring a surgery bill only amounting to 400 bucks, with "thanks to Obamacare" captions, why was it abolished?

But people are ready to spend money on travel but they are not ready to pay to the local hospital
When you can go quickly for the check up anytime
but everyone has their own choices - we can't comment on it

The distance between Mexico and America is about 2000 km, that's the distance from the city center. Of course if they are near the border, then they will be closer for access to Mexico than access to downtown America. Of course America has quality medical services, but access to these areas certainly makes people prefer to apply for passports to seek treatment in neighboring countries. As a rule, medical services depend on who comes for treatment. It is likely that Americans will bring suitcases of money with them so that they can get a better place. Have you ever found a class A service system, Class B, and so on. It shows that there are differences in services for those who seek treatment. Habits that get class A service will get a VIP room.

I am not sure if the people are traveling 2000 KM and saving some money
Its better to have a hospital near your home and so that you can go for the emergency check up when needed.

Obamacare was ended as soon as Trump had a chance to do so, in behalf of the Republican party and their political donors which may or may not have had interests in getting rid of that program.

If I recall correctly, back in the day the republican voters argue that Obamacare was a bad idea because it opened a possibility for people to abuse it, which would have led to less quality in medical services and an increase of medical cost in the whole market; while democrats said it was a good option for people to access some kind of minimal medical healthcare which could not afford otherwise.

As a rule of thumb, Republicans do not like anything which remotely seems to be socialist.

Depends on where you live though, isn't it? I mean if you live in Seattle, going to Mexico makes no sense, Canada is better for that case, but if you live in Texas, then I am sure there must be some closer, the distance between America and Mexico is nothing, with one step you go from USA to Mexico, it's a land border. So all in all from your house to a hospital in Mexico may take less than you may think.

And if I was Mexico, I would have built a ton of hospitals near the border to make sure Americans can come and go as they wish, instead of spending 5k on American hospital, they would spend 500 in Mexico, and that would be a lot there. It's a good business venture that would help everyone but the pharma industry in the USA.

sometime people have resources and they take the chance to travel to the other place for the medical treatment
our family don't take the risk of going to other city - we prefer the hospital and medical place near us

The travel and other expences would be more than getting treated in USA - had I been the one I would have stayed at my home and get my treatment there

Just imagine if you have a surgery, the price in the US is huge, like around $100K, but if you are in Mexico, it is only $30K to $40K. Imagine how much the price dropped, and again, in Mexico, those doctors are experts, some of them from the US, so it was very cheap. That is why a lot of people go to Mexico. Though safety is a concern, people continue to take risks in order to save money.

Ah, I'm just noticing your reply now as I'm reviewing your posts, and thank you for the info!

I read that article, and my first thought was "What the fuck kind of country is Mexico if a drug cartel puts out a press release as if it's a Fortune 500 company?". 

My second thought (since I haven't read all the posts here) was about what kind of medical procedure those folks were heading down to Mexico to have done.  Thankfully, at least at the end of the article it was implied that it was plastic surgery.  That makes sense; insurance companies usually don't pay for elective surgeries like that, and paying cash for [boob job/face lift/sex change/whatever] in the US would be way more than the average person could afford.  Not sure how much that stuff goes for down in the fine country of Mexico, but I'm guessing it's way less.

It is worth considering how well such plastic surgeries can do, cheaper does not always mean better. Moreover, the appearance, the face is what we see every time we communicate with a person. I don't want to say that there are bad specialists and they will definitely make it worse, but we need to think about it, need to weigh the pros and cons.

Basic medical needs should be covered by medical insurance, this should eliminate the need to look for cheaper treatment. And everything related to plastic surgery is the business of every person and, in my opinion, has nothing to do with health, only in some cases.

however, not all people can afford to pay for their medical insurance. and you can't blame some people who want to enhance their features or their body. that's their prerogative to improve their appearance. however, they are going to the extent of risking their life going to a country which is not very safe. on that note, they know the risks, not only health risk but their over-all safety.

The real question is, why is the medical field so unregulated in the USA? Doctor charged my friend with $3000 for 2-3 minute call where the only valuable thing she told to her was to just take a half dose of medicine if she can't tolerate side affects.

The only solution here is to regulate the medical field. Doctors should charge real values, not something taken out of thin air. $3000 for 2-3 minute call? Cmon, this kind of communication is always free with doctors in Europe.

