U.S. Loses $15 Billion Each Year As Americans Go Abroad For Health Care
It’s called medical tourism. Some Americans leave their home states for health services in other parts of the United States. Others travel abroad for better care, costing the U.S. billions in lost revenue.
Click here for reuse options!Sick of losing patients to international competitors, US states are spending millions of dollars, passing legislation and even revamping cities to make themselves more attractive to domestic medical tourists – people like Losen, who cross state lines for medical care. An estimated $15bn in revenue leaves the US every year as Americans travel internationally for healthcare, predominantly for cheaper elective treatments. US states are working to lure those patients back by playing up their quality care, competitive pricing and first-class amenities…
“After a lot of coverage of international medical travel, facilities in the United States started promoting models of domestic medical travel,” said Leigh Turner, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota and editor of the book Risks and Challenges in Medical Tourism. “They’d basically say: ‘Think of all the concerns you’d have if you go abroad for care; everything that can go wrong. Wouldn’t you feel better off staying in the United States?’
”Large, self-insured employers – such as Lowe’s – partnering with healthcare centers for bundled medical packages have been the primary drivers behind domestic medical tourism. Still, it’s tough to say how many US residents travel domestically for healthcare. One estimate, by the nonpartisan government spending watchdog Florida TaxWatch, suggested that more than 375,000 US residents spend upwards of $5.2bn as domestic medical tourists in Florida in an average year.
Copyright 2014 Liberaland
10 responses to U.S. Loses $15 Billion Each Year As Americans Go Abroad For Health Care
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Denise December 14th, 2014 at 10:43
I would think the states that refuse to expand Medicaid and Medicare would have citizens crossing into other countries. Perry and all the other republican governors that refuse to expand have no idea how much this traveling to another state for healthcare cost them financially
Denise December 14th, 2014 at 11:43
I would think the states that refuse to expand Medicaid and Medicare would have citizens crossing into other countries. Perry and all the other republican governors that refuse to expand have no idea how much this traveling to another state for healthcare cost them financially
fahvel December 14th, 2014 at 12:34
it doesn’t cost the usa anything – it is simply global economy – get it?, when folks are charged extortionate rates for med care they might just shop elsewhere. When it’s the $, the usa falls short of any humanity or ethic..
fahvel December 14th, 2014 at 13:34
it doesn’t cost the usa anything – it is simply global economy – get it?, when folks are charged extortionate rates for med care they might just shop elsewhere. When it’s the $, the usa falls short of any humanity or ethic..
edmeyer_able December 14th, 2014 at 14:19
Well from things I’ve seen on the tube and the net procedures can cost from 1/3 to 1/10 as much for such things as dental implants to hip replacements and that includes travel expenses. So it’s understandable why this is done.
However I can’t help but feel the US has sued their way to these prices. jmo
edmeyer_able December 14th, 2014 at 15:19
Well from things I’ve seen on the tube and the net procedures can cost from 1/3 to 1/10 as much for such things as dental implants to hip replacements and that includes travel expenses. So it’s understandable why this is done.
However I can’t help but feel the US has sued their way to these prices. jmo
Dwendt44 December 14th, 2014 at 23:33
Some self insured companies and even some insurance companies are encouraging this.
Thailand and IIRC, India have a whole industry dedicated to US patients.
Brazil does a lot of plastic surgery from what I’ve read.
Dwendt44 December 15th, 2014 at 00:33
Some self insured companies and even some insurance companies are encouraging this.
Thailand and IIRC, India have a whole industry dedicated to US patients.
Brazil does a lot of plastic surgery from what I’ve read.
Bob Cronos December 16th, 2014 at 19:06
My brother in law saved $25,000 by going to Mexico for his dental implants – that’s capitalism at work my friends…
Bob Cronos December 16th, 2014 at 20:06
My brother in law saved $25,000 by going to Mexico for his dental implants – that’s capitalism at work my friends…