Where Americans Go Abroad For Medical Care

So you want to go abroad for medical care. At the very least, you're considering it. But how do you know where you should go? What country's hospital system will give the best treatment? How much is distance a factor? What else should you be aware of? This article will answer your questions, allowing you to pursue the idea of traveling abroad for medical care with confidence.

First, we'll look at the range of countries now offering medical care to foreigners. The number grows every day, but we'll look at the definite standouts. Next, we'll compare them from the viewpoint of a U.S. traveler. We will examine the different countries from the perspective of a medical traveler looking to undergo a minor procedure, and also from the perspective of someone looking for an alternative to major surgery.

Medical Procedures: Mexico, India, and Beyond

Whenever medical travel is mentioned in conversation, the two countries that usually come to mind are Mexico and India. And with good reason: these two are the leaders overall, with the best facilities and staff as a whole. However, some good facilities are beginning to emerge in other countries around the world, but the overall quality still lags behind the Mexican and Indian advancements.

Depending on the procedure, there may be individual hospitals in certain countries that offer the service you are looking for. But finding the perfect hospital in one of the lesser-known medical travel countries can be problematic; there are fewer credible sources who can testify to the hospital's skill, and the major travel companies that help plan trips there are often new as well, making their recommendations unreliable.

Mexico Medical Travel vs. India Medical Vacation

On the surface, the quality of care available at these facilities may seem equal. Both countries show similar growth patterns in the medical field, and both have become recognized leaders in the health travel industry. However, there are in fact several differences between the two, all of them vital to determining the right place to have your treatment.

Comparison 1: Variety

Both countries offer a good number of different treatments at a range of hospitals. However, medical procedures in Mexico are often offered at a larger number of hospitals than in India, and are frequently available at a better overall standard than they are in India. Hospital networks in Mexico make Mexico medical travel easy, allowing patients to pick from a number of different hospitals that all offer the same quality of treatment. In a country as large as Mexico, the ability to fly into a number of different cities and get the same medical procedures in Mexico is an advantage.

Comparison 2: Quality

Here again the two are close. India and Mexico both have good doctors available to patients. If you choose the correct agency to work with, you will be able to get a valuable experience with Mexico medical travel or India medical travel. However, travelers tend to report more satisfaction with medical procedures in Mexico. Generally speaking, Mexico medical travel provides doctors who can be more patient-conscious and provide a better atmosphere for the American medical traveler.

Comparison 3: Location

Mexico is the hands-down winner in this category. India is literally an ocean away; medical procedures in Mexico are closer than some domestic destinations. Mexico medical travel offers an unmatched level of travel convenience, which can make all the difference for some travelers. Often, a patient is concerned about missing too much work due to recovery from a surgery. With a long flight like the return from India, there can be a strong concern about blood clots depending on the nature of the surgery. But with flights back after medical procedures in Mexico, the doctors are able to easily manage the risk, potentially getting travelers home days earlier and thus back to work days earlier. Mexico medical travel definitely has the advantage here.

Is Mexico Medical Travel Right for You?

In the end, the right place for you to receive treatment will be the place that makes you feel most comfortable. Look to the recommendations of friends you know and trust, and also find a good medical travel company whose work you trust. Word of mouth is invaluable for learning about medical procedures in Mexico, India, and throughout the world - there is no better way to understand where you're going than to speak with someone who has been there. You should retain a good medical travel company whether you have an experienced friend or not, but if you don't know anyone personally who has benefitted from health travel, your trip assistant will be even more vital. With the right information, you will get the full benefit of going abroad for healthcare.

Paulo Yberri writes for Angeles Health International, a medical travel agency specializing in angeleshealth.com/medicaltravel.html Mexico medical travel. AHI is your passport to best in class angeleshealth.com/procedures.html medical procedures - Mexico.