Let's take insulin prices for example. Why should the price of insulin be 20x, 200x higher in the USA compared to Turkey? There is no way that labor or delivery or any other thing is that much expensive in the USA to make it cost so high. American healthcare business model is like: Well, this is a medicine that humans need to survive, they can't live without it, so make it as expensive as possible to make as much money as possible.
This is devastating! The only solution here is regulation, not obamacare or any other financial aid.

Oh Gosh - $3000 for 3 min call.
One of my south asian friend gets the online call to India and Pakistan in less than 2 dollars - I think there are other options of doctor available online and they are very qualified doctor why not try them

I think its a good idea these days to get online consultation - but if you have to get the online consultation - like mentioned in the next comment
One can check the other country doctors as well.
This would be more cost friendly and would save us for financial loss

True, but when so much money is moving around an industry then you know they are going to have a lot of power at the congress and move their influences so things do not change, which is infuriating, as while it could be understood that medicines were sold for a higher price on the United states as they may have to comply with more stringent regulations and other added costs, this does not justify the huge price the industry charges for the medicines and the medical attention.

Im surprised Canada is not a valid alternative though it will depend which border you are closer to and prices might be cheaper in Mexico but for quality assurance I'd want a company who regularly available personally.  People in Europe goto Turkey maybe because of the very weak currency standard it can mean prices are cheaper then having work done privately.  Though its also the case that national coverage of citizens is much better in Europe overall its not perfect and obvious the cosmetic aspect would mean private work needed quite often.

There may be factors other than proximity. Mexico has emerged as a medical tourist destination and the federal and state governments do attract such tourists form the United States with flashy deals. I don't think that Canada is much bothered, since there is a shortage of medical staff there. And influx of American tourists can put strain on the medical sector there. Here in Asia, Singapore and Thailand has emerged as premium destinations for medical tourists from the US, European Union and Japan. Medical procedures costs only 1/5th or so of the prices in the US and the quality is the same.

If country is developed then this kind of problems is normal you only can survive when you have good income source, in such countries like United Sate of America if you are not financial stable then you can't survive everything depend upon money. Americans go to the Mexico because since the introducing of the INSABI scheme in January 2020, Mexico has universal healthcare for all its citizens and expats.

The reason that made US companies set up their business or factory in another country is the same reason why people could go elsewhere to access the facilities and services that the US could provide. Cost is the factor! Medical tourism is not an exception, people are trying to cut costs, and if the alternative could deliver the same service or almost the same service, then it's a good bargain as far as I'm concerned.

By doing that, some people must have cut more than divided by 4 of what they would have spent in the US, particularly during this time of inflation.

I never would have thought that proximity isn't the only factor when it comes to medical tourism. Who would have guessed that Mexico would become a medical tourist destination? It's like they're offering free tacos with every surgery! But seriously, it's fascinating how the federal and state governments attract tourists from the United States with flashy deals. I wonder if they offer discounts for a margarita with your checkup.

I can definitely see why Canada wouldn't be too bothered with medical tourism since they have a shortage of medical staff. And let's be real, the influx of American tourists could put a strain on the medical sector there. Maybe they should start offering free poutine with every checkup to make up for it.

As for Asia, it's no surprise that Singapore and Thailand have become premium destinations for medical tourists. Medical procedures at 1/5th of the prices in the US? Sign me up! It's like getting a sale on a fancy purse, but instead of a purse, it's a surgery.

There are some Americans who come to Mexico for medical care because the prices are cheaper than in the US. But cost reduction is not the only reason.
Some other reasons include:
- Avoid waiting.
- Services not covered.
- Quality and professionalism.
- Combining healthcare and travel, ...
In addition, there are still a few other reasons, but just with the above reasons, we can see that the health care system of Mexico is suitable for the majority of American workers. Instead of paying an expensive amount for US medical services, they choose medical tourism in Mexico, where they still enjoy the benefits but the cost is much lower.

I have taught myself never to take to full consideration without having up front information before believing what the media puts out there, that’s the situation you find yourself because it’s the media that puts it out there.

America is a wide  country and a very populated country and with many migrating to the USA for greener pastures, I don’t believe the wealth and the social benefits are evenly distributed, there are those leaving below average and can’t afford the medical bills in the USA so see Mexico as an alternative.

