Medical tourism: big savings, great risks

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The four Americans who were shot at and abducted in Mexico were reportedly visiting for medical tourism—making them part of a booming industry that is vital to Mexico’s economy.

“Pre-pandemic, some 1.2 million American citizens traveled to Mexico for elective medical treatment,” Josef Woodman, CEO of Patients Beyond Borders, told NPR. His firm de él publishes a guide to international medical travel.
Here’s an update on medical tourism, and the recent tragedy:

U.S. medical travel is rising sharply
“Today, the market is recovering rapidly in Mexico, nearly back to its pre-pandemic levels,” Woodman said.

Nearly 780,000 people were projected to leave the U.S. for health care in 2022, according to Healthcare.com, citing data from the medical travel website Medical Departures.

That outburst of activity got a big boost in late 2021, when the U.S. relaxed key border restrictions with Mexico.

Costa Rica is the second-most popular destination for the U.S. visitors seeking medical care elsewhere, Woodman said. It’s a particular draw, he added, for people in the Northeast and Southeast.

Most people travel for dental and cosmetic work
Cosmetic surgeries are just one of the procedures that are far cheaper in Mexico — for years, people have been visiting from the U.S. to get elaborate dental work or cosmetic treatments done, or to pick up antibiotics and other medicines at favorable prices.

Medical tourism does bring risks, experts say
While an element of risk is inherent in many procedures no matter where they’re performed, medical tourism can heighten complications, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Potential problems range from the dangers of flying in a pressurized plane cabin too soon after a surgery to the complications of getting follow-up care for a procedure done in another country.