| The Baby Boomers are best known for the | | | | charge 40%-60% less than the best American |
| non-conformity of the 1960s when they stood up | | | | hospitals, and 90% of medical travel patients |
| to a government and a society that they found | | | | reported in a survey by the Medical Travel |
| oppressive. It comes as no surprise that the Baby | | | | Association that the level of care offered was not |
| Boomers continue to redefine what it means to | | | | only comparable to the US, but many times |
| stand up and say no in today's world through their | | | | superior.. Because of the way Mexican health care |
| fight against unfair healthcare fees in the United | | | | is structured, doctors are less burdened and thus |
| States. | | | | able to pass on the good prices to medical |
| More than ever before, Baby Boomers are | | | | travelers. |
| flooding south into Mexico hospitals for procedures | | | | Lower cost of living also plays a role. Doctors |
| ranging from the complex and cutting edge to | | | | tend to charge partially based on what they need |
| some of the oldest standards that medicine has | | | | to survive, and on what their practice needs in |
| to offer. In fact, some are even choosing to | | | | order to stay abreast of the latest technology. In |
| receive checkups during medical travel to Mexico | | | | Mexico hospitals, all these costs are lower. From |
| rather than maintaining a regular doctor stateside. | | | | the cost of medical school education to building |
| These changes save Baby Boomers hundreds or | | | | construction, wages and daily utilities, to some of |
| even thousands of dollars in medical bills every | | | | the most recent equipment technology purchases, |
| year, even after considering the low cost of | | | | Mexican doctors pay less, and medical travel in |
| airfare between the U.S. and the Mexico hospitals | | | | Mexico reflects those savings as well. |
| in question. | | | | Skilled Surgeons |
| Financial Wisdom: Lower Costs across the Border | | | | One of the strengths Baby Boomers are noticing |
| In America, any doctor has to contend with a | | | | in Mexico hospitals is their ability to offer cutting |
| myriad of financial constraints that threaten his or | | | | edge treatments, such as spinal stabilization |
| her practice and livelihood. Insurance agencies | | | | surgery and multifocal LASIK for presbyopia. |
| have a large industry presence, crowding out | | | | Many of the doctors these Boomers choose have |
| doctors that try to avoid participating in the | | | | actually trained alongside the leading U.S. experts, |
| insurer's costly plans. The result is rising prices for | | | | and have the same degree of skill. The Boomers |
| the patient, and increased co-pay amounts due to | | | | are getting the same quality of care, but because |
| lower insurance coverage. In short, the amount | | | | they choose medical travel in Mexico, the cost is |
| covered by insurance is falling just as the amount | | | | tens of thousands of dollars lower. |
| charged by doctors and hospitals is rising. For | | | | A Comfortable Place to Recover |
| many Baby Boomers, retirement expenses do | | | | In the past, some Boomers might have been |
| not allow them to cover this gap. | | | | concerned to spend the night so far from home. |
| Luckily, there are hospitals available just across | | | | But as hospitals have continued to develop, they |
| the border. With medical travel in Mexico, these | | | | have become almost indistinguishable from any |
| men and women are able to get the care they | | | | American hospital. Spending the night after medical |
| need without paying too much for it. They are | | | | travel in Mexico is no different from the night |
| able to maintain their health without completely | | | | after a surgery stateside, the only difference is |
| losing control of their finances. The main | | | | that home is a plane ride away rather than a car |
| differences between Mexico hospitals and U.S. | | | | trip. |
| facilities are the control that insurance companies | | | | However, few Boomers seem to be bothered by |
| have over the market and the general cost of | | | | the idea of distance. In fact, many report better |
| living in the area. | | | | treatment in private Mexico hospitals than in U.S. |
| In Mexico, the medical care industry is not | | | | facilities. Staff is said to be more attentive, |
| dominated by private insurance or the publicly | | | | doctors more caring, and nurses more focused, |
| traded corporations behind it. Doctors are free to | | | | with a lower ratio of nurses to patients. Overall, |
| set prices as they choose, based upon what they | | | | medical travel in Mexico produces as many |
| believe their services are worth. There is no | | | | positive responses in the Boomers as medical |
| upward pressure on prices, and so they remain at | | | | treatment in the U.S. and in many cases produces |
| a reasonable level. The best hospitals typically | | | | far more. |