Getting medical care and saving money aren't the only things. Because the quality of treatment there is also an important issue. All those who go there for treatment are aware and expect better treatment at low cost. And such images exist almost everywhere in the world. If a country offers low cost and good medical services then many tourists will come to that country from neighboring countries. Medical care is more important than money. The main motive for Americans to go to Mexico may be the assurance of good care at low cost.

It doesn't necessarily have something to do with the country being developed, a developed country should not have such issues in the first place in my opinion. People living in a developed country should be able to afford the medical expenses of their country and the government should make sure that things are done that way so that their citizens don't go somewhere else only to get better medical care.

And sometimes, even the citizens who are pretty well-to-do, even from third-world countries, tend to go to other places only to cut the costs and save money knowing they can get the same treatment for a better price at the other place.

The other reason is probably for vacation maybe some buy their drugs there since it's cheaper as you're much closer to the source. It's kind of out of touch of you OP to say that you see USA as a perfect country when there's an abundance of information about the issues that they're facing especially the medical costs in USA, it's been a staple in memes and ridicule so I don't know how you didn't piece it together.

In addition if think  the language barrier can also be a challenge for some Americans seeking medical care in Mexico. While many health care providers in Mexico speak English, some Americans may still have difficulty communicating effectively with their health care providers

I think that no country should move factories in another country. It's weakening country and making another one stronger. Yeah, one can take an advantage for a while but long-term, it's destroying. I think, at some point, it's manually done by big countries to push poor countries to work on low salaries. Move factories there, give them salary low enough to buy only food and then push them to work a lot. This way, you keep labor cheap, make them tired enough with low salary to not be able to develop themselves and benefit your own country. Why should an American retard youtuber get paid more than a very hard-working person in factory whose work actually benefits the society and hundreds of people.
But high medical costs in the USA are far from that reason. As far as I know, medical business, in terms of pricing, is absolutely unregulated in the USA. There is no logical reason that makes X service in the USA to cost 20x more than in Turkey. It's more likely a cartel between the hospitals/pharmacy, insurance agencies and the government.

In addition to lower prices, some Americans may go to Mexico in search of treatments or cures that are not accepted or common in America. For example, many Americans have come to Mexico for treatment using traditional herbal treatments or drugs that have not been approved by the FDA. However, this can carry many risks and is not recommended. In addition, some Americans come to Mexico for mental health services or other types of psychological treatment that are not common in the United States. However, as in the case of drug treatment, this may not guarantee quality or safety.

oh - great info shared.
I will search about it - is the herbal treatment in Mexico good enough to travel so much for it?
Is it really worth travelling?

You are getting something wrong here, the US like any other country can never enslave their citizen, and mind you, many countries are coming to the US for tourism, it could be medical and others, so money is moving in and out of every country. This is why you should have good service and a reasonable price. If a Yankee that earns a little could not afford to pay medical bills in the US but could easily do that in another country that will serve the same service, won't such go? Or do you want the government of the US to stop them? No, my friend.

As for the YouTuber's narration, this is a misconception, markets vary. What the medicals are paying is not what factories, farms and others are paying, it all varies. A booming market is different from a dull market. The social media market is rich and booming, you can't expect those that keep it active to be paid less while the companies pocket billions of dollars yearly.

Frankly, some are spending huge amounts on their channels, they deserve the huge payments.

Compare European healthcare to American healthcare, do you prefer the USA model? The USA is too much into capitalism, a little bit socialism is necessary.

Today, almost every popular youtuber says the same: I haven't finished a school or haven't got a college degree but see how much money I make. You study hard for years and years but hardly afford to pay bills.
It's very sad that this situation exists. Okay, let's forget studying, let's not study engineering, medicine, we pay them less, right? And we pay more to youtubers, fine, we don't need to study because boxers, footballers, youtubers, instagram influencers make more money and they advise us to do so. At the moment everything works fine because everything has been settled down for years but if young generation follows their advice and we keep continue low money to educated people, who is actually gonna help you when you need to build a house, when you need to have a surgery? Who is actually gonna help you when your car stops working? And a lot of young guys follow this advice, people stop college, move in Instagram and TikTok. If it will lead us to better life long-term, let's see it.

Medical and other stuff have different results. If apple uses China to produce iphones, that's fine, the worst case is that some American workers are not getting money, and iphone is a little cheaper thanks to that. But if we are talking about having to go to another nation when you have cancer for example, that's not going to be good, or to have your chemo? What are you going to do go to another nation once a week or once every two weeks? That's not normal, that should not be normal at least.

