The term “medical tourism” refers to people who travel from their home country to another country to receive medical treatment. The reasons for medical tourism include cheaper healthcare in other countries, getting treatments not available in your own country, getting a higher level of care, and immigrants flying back to their home country because they prefer getting medical treatment there.
Medical tourism has grown in popularity as people decide to find the best medical care possible, rather than making do with what is available in their own country.
Domestic Medical Tourism
One often overlooked facet of medical tourism is domestic medical tourism. This occurs when people find that the specific treatment they seek is done better in another state or city in their own country. In some cases, people will travel because the medical services are cheaper in another location.
This practice has gained popularity in the United States, where certain cities are hubs for the best medical care. People come from across the U.S. to receive a higher quality of care, or to take advantage of new treatments that might not be available in their own area.
Why Do People Practice Medical Tourism?
Any number of factors can drive a person to medical tourism. The following are some of the most common reasons.
Affordable Medical Care
Healthcare costs have soared in the U.S. Many patients simply cannot afford the treatments or procedures within the country. Because cheaper services are available in other countries, they still come out ahead even when factoring in travel costs. Some of the most common procedures that medical tourists undergo include cosmetic surgery, dentistry, and heart surgery, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Higher Quality Care
This issue often leads people to travel from other countries to the U.S. While costs are sometimes higher in the U.S., the quality of care is considered among the best available in the world. However, in some cases, people from the U.S. will travel to another country, especially for new procedures or treatments.
Flying Home
People from the U.S. who are currently living abroad will sometimes return home for medical treatments. They are far more comfortable getting treatment in their own country, and often the medical services available are of a higher quality than those in other parts of the world.
Travel Arrangements
As noted by the CDC, it’s wise to hire professionals to handle the details of traveling for medical tourism. A company such as Flying Angels has both expertise in available medical services as well as handling all the details of medical travel. Highly qualified and experienced nurses travel with patients, and healthcare and travel professionals make all the necessary arrangements for the trip.
Domestic medical tourism and international medical tourism will continue to grow in popularity as more people become aware of the advantages. The key is to weigh all the factors involved to make sure it’s the right move for you and to hire professionals with experience in making medical tourism go smoothly.