| Whether you are a seasoned medical tourist or | | | | chooses the right location, a doctor with all the skill |
| have only just begun to consider health travel to | | | | and experience of any American physician will |
| Mexico, choosing the right hospital for a procedure | | | | perform the procedure. In fact, in many cases |
| can be a daunting task. With the wide variety of | | | | patients who take advantage of Mexican |
| facilities available and the many different doctors | | | | healthcare report better service and care than |
| at each, it can be a very difficult process to | | | | they would have expected from an American |
| select the ideal location. | | | | doctor. Doctors are able to be more patient |
| Health tourism in Mexico has become so | | | | focused than in the U.S. because healthcare is |
| widespread that some cities have begun to define | | | | truly about health, not about meeting the |
| themselves around their healthcare tourism. They | | | | demands of big insurance companies. |
| boast some of the best hospitals and they are | | | | Lower Overhead Lowers Patient Costs |
| home to some of the top-notch doctors and | | | | One of the key factors that help make health |
| specialists in North America. These cities typically | | | | travel to Mexico so efficient is the lower cost of |
| have doctors who help train new American | | | | living nationwide. Compared to the U.S., Mexican |
| doctors, working in medical schools such as | | | | facilities pay less for everything. From utilities to |
| Stanford and UCLA. Although you may still need | | | | equipment to salary, the cost of living is lower, |
| to search for the city that offers the specialty | | | | which means that the baseline cost of any |
| you need, health travel to Mexico is much easier | | | | procedure will be lower as well. The hospital staff |
| to plan when you start your search with this list | | | | wages are lower, as is the cost of |
| of locations. | | | | state-of-the-art technology and equipment, |
| The Evolution of the 'Medical City' | | | | allowing for the same standards of care and |
| Originally, medical cities arose because they were | | | | service at a much lower cost to the patient. |
| easily accessible for American tourists who would | | | | American Insurance Doesn't Control Healthcare |
| drive across the border. But as the benefits of | | | | South Of The Border |
| healthcare in Mexico have become more well | | | | In the U.S., large insurance companies have a lot |
| known, the number of men and women flying to | | | | of control over hospitals and doctors alike. By |
| hospitals south of the border, rather than driving | | | | deciding which facilities are 'in network' and which |
| increased. While the original cities maintained their | | | | aren't, large insurance companies can dictate |
| status as hotspots for healthcare, new ones also | | | | whether a doctor or hospital loses thousands of |
| began to emerge. Today, Monterey, Tijuana, | | | | patients. Because of this leverage, doctors and |
| Juarez, Mexico City, Mexicali, and Guadalajara are | | | | hospitals are very eager to please these large |
| all popular destinations, hosting elite hospitals with | | | | companies, who rarely have the best interests of |
| skilled surgeons and highly trained staff. And, | | | | the patients themselves at heart. |
| following in footsteps of Brazil, resort cities such | | | | In contrast, Mexican hospitals are completely |
| as Cancun and Puerto Vallarta are rapidly | | | | outside the reach of big American insurance |
| becoming favored destinations for quality, | | | | companies (though ironically, many insurance |
| affordable elective procedures such as cosmetic | | | | companies are beginning to see medical travel as |
| surgery and bariatric surgery. | | | | a solution for providing lower cost policies to U.S. |
| Today's destination is a more highly developed | | | | members). Medical travel to Mexico allows |
| version of the original cities that first made health | | | | American patients to freely select the hospital of |
| vacations in Mexican locales so economically | | | | their choice, based purely on recommendations |
| efficient. They feature state-of-the-art hospitals, | | | | and strengths of the individual hospital. The |
| skilled surgeons and dentists that are only a short | | | | benefits of a free market system come into play, |
| drive or flight away from the U.S., and feature | | | | and prices are set fairly, rather than dictated |
| hotels and other amenities that are useful for | | | | arbitrarily by a big corporation. The costs are |
| medical travelers. Some are also close to vacation | | | | determined based on what is reasonable to pay, |
| hotspots, allowing patients who choose medical | | | | and patients are charged accordingly. Doctors |
| travel to Mexico to incorporate a real vacation. | | | | don't have to worry about restrictions imposed |
| Patients Save with Medical Travel to Mexico | | | | by insurance, and can instead focus on caring for |
| Whether patients drive or fly, they flock to these | | | | patients. These differences make medical travel |
| cities for two simple reasons: savings and quality | | | | to Mexico hospitals cost effective, and also |
| of care. The typical surgical procedure can be | | | | provide quality and service that surpasses many |
| performed there for one-third of the typical cost | | | | American facilities. |
| in an American facility, and when the patient | | | | |