It's not the same thing, you can get a product made somewhere else, but you need your health to be taken care of as near as you can be. What happens if an accident happens? Like car crash, you either die, or you are in poverty for being in an American hospital. How is that the two options you have? That's sick.

greatt point stated - America is a great place if you have not visited America in your life you have not visited the world, they have great customers services - great ethics and wonderful business rules

Frankly, I share your view in this regard, still, there are local government-controlled hospitals that are accessible to the people. This might not be enough but you should be aware that the standard of living in the US is high and their medical insurance system is top-notch for those that plan their lives well. For this, many would be able to afford it, and it's also a means of generating more money for the economy.

Nonetheless, when anyone can't afford it, they can go to another country for the same service, e.g neighbouring countries.

I understand you perfectly well, but this doesn't change the fact that people are doing it and they have their reasons. I believe they must have weighed their options before jumping to such a conclusion. Flying in and out of the US for medical treatment plus the cost of the service might still not be up to half of what they would be billed in the US.

So, the option might still be worth it.

There is an avalanche of people who will violently disagree with you on the economic and political parts, but it's easy to be naive and believe that the US can offer good healthcare for all (provided that you can afford it).

But, that's not true either. Even though they have some of the best hospitals, there is too much bureaucratic activity from insurance companies to let you get the best possible treatment. It's not uncommon to get a mediocre treatment just because of some silly policy made by the hospital mangement.


It's pretty dangerous to cross the border to Mexico with all these drug gangs roaming about. It kind of puts out the anti-immigration rhetoric flames as well.


???

Visit, probably. Living there, however, is a different matter, especially if you don't have much money.

I don't say that it's impossible with American salaries to get medical treatment in the USA, no, I mean, why should product X cost 20 times more in the USA than in Turkey? Yeah, the USA generates a lot of money by doing so but at the very cost of people, 2000% margin profit is not normal or any good.
While I like American model very much and don't wanna feed lazy asses by me working hard and they getting housing and all the other benefits, the only thing where I would make exception is education and healthcare: I think everyone deserves to have access to high quality education and normal healthcare, especially poor people because no one knows what kind of potential anyone carries, maybe this poor guy will positively change the world tomorrow.

And long-term, if the USA keep enormous prices, they'll lose. If you ask anyone about medical thing, Turkey comes to their mind. The quality of healthcare is getting higher and higher in Turkey but prices are lower. When clinic X offers me the same quality of service in the USA and clinic Y offers me absolutely the same in Turkey but with 10x lower price, definitely I'll go in clinic Y and I'll tell my friends to go there. This is a process where Turkey is gaining attention, reputation and I believe, long-term it's not beneficial for the USA.

How i badly wish to step into this country but of course VISA and visit i do believe is strict as hell plus a very expensive one specially if you do came to a third world country which is something that very understandable. Even just simply looking on movies or videos then you could really say that this is a great country in all aspects but of course i dont dig deeper when it comes to politics or something in the negative side. Going back into the top in speaking about cost of living there would really be not that cheap. We know that inequality is something a global problem which cant really be that avoided or something inevitable
or really have that kind of exemption.

There would be always those people who dont earn that much and everyday living would be always a challenge.If you are someone who do earn up decent then you would be able to
survive and wont be minding in regarding expenses or what but if you are that average joe who do earn only sufficient then you would really be mindful on things which
you could be able to save up at least no matter how small it would be.

I got it, buddy. How do you deal with living in a world when the gaps between people are as high as skyscrapers? Painful. Yet, if you're dealt a lemon in life, you should turn it into lemonade, right? The majors!

Try to be creative with what we’ve got and figure out how to make it go further. Gather a group, divide up the resources, and help one another out. You may also establish a business and provide us and other people with fantastic opportunities.

The choices, my buddy, are virtually limitless. Maintain a positive attitude and an open mind. Perhaps we can change the world for the better. Reckon on it!

You should know this already, 'It's called the stand of living.' You can't compare the standard of living in the US with that of Turkey. Even the power of their currencies varies, and the exchange rate of the USD in Turkey and most countries will make it feel that it is worth more. But it's still the same USD in the US, and its effect can't be felt the way it will be felt outside the country.

