Americans go to Mexico for medicals to cut costs.

[South Park]

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.

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.

[STT]

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.

[Sithara007]

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.

[Vishnu.Reang]

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.

[EarnOnVictor]

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

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.

[slapper]

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.

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.

[southerngentuk]

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?

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.

[BIT-BENDER]

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.

[BobK71]

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.

[wiss19]

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.

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.

[Latviand]

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.

[woez]

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.

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

[Synchronice]

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 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.

[umbara ardian]

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.

[og kush420]

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?

[EarnOnVictor]

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 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.

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.

[Synchronice]

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.

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.

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.

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.

[justdimin]

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.

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.

[og kush420]

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 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.

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.

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

[EarnOnVictor]

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.

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.