More Insurance Firms Allow Medical Tourism

Just received word that there's a new edition of Patients Beyond Borders: Everybody's Guide to Affordable, World-Class Medical Care Abroad coming out at the beginning of August. I loved this book when I first read it a year or so ago and a TON has happened in the medical tourism industry since that time (and the industry continues to change/evolve almost daily.) I'll be receiving a copy of the new book soon and will give you my thoughts on it, but for now I wanted to share a few interesting points the publisher highlighted when she sent me a recent email on the book. Her comments:

Over the past few months and since the launch of the First Edition, medical travel has seen some tremendous changes:

• Two insurance company giants (Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Aetna) have begun offering coverage for medical care abroad.
• The American Medical Association (AMA) has published its AMA Guidelines on Medical Tourism.
• In the past year, more than 50 new international hospitals have gained American accreditation through the Joint Commission International (JCI).
• Two large US hospitals will soon open full-service medical facilities abroad.
• The number of medical travelers worldwide has jumped to nearly 3 million—180,000 from the US alone.
• For the first time, more patients are leaving than entering the US for medical treatment.

The issue of affordable health care is not going to go away (we'll be hearing a LOT about it during the upcoming presidential election, I'm sure) and medical tourism may be one solution to our "crisis." And even if it's not part of the national plan for everyone, I'm sure that a growing number of individuals will select this option for their major health care needs. The fact that major insurers are now paying for medical tourism procedures is a HUGE step in helping this trend gain momentum.

For more on this issue, see these past FMF posts:

• Big Savings in Medical Tourism

• Want Better Health Care? Go Abroad

• Medical Tourism Saves Money and More Insurance Carriers are Approving It

• Why Go Abroad for Medical Care Reason #1: Cost Savings

• Why Go Abroad for Medical Care Reason #2: Better Quality Care

• Medical Tourism Can Save You Thousands of Dollars