I can't blame the US for this, they have a good trade balance most times, they don't force countries, and they produce attractive goods and services that other countries might not be able to resist. To further with, the US is more capitalist and the government is not the one taking money directly from other countries, however, the citizens who gain through the system are entitled to pay their dues. I see no chetaing here. It's their standard and a floating market system and I believe is pure economics, therefore you shouldn't blame them for that. No true economist would.

This is affecting them truly, it's one of the reasons why countries are turning to China and the like, even US companies go elsewhere to set up their factories to produce less costly goods. But the US still remains atop, for how long? I can't say. Nevertheless, the thing that is certain is that the US can't reduce their standard for any country or trade, they get to this level due to the economic boom and floating market.

Some countries with good standards of living and valuable currencies will continue to patronise them.

I don't think medical tourist in Mexico is as dangerous as people insinuate. When procedures in the US are of "high" quality and expensive, it becomes a weapon against poorer people who can't afford it here in the States. It's natural to seek alternative services if the ones nearer you are at cut-throat prices.

Maybe you don't understand. You can't compare the standard of living of Germany to some of the developing countries, for example, to Zimbabwe but really a lot of foods in Zimbabwe cost more than in Germany. And I've been in some small countries that have low monthly salaries but import things and holy shit, chocolate and chips were three times more expensive than in Germany and somehow there were small supermarkets on every foot step.

So, that's why I say that pharma companies are robbing people in the USA. Materials cost the same, equipment costs the same, I believe there is no astronomical difference in production and delivery expenses. But you know what? There is an oligopoly on market and these companies do price fixing, maximizing the already enormously high profits and paying some money to the government to keep their mouth shut. That's what makes insulin and other medicines to cost that high in the USA, nothing else.
And high standard of living means when you earn high and spend low to fulfill your needs. If you earn high and spend high, then it's just an illusion to think you have higher salary than any person who lives in developing country if the cost/income/spend ratio is the same. But that's not so in the USA, we all know that.

I don't really understand what's the connection between that quote of mine and your reply.

I quite understand you, but it's you that didn't understand me, you are actually not following this in the part of economics. The first thing you should consider is that if the US is exporting expensive things, they are equally importing expensive things (e.g. Of the one I know, my country sells goods to the US in the value of how they sell it in the country (US), not the value of what it worth in my country. Sometimes, they will sell it 5 times more), which could be traced to their standard of living and the strength of their currency. Generally, the power of the US currency and their living standard are like a two-edged sword for them, it could be seen as both advantageous and disadvantageous, especially when dealing with external countries, you are only seeing it in the disadvantageous view which can't balance the scenario. Every country has their standards, while some are better or worse than the US in some cases.

Also, think of where the medical and pharmaceutical equipment is being produced, if it's majorly within the US, then there is no way it will not be costly because of their standard. And thankfully, insurance is working well in the country, the government has thought well on this, which is why their "Medicaid" is fully functional.

It's the external people that would need to plan their medical tourism which I don't see as a by-force to come to the US for it.

If product costs X in your country and 5X in the USA, it doesn't mean that your local company sells it 5 times higher. I would even say that middleman companies may buy it in cheaper price from your local company and manage all the staff to sell it expensively in the USA but that's a different task.

---

Standards are very high in Switzerland, Germany, France and in some other European countries too, like Spain, Italy, UK. Do you know that actually according to 2018's study, it costs roughly $2 to $4 to produce a vial of analog insulin (https://gh.bmj.com/content/3/5/e000850)? Do you know that pharmaceutical companies spend billions of dollars to make sure that cheaper generics don't get produced? Check this article of Vox (https://www.vox.com/2019/4/3/18293950/why-is-insulin-so-expensive). Do you know that republicans blocked cap on insulin costs (https://www.cnbc.com/2022/08/07/republicans-block-cap-on-insulin-costs-for-many-americans-from-democratic-deal.html)?

There are too many expenses in the hospital and can make a person bankrupt overnight. Going to another place closer and easier like Mexico will save a lot of money. That is smart thinking.
A one-time cure does not necessarily improve health immediately, it is a process. Many people choose countries in Asia to be treated by traditional methods.

People aren’t just insinuating. The US state department has a do not travel advisory warning to its citizens not to travel to some states in Mexico. If you would read the OP, you would note it was mentioned that Americans who crossed over to Mexico for a medical procedure were kidnapped and unfortunately, two from the lot died. If that’s not dangerous, I don’t know what is.

