What Is Medical Tourism, and How Much Money Can It Save You?

Medical tourism involves traveling to another country to obtain healthcare. Traveling for medical, dental, and cosmetic treatments could save you money.

Because healthcare costs in the U.S. are the world’s highest, some people are willing to travel to meet their needs. According to medical-tourism advocacy group Patients Beyond Borders, more than 20 million people worldwide crossed international borders in 2019 for medical tourism. About 2 million of those people traveled from the U.S.

The U.S. Department of Commerce reports that health treatment was the primary reason for about 1% of U.S. outbound international air travel in 2020. Health treatment was among the reasons for nearly 2% of that travel. These numbers don’t include the thousands of people who cross the U.S.-Mexico border or go to Canada for care by modes of transportation other than air travel.

Often, those seeking care are traveling from higher-income countries to lower-income nations. However, the U.S. remains a highly desirable destination for medical tourism for fertility treatments and stem cell therapy. Some large hospitals offer international patient programs and medical travel services.

What are five ways medical tourism could reduce your healthcare costs?

Medical tourism could save you money on several fronts.

Here are five money-saving ways we will explain in more detail later:

• If you have insurance, you could pay less than your deductible and copay, even including the added expenses for airfare or fuel and lodging.

• If you are having an elective procedure, you may pay less than in the U.S., even including travel costs.

• Dental procedures in the U.S. can be especially expensive. There are options across the U.S.-Mexico border that offer similar services at a fraction of the cost.

• You may be able to combine your medical care with a vacation.

• Establishing residency in another country could allow you to access a high-quality, affordable universal healthcare system for all of your medical needs, including chronic conditions and long-term prescription medications.

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Is medical tourism legal?

Yes. Leaving the U.S. and other countries for healthcare is legal. Dozens of countries compete for medical tourism business.

Organizations offer guidance, such as this medical travel guide for plastic-surgery tourists from the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. Several U.S. medical centers have opened hospitals and clinics abroad that attract local and traveling patients.

Can medical tourism reduce your healthcare costs?

Often, yes. Depending on where you travel, you can save at least 20% on your healthcare costs, according to Patients Beyond Borders. In many destinations in Asia, the savings can be more than half of what you’d pay at home.

Typically, elective procedures are not covered by health insurance. Even with insurance, your out-of-pocket costs for covered medical care can be substantial — in the thousands of dollars. If you must shell out that kind of money, you may be able to pay the entire cost of your care in another country.

Common services

Medical travelers seek a variety of healthcare services abroad. 

According to Patients Beyond Borders, the top specialties offered abroad include:

• Cosmetic surgery (breast augmentation, liposuction, eyelid surgery)

• Dentistry (general, restorative, cosmetic)

• Cardiovascular (angioplasty, coronary artery bypass surgery, transplants)

• Orthopedics (joint and spine, sports medicine)

• Cancer (often experimental or last resort)

• Reproductive (fertility, in vitro fertilization, women’s health)

• Weight loss or bariatric (gastric bypass, lap band)

• Scans, tests, health screenings, second opinions

Which countries are popular for medical tourists from the U.S.?

Medical tourists from the U.S. are most likely to go to South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. The top destinations for U.S. travelers are Mexico and Canada. Asia is considered a major medical tourism destination for travelers worldwide.

According to Patients Beyond Borders, the top destinations for medical tourism are:

• Costa Rica

• India

• Israel

• Malaysia

• Mexico

• Singapore

• South Korea

• Taiwan

• Thailand

• Turkey

• United States

In fact, Mexico and Costa Rica are popular destinations for U.S. travelers seeking dental care, cosmetic surgery, and discounted prescription medications. 

Thousands of people cross the U.S.-Mexico border annually for affordable dental procedures. Los Algodones in Mexico — known as “Molar City” or the “Dental Capital of the World” — is a 20-minute drive from Yuma, Arizona, and a 2-hour drive from San Diego. There are hundreds of dentists who offer fillings, crowns, and other dental services for prices far lower than in the U.S.

People from the U.S. report going to Thailand, India, and South Korea for more complex procedures such as orthopedics, cardiovascular, cancer, and fertility treatments.

The Dominican Republic, Colombia, and Mexico are known for their prolific churn of U.S. residents who visit for Brazilian butt lifts, or BBLs, which are usually buttock enhancement surgeries.

What are the benefits of medical tourism?

The leading reason people travel for medical care is affordability. 

But there are other benefits, though, according to researchers. They include:

• Shorter waiting lists

• Quality of care

• Availability of procedures

• Legality of procedures

• Cultural understanding, including shared language

• Vacation packages combined with healthcare

What are the risks involved with medical tourism?

