t is estimated that thousands of U.S. residents travel abroad each year to receive medical care and get cosmetic procedures. While medical tourism used to be primarily for people from poorer countries traveling to more developed countries such as the U.S. to receive care, the growing cosmetic, dental, cardiovascular and fertility fields of medicine have shifted the trend.
Some still travel for care they cannot receive in their own country and others for well-being and holistic medicine not practiced where they are from, but the majority of medical tourists are seeking low-cost common procedures or cosmetic work at tourist destinations. At present, data suggests that by leaving the U.S. someone can save between 20-90% in costs, with India, Malaysia and Thailand topping the list for savings. Further, inexpensive recovery retreats and tourist attractions make a few weeks abroad very appealing – to the tune of more than $45 billion a year.
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