Motivation for Medical Travel

For many, the major motivation of traveling abroad for medical reasons is the idea of saving money on a procedure that costs much more in the U.S. While this is generally satisfactory motivation for most, there remains a variety of other reasons why one might choose to travel overseas for medical care.

There are an estimated 85 million uninsured and under insured individuals in the U.S., and 120 million U.S. citizens without dental coverage. Those individuals can explore much less expensive options for healthcare overseas, often with more personalized care. Standard insurance does not cover many elective procedures in the U.S., which motivates patients looking for a cheaper alternative to consider medical travel. Another motivating factor is that foreign countries also permit some procedures not currently approved in the U.S., which is attractive to those faced with serious conditions.

Family is another motivator for many patients looking into medical travel. Some simply join a loved one for their procedure abroad, and others seek to help a family member benefit from medical travel.

There are many reasons for an individual to travel outside the U.S. for medical care. Every individual should asses their situation and motivation for considering medical travel, and plan accordingly.

References:
http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/2008/10/01/6-types-of-patients-who-might-benefit-from-medical-travel.html