Josef Woodman, the author of a guidebook on the topic called Patients Beyond Borders, conservatively estimates that more than 150,000 Americans traveled abroad for health care in 2006. Woodman said that many experts believe the number is as high as 400,000. Woodman believes more Americans are seeking their medical services elsewhere because of the rising U.S. health-care costs and a growing numbers of uninsured or under-insured Americans.



In many states, new health travel agents have begun to appear. According to HealthDay, “Salud con Health Net, a program of Health Net of California, provides access to health care for their insured Latino participants for services conducted across the border in Mexico. And BlueCross/BlueShield of South Carolina and BlueChoice HealthPlan of South Carolina now offer medical care at Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, among treatment options. Bumrungrad treats more than 400,000 international patients every year."

According to medicaltourist.com, the price savings can be astronomical. A hip replacement that would cost $43,000 in the United States costs $12,000 in Thailand or Singapore. A Hysterectomy that would cost $20,000 here only cost $3,000 India.

Dr. Ann Marie Kimball, a professor of epidemiology and health services at the University of Washington School of Public Health, in Seattle said, "My own advice would be to look carefully at the accreditation of the hospital and consider the nature of the procedure. Are you sure it is the procedure you need? And is it done well at the place you are going?"

According to HealthDay, “A growing number of overseas hospitals are accredited under the Joint Commission International, the international arm of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization (JCAHO), which accredits U.S. hospitals and other facilities."

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