Kidnapping as well as other violent crimes carried out by drug gangs and cartels in a certain areas does not make those places safe for the citizens not less foreigners coming in for either work or pleasure or both.  Insecurity would always hinder tourism in any locale and medical tourism isn’t left out.
Just a few states in Mexico are deemed dangerous and generally, I think Mexico could be considered safe. You’ve just got to avoid certain areas.

Most likely, it will just be done to reduce expenses. People are looking for alternatives that give the same quality but at a lower price due to the rising cost of goods. Due to the extremely high cost of international flights in my country, the same behavior may be seen even among residents who visit other nations to book foreign flights. Even though they perceive no significant differences between the services provided by the two parties in relation to one having a higher cost than the other, people frequently experience increased tension when they are aware that something is cost-beneficial.

In this era of globalization, people carefully review their expenses in any activity. In which area expenses are lower, demand for everything is high. Even tough America is the most sufficient countries in the world but it is very natural that people will go elsewhere to meet their expenses. I would agree with you that there are many people in the world who come to Asia for medical treatment. On hand their good treatment and on the other hand reducing the cost of money can be the main motive of that particular people.

It's not a new or particularly unsurprising phenomenon and takes place in many regions across the world. The fact is that there are massive cost disparities across borders which means that medical staff, facilities and supplies of the same standard can be much cheaper. It happens in Europe with people travelling to places like Turkey for surgery. However there can be some more lax standards in general so you really need to understand the quality of the service you'll get or it can be disastrous for your health.

Nobody knows the human body system finished. That is why there are some incumbent president in the world also died from diseases upon all the wealth of the nation. I was also thinking the same with the OP that American has the best medical facilities to cure any disease but from what OP is say that is not true again. And as for the cost I know that Medical services in America is more higher than other countries across the globe. And another reason which I also thought that is making the Americans to visit other countries for medical services because the Americans government do not carry along the poor class (the average) in the mind. That is why cost of living is high. And those who can not afford the bills have to travel out for proper care.

According to the statistics of the World Health Organization, the healthcare system in Mexico is ranked among the most advanced in the world. The private hospital centers in Mexico are similar in quality and level of health care to those in the United States. This mainly includes accommodation and post-treatment care.
And during my research on the subject, I was able to deduce some of the reasons that encourage Americans to go to Mexico for treatment :
- Medical treatment costs in Mexico: which are very low compared to their counterparts in America, amounting to more than 50 percent less. For example, in plastic surgery, a facelift costs up to $18,000 in America, while it does not exceed $4,500 in Mexico, with an average savings of close to 70 percent.
- Convergence of cultures: since they are two neighboring countries and all Mexican doctors are fluent in English.
- Insurance coverage: Insurance companies provide coverage for travelers coming from outside Mexico at differential prices to encourage more turnout.

This site presents useful data on the state of health services in Mexico, which is encouraging not only for Americans, but for almost the entire population of the continent : https://www.health-tourism.com/

I don't know if traveling accross the world gig still a funny joke or a reality anymore, but there are stuff you could literally move across the globe, live in some other nation for a whole year, get treatment, come back to USA and still pay less than what you would have paid in USA. This was a joke about hip replacement as far as I can remember but that is the reality they live in. In Turkey we have both private and public hospitals, a great way if you ask me, if you are a poor person you go to the public one, our taxes pay for it, and everyone gets nearly free, something tiny like a few bucks last I checked (17 lira, literally less than a dollar) for the appointment, and medicine is free too, well not free but once again, about a dollar, nothing. But if you are rich, we have world class hospitals too ,places you can get every bit of you checked if you are willing to pay for it. The difference is that I took an appointment for MR at a public one, they gave me appointment for 42 days later, obviously I said screw that and went to private one which cost me just 80 dollars, but our healthcare system is amazing compared to USA, or even UK, one of the few things I would say perfect levels, we may lack many things, but healthcare system is top notch. USA? You would spend 5k just for root canal to a single teeth, I am sorry but if you can't fix that, then you don't want to fix it, because anyone who wants to fix it, could do that in a second. As long as American politicians get bribes from medicine industry, they will not work towards ever fixing it.

Sure. People are living in a flat world thanks to the internet, the development of communication and medicine.
Medical companies are inherently swindlers, earning the highest possible profit on the health of their patients. This has been condemned for many years. There are many medical-related cases. Most recently related to the treatment of COVID-19 patients.

we have spent the COVID attack at home once I took my mother to hosp and we didnt get up for aprox 10 days. Its better to take self medication when there are minor issues

I agree that the Americans are not in the best country for medical services, because the cost of medical tourism is high, and they would probably find the best doctors to treat the patients. Because the cost of health and the cost of physical health is high, people will definitely go to their country for cheap, and their costs would be so much lower. The cost of living is high, but we don't think that most people would use medicine for this, because they will be able to afford it in the end.

america is the super power and they are the best in everything but having high price for the things are making life difficult for them.
But there is no harm in going to Mexico if you get good facility for less money

I disagree - Americans are in the best country but they go through the natural process - for example in our country if there is any delivery case they would go for c section in 4/5 hours but in states they would wait for whole 2 days to for the normal delivery

Americans go to Mexico for medical treatment is because that medical care in Mexico can be significantly less expensive compare to the medical expenses in the United States. Some medical procedures that are not approved or covered by insurance in the United States may be available in Mexico. Some people may choose to go to Mexico because they feel that they can receive higher quality of care or a more personalized experience. If I live in America i will do the same, I will go to Mexico to have a quality health care that is more cheaper than in the United States.

do you lived in US? most of the news I've heard is that they are really fast in actioning those things like giving birth or any emergencies but the only problem is that it is very expensive that even the middle class people cant afford it which is why they venture to other countries but again those cases like giving birth is that they don't have a choice that is why they save a lot of money just for giving birth even it is a normal delivery.

That is a good piece of information shared and I have reletive who travel to their home town becasue they think America is way to expences

Health insurance and expenses are really expensive in the US, but when it comes to opportunities as well as finding a job, there are a lot of them, but again, it is not enough for those like minimum wage earners in that country. Also, not only in the US but also in other countries, their surgical operations are expensive, which is why they are flying to other countries to get them done.

I always used to wonder why generic medicines in the United States cost 10x to 100x what they cost across the border in Canada and Mexico. Here in India, one vial of insulin costs as low as $1.25. The same vial (with exactly the same composition) costs $100 in the United States. And it is not like insulin is covered by any of the medical patents. When Frederick Banting discovered insulin back in 1923, he refused to put his name on the patent. He could have made billions of USD from it, but he selflessly refused it and made sure that patients receive insulin at cheap rates. 100 years have passed and Banting will be turning in his grave after witnessing how the criminal pharma companies are fleecing diabetes patients in the United States with their super-expensive insulin.   

That's also my question. I think it's because they are first-world countries and the cost of living there is high, which is based on the economy, but if that's the truth, it is a very useless decision as no matter how rich or poor your country is, medicine is really a necessity, and it should be at the same price as it is for our own good. But one of the reasons why it was really expensive was because their health care was run by a private institution and not a government one, because we know that in Asia most of them are controlled by the government. That is why we got less from the bill we paid, and if we do have insurance, we don't pay anything.

no harm in going to the places for a good and less expensive treatment
But this also cost many other expenses like travel and lodging and boarding etc.

The reasons for the high medical care cost in the US is driven by "Greed"

1. The have a healthcare system that are market driven. The drug costs and healthcare providers salaries are much higher than in other countries.

2. The U.S. health care are based on a for-profit insurance system, where corporate greed and price gouging are rampant.

3. The US government are involved, and everything the government touches costs more, because private companies over charge them.  ::)

It disagree on the point that American health care is driven by greed
There are good doctors everywhere.
But incase you know good places - you should always go for it - especially your medical.

I see nothing wrong if Americans go to Mexico for medical checkup. That does not mean that mexico is better than America in health care system. This is a way to cut down medical expenses that might incur big funds to spend and if you can not spend then you will be owing the state and your debt will keep.increasing which is just a way to cut down medical expenses since the USD dollar is more stronger than the Mexican currency.

People do go to places for many things. The best thing is to be treated in the bestest way possible.
Although America has the best health care facility but illegals have their own problems

I don't think there'll be much difference in the treatment plan. Every country have got different medication plan and end of the day it is life saving. In USA the charges were high, but the government and private insurance companies can provide the service at a better price. As said in one of the above post, the medical practitioners were paid high and billings were directly done by the insurance companies.

In a country if things were imported then the medical expenses can be expected to be high. In USA each and everything is manufactured and have sufficient workforce. From Island nations people move to the nearby countries for medical needs. Only the government can take necessary steps on it, even the people aren't fighting for it. Most of the people have got adopted to the scenario.

