Medical Tourism 101

Millions of people travel to a different country for medical care every year.

My friend Ann* is one of them. My first response when I heard she wanted to have a procedure outside the country: Nope. N-O. Absolutely not. I’m calling your mother.

She laughed at me but I was serious. (Her mom and I exchanged numbers a long time ago.) Also, what if something went wrong during the procedure and we couldn’t reach her?

But Ann was convinced. She’d done her research about the facility, had phone calls with the healthcare providers (HCPs) and knew people who had a positive experience.

The reason she was considering medical tourism in the first place? Cash money. She couldn’t afford to have the cosmetic procedure done in the U.S., and it was literally thousands of dollars cheaper to do it abroad.

In the end, Ann had the surgery and I didn’t call her mother. Everything turned out OK and she was happy with the results.

But there are a lot of factors to consider when traveling internationally for medical care.

​Why do people travel for medical care?

Like Ann, many people travel to other countries for medical care because of the cost.

Procedures done outside the U.S. can be significantly less expensive for a lot of different reasons like lower overhead costs, lower cost of living and favorable exchange rates.

Medical tourism is also an opportunity to get a procedure and/or therapy/treatment that isn’t offered in the U.S., or to see an HCP with a similar cultural background.

​Women and medical tourism

Rhett Stoney, an epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Travelers’ Health Branch, said there’s no specific data regarding how many women participate in medical tourism a year.

But reproductive tourism, including fertility treatments are a common reason people travel abroad for care.

Other common reasons for medical tourism include:

• Cosmetic surgery
• Dental care
• Tissue and organ transplantation
• Cancer treatment
• Substance use disorder treatment and rehabilitation

​Where do people go for medical tourism?

People from the U.S. travel around North America and beyond for medical tourism.

The most popular locations include:

• Mexico
• Canada
• Central America
• South America
• Caribbean

Many people use medical concierge services or private companies to find HCPs, hospitals, clinics and accommodations that cater to medical tourists.

​The risks of medical tourism

Stoney said the risk of complications varies depending on the destination, the facility where you’re getting the treatment/procedure and if you’re healthy enough for the treatment or surgery.

Risks to consider when thinking about medical tourism include:

• Standard of care. Standards for licenses, accreditation and credentials may not be comparable to what’s required in the U.S. The same goes for the quality of medical devices and medications.

• Infection and noninfectious complications. Everyone runs the risk of infection when having a procedure — regardless of where you are. But the most common complications reported by medical tourists are infection-related.

Some countries lack appropriate infection prevention and control practices, which puts people at greater risk for bloodstream infections, infections at the surgical site, donor-derived infections and blood-borne infections, including hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.

Blood clots, surgical wound opening and contour abnormalities, such as skin lumps and dimples after cosmetic surgery are common complications.

• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR). AMR happens when germs (microbes) that make you sick don’t respond to antibiotics. This means infections are harder to treat and medical procedures such as surgery or chemotherapy are riskier. It’s important to note that AMR is a global problem, and highly drug-resistant bacteria and fungi have caused disease outbreaks among people who are medical tourists.

• Communication problems. If you don’t speak the language, you may not be able to accurately speak up for yourself, ask the appropriate questions or understand exactly what your HCP is telling you.

• Traveling after a procedure. Air travel after a surgical procedure can increase the risk for blood clots. The CDC recommends waiting 10-14 days after major surgeries to fly.

• Follow-up care. Depending on the type of medical care, complications and/or follow-up appointments with an HCP may be costly or not available after returning to the U.S.

​Research is key when deciding on medical tourism

Before making a decision about medical tourism, it’s important to do your own research and be as prepared as possible for any complications.

• Check the qualifications of the HCP who will be doing the procedure/administering treatment.

• Check the credentials of the facility through accrediting groups (Joint Commission International, DNV GL International Accreditation for Hospitals, International Society for Quality in Healthcare).

• Learn the costs associated with follow-up care in the U.S.

• Research the cost of emergency care, including medical evacuation (supplementary travel health insurance and medical emergency evacuation insurance are options to consider).

• Talk to your primary HCP about risks specific to your health, the destination, traveling before and after medical care, and options for follow-up care in the U.S.

• Research accommodations including where you’d be staying immediately following the treatment/procedure.

• Learn your options for communication if you don’t speak the language.

​Medical tourism isn’t just a trend

Medical tourism is more popular now than ever. And the industry shows no signs of slowing down.

If you or someone you know is considering medical tourism, it’s important to get all the facts and have all your questions answered before taking your care overseas.

Either way, you’ll have receipts to show your well-meaning BFF.

​Resources

American Medical Association Ethical Guidance on Medical Tourism

CDC Yellow Book: Medical Tourism

The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery guidelines for travelers

*Ann is not her real name.