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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Lots of people go overseas for cheaper care, and that includes Americans.

https://www.magazine.medicaltourism.com/article/top-10-medical-tourism-destinations-world

Canada and the UK are on the list of countries people go to for medical care.  Non residents would pay out of pocket, of course, so they don't use the national care service.

US is not on the list.  Most people in the world cannot afford American medical prices.

https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/top-5-medical-tourism-destinations-in-the-world-1176780/5/

This one lists in order from the first link (Medical tourism link)
1. Canada
2. Singapore
3. Japan
4. Spain
5. UK

Example of hip replacement surgery in different countries (hint: US is the most expensive; UK is less than half the cost of the US, and India is the cheapest):

https://www.medicaltourismco.com/hip-replacement-surgery-abroad/[/quote]

How do you get follow up care if you have a hip replacement or other procedure abroad? I'm part of the "if anything can go wrong it will go wrong" category of patients.[/quote]
Typically, medical tourists recover and stay in that country a bit longer until they are fully recovered.

Harder to do in the more expensive countries like Canada and UK.

I think if you go to cheaper countries, there are medical care packages you can buy. It covers the cost of the medical treatment, stay at a place where you can recover and you get care.

*If* something happens months later, I guess you have to go back or try to find a US doctor who will deal with it (most probably won't due to malpractice).

But, when you don't have the money for medical care, you are going to take that small risk of something happening to get that care that you can afford.[/quote]

When complications arise when patients return to the US, they appear in ERs and doctors are not happy about being faced with someone else's mess. Probably more with people who go to Mexico since part of the idea is likely not have to spend money on boht travel and extended stay in another country. [/quote]

This is the typical scare tactic to dissuade people from traveling abroad for much cheaper medