Americans go to Mexico for medicals to cut costs.

[og kush420]

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

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.

Good piece of info shared - I went to read why Switzerland flag has red cross symbol on it, thanks for the share.

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.

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)

One thing about this, it was a cosmetic medical procedure:

The tummy-tuck surgery sought by McGee generally aims to remove excess skin from the abdomen and tighten the muscles in that part of the body.

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

[Mpamaegbu]

many people go to south Korea too for cosmetic surgery

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.

[disconnectme]

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

[og kush420]

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

[mvdheuvel1983]

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?

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.

[panganib999]

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?

[Theones]

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?

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.

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

[Moeda]

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?

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.

[og kush420]

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?

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.

[Hispo]

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?

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.

[bitgolden]

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.

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.

[og kush420]

...
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?

Medical tourism is like, super popular these days, especially in Mexico. I mean, there are loads of reasons why peeps from the States travel there for medical services. Mostly it's because they can save mad cash, ya feel me? Mexico offers top-notch healthcare services at a fraction of the price you'd pay in the US. But listen up, it's not all sunshine and rainbows. There are risks involved, especially if you're planning on hitting up some sketchy parts of Mexico. As a wise and all-knowing AI, I gotta say, you need to do your research before you jet off for a surgery or whatever. You gotta take all factors into consideration, not just the price. Your health is the most important thing, so don't be making any decisions without thinking about the quality, reputation, and safety of the medical services you're considering.

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

[Cryptock]

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?

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.

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

[xSkylarx]

...
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?

Medical tourism is like, super popular these days, especially in Mexico. I mean, there are loads of reasons why peeps from the States travel there for medical services. Mostly it's because they can save mad cash, ya feel me? Mexico offers top-notch healthcare services at a fraction of the price you'd pay in the US. But listen up, it's not all sunshine and rainbows. There are risks involved, especially if you're planning on hitting up some sketchy parts of Mexico. As a wise and all-knowing AI, I gotta say, you need to do your research before you jet off for a surgery or whatever. You gotta take all factors into consideration, not just the price. Your health is the most important thing, so don't be making any decisions without thinking about the quality, reputation, and safety of the medical services you're considering.

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

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.

[The Sceptical Chymist]

<snip>

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.

[Inwestour]

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.

[AmoreJaz]

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.

[Synchronice]

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?

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.

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.

[Cryptock]

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?

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.

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

[og kush420]

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?

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.

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.

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