Americans choose to go to Mexico for medical treatment is because the primary reason is the cost. Medical treatment in Mexico can be significantly less expensive than in the United States, even for procedures that are not covered by insurance. Some treatments that are not yet approved or available in the United States may be available in Mexico. Another one is the convenience. Many Americans live near the border and find it easier to travel to Mexico for medical treatment than to travel within the United States. Some also prefer the more relaxed atmosphere of Mexican hospitals and clinic. On the other hand Patients may encounter language barriers, different medical standards, and unfamiliar healthcare practices.

Well, folks, strap on your surgical masks for a ride we call 'medical tourism,' where people ditch their local doc for a budget-friendly foreign affair. The lure of Mexico? It's like a discount superstore for those American amigos who find themselves caught between a rock and a hard place with their insurance - or lack thereof!

This medical tour isn't always the express route to health and happiness. Sure, you might snag a bargain, and perhaps discover some offbeat treatments that make your hometown clinic look prehistoric. But remember, medical standards around the world can be as varied as the toppings on a taco. And those deals that seem too delicious to resist might lack the robust safety norms we're used to back home. Concerned about deciphering the local lingo? Fear not, technology to the rescue with real-time translation apps! But let's be real here; healthcare isn't a game of telephone. Truly understanding cultural idiosyncrasies can make a world of difference, swinging patient experiences and outcomes from sour to sweet.

Why is that because cost reduction remains a key motivation, the combination of affordability, expertise, accessibility and personal care makes Mexico an attractive destination for Americans seeking medical care and from a cost-cutting standpoint why Americans choose Mexico for medical care and which Finally, perhaps one important factor is the availability of specific procedures and treatments that may not be easily accessible or affordable in the United States.

In my opinion cost once increased would not reduce it. The only way to get rid of inflation is to earn more money and one should look for the ways to earn through passive income too.

Many people find different ways and links to different resources for example we live in south asian country and many treatments are very well in Bangkok so people also travel there if they have some extra funds.

If you are poor and have no emergency funds then you are in hot water esp if you have the problem which is needing a lot funds
we have seen this problem during our father sickenss we are not rich but we are not poor either. So we stopped going out and we saved all the money.

That is correct cost reduction is one great thing which is an attrection for some people ofcourse the good treatment is priority if they dont have money constrain.

the problem with some people really is that if they don't experience it they don't prepare on it like what happened also to us before when my grandmother still alive , because we are like easy go lucky and just thinking about the insurance as we though there are no excess in her getting hospitalize we haven't prepared but then that time comes we are so broke and a lot of loans and debts that is why we learn a lot of lesson that time and starting that time we do have really savings for hospitalization even small at least we do have spare money for that.

life is not easy and we have to take a lots of decisions in our lives but then there are people who are crazy to think that they will change the world are the one who really do. These are the people who thinks and dare to take the risky step and these are the inspirtation

I would say this has more to do with the obscene pricing of the American medical system than any particular quality, besides cheapness, of Mexican surgery. It always shocks me whenever I see any reference to hospital bills in the USA, as they seem to high and are very often overinflated, like they will itemize to bill $30 for a paracetamol. It's to do with the insurance companies that have become so ingrained in the system, more so than pharmaceutical companies even, that they manipulate everything and don't really give a toss about the wider picture of a healthier society, that the government should always be seeking.

This is quite normal. All Europeans and Asians also come to Türkiye for this. There are a lot of experienced Turkish doctors. The reason is that's cheaper and the service provided is of high quality. If good service can be obtained there, it's not surprising that Americans go to Mexico. As a result, it's the same treatment you get for much cheaper. You can do your holiday with extra money and maybe even save more.

I certainly agree that their government always make their healthcare system sound like they have a huge concern for their citizens where in fact, most of American's use a huge part of their savings every time they would be needing medical support. No wonder why there are Americans who travel for medical purposes because they can save more than half of their possible expenses compared to other countries despite spending travel expenses. Their healthcare system could easily be manipulated by the government and there's always a political agenda behind it which has been happening for over the years.

I think USA probably has one of the best quality medical services you can ever find in developed countries. This is not even debatable its obvious. On the other hand I think cost of American health services is too much compared to many European countries. I see that it's up to have your own health insurance but can insurances in America cover as much as European insurances do? Probably no. So Americans going to Mexico to get health services are cutting cost, nothing special.