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Patients pack it up

Americans willing to travel to Mexico for affordable surgeries

Exotic locales, a party vibe and a steady stream of salted margarita glasses and ice cold cervezas have traditionally been what drew visitors to Mexico.

Today, it’s the promise of affordable lifesaving surgeries and medicines that attract American tourism dollars.

Medical tourism is a booming industry fueled by increasing health care costs and insurance carriers’ lists of procedures they will not cover. Last year, medical tourism generated $60 billion worth of medical care worldwide, according to an article in the Houston Chronicle. About 150,000 of those patients were Americans traveling abroad to Asia, Latin America and Mexico for surgical procedures ranging from the cosmetic to crucial.

Mexico’s proximity to the United States makes that nation poised to become the next logical superpower in the world of medical tourism. According to a University of Texas Medical Center study, more than 20 million U.S.-Mexico border crossings are made for medical care each year.

With 60 million Americans living without health insurance and millions more who are underinsured because of pre-existing health conditions or whose health is in jeopardy because their provider will not cover a procedure that could save them, more Americans are overcoming any apprehension about getting medical attention in a country whose water has a bad rap.

“We’re in a serious crisis when it comes to health care. Mexico is just the next step, it’s a natural market because here we have one of the largest wealthy populations in world but no universal coverage,” says Robert Page, vice president of operations for MedToGo, a Tempe-based company comprised of physicians and health care experts that facilitates the process for people seeking treatment in Mexico.

This includes making field calls and helping patients evaluate their options depending on what procedures they need. MedToGo collects all the appropriate documentation, reviews medical records, determines whether someone is a good candidate for the procedure and contacts doctors in Mexico. In the end, patients are given a list of options and make their decisions.

Besides easy access, Mexico’s proximity to the United States has created close connections between physicians on either side of the border. Page says this means Mexican doctors are up to speed on U.S. medical practices, technologies and what Americans expect. The North American Free Trade Agreement made it easier for Mexican hospitals to purchase high-tech equipment that previously rarely made it south.

Most common procedures sought by MedToGo clients are orthopedic surgeries, such as knee or hip replacements, in vitro fertilization, an elective, and gastric bypass or lapband operations (which are being covered less and less by insurance companies as American society gets heavier on fast food). Breast implants, rhinoplasty (for the nose) and other cosmetic procedures are also high on the list worldwide.

Page says patients are able to get these treatments in Mexico at typically a 50 percent savings or more than in the United States.

The popularity of medical tourism has sparked other industries. MedToGo established itself by providing unbiased health information to travelers. More than eight years later, Page and his colleagues are not alone. Several companies provide the same services but are often connected to or run by medical groups or brokers.

The hospitality industry also stands to benefit. Page recently met with tourism officials in Puerto Vallarta, who discussed a strategy to make the city a destination for medical tourism. He says he has noticed increased interest from hotels that want to be involved in receiving guests who are specifically in Mexico for medical treatment.

According to a USA Today study, as many as 80,000 American seniors already live in Mexico, many for the access to quality, affordable healthcare.