As with any medical treatment, there is a possibility something will go wrong. There can be additional risks if you seek medical tourism. According to a study of academic papers on medical tourism published in 2019, the reported rate of complications for weight-loss surgery abroad can exceed 50%.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are specific risks if you receive healthcare outside the U.S. Those risks include:

• Infectious disease: You may have a higher likelihood of infections to wounds, your bloodstream, or from an organ or tissue transplant. You also could be at higher risk for acquiring hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV — and even SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

• Antibiotic resistance: This is a global concern, however, the risk of antibiotic resistance is higher in some countries. There is also the risk of bringing a multidrug-resistant infection back home that can spread on the community level.

• Quality of care: The licensing, credentialing, and accreditation in some countries may be less rigorous than in the U.S. Equipment and devices may not have the same regulatory requirements, and medications could be counterfeit or ineffective.

• Communication challenges: You might not speak the same language as the medical staff, and translation may be unavailable or inadequate. This can lead to misunderstandings about your healthcare.

• Traveling: Long plane rides or car rides can increase your risk of blood clots. If you have had chest or abdominal surgery, you should not travel by air for at least 10 days after because of the associated changes in atmospheric pressure. If you have cosmetic procedures on your face, eyelids, or nose — or if you have had laser treatments — you should wait 7 to 10 days before taking a flight. Traveling also may expose you to viruses, such as the one that causes COVID-19.

• Continuity of care: You may need follow-up care when you return home whether you have complications or not.

Should you talk to your doctor about medical tourism?

Yes. It’s important to consult your primary physician before planning a medical tourism trip. Share your plans and your reasons for seeking care outside the U.S.

Your doctor may be able to help you reduce costs and continue care with your current providers. If cost is a concern, you may have options if you ask about prices upfront.

Consult your doctor about whether the procedure you are seeking will interfere with your current treatment. You also should ask about follow-up care at home, which may be needed when you return.

Once you decide to travel for medical care, you may want to schedule pre-travel health consultations with your medical providers at home. The CDC advises having these conversations at least 4 to 6 weeks before you leave.

What should you consider before visiting another country for medical care?

Before scheduling a medical tourism trip, you should do your research about the destination facility as well as any providers who will be working with you.

According to the U.S. Department of State, U.S. citizens who travel abroad for medical care should:

• Verify the educational credentials, training, and reputation of your provider

• Visit the CDC website for advice on medical tourism

• Check the Department of State’s country information site about your destination

• Find out if you need tests or vaccinations to travel — for instance, your destination may require COVID-19 vaccination and/or proof of a negative COVID-19 test

It’s also important to check the facility’s accreditation and reputation. In the U.S., the Joint Commission is the nation’s oldest and largest standard-setting and accreditation organization for healthcare. The commission certifies and accredits more than 22,000 healthcare organizations and programs in the U.S.

The commission’s associated organization, Joint Commission International, accredits and certifies more than 1,000 healthcare organizations and programs worldwide. You can use JCI’s World Hospital Search to find hospitals that have earned the commission’s gold seal of approval. You can use another tool to search for all JCI-accredited institutions.

In addition to JCI, the State Department names other accrediting groups that you can check, including DNV GL Healthcare international accreditation for hospitals. It’s important to note that accreditation does not guarantee the outcome of your procedure.

Also, consider any language differences or dialects if you speak the same language. Determine if you will need a translator and check their level of skill with both languages. Miscommunication can cause problems with your care.

Finally, you should consider the costs of seeking care in another country. You will need to add travel and lodging expenses to your budget. You will need to factor in the costs of complications, delays, and other unexpected events, as well. Because an air-ambulance ride back to the U.S. will be costly, you may want to consider buying medical evacuation insurance or travel insurance. You also may have costs associated with your absence from work or home.

Is seeking residency or citizenship outside the U.S. a better option for managing healthcare costs?

It depends. Medical tourism is an option for people who want to visit another country for healthcare. Some people choose full-time or seasonal residency — and even citizenship — in another country to access more affordable medical care. Often, people who make this choice are not captured in data about medical tourism.

Moving often has a cost. There also may be fees associated with applying for residency or citizenship in another country. Typically, you must meet certain guidelines to qualify. You often have to pay or are taxed for access to the country’s public or private healthcare systems.

For instance, permanent residents of Costa Rica pay taxes that allow them to participate in the country’s universal healthcare system. Permanent residents also can buy a health plan for access to the private system. Medical procedures often are more affordable than in the U.S. Compared to other countries, Costa Rica offers high-quality healthcare while spending less than the world average by more than one measure.

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Written by:

Camilo Hannibal Smith

Camilo Hannibal Smith is a journalist with more than a decade of experience. His bylines have appeared in numerous online and print publications.

Edited by:

Cindy George, MPH

Cindy George is the senior personal finance editor at GoodRx. She is an endlessly curious health journalist and digital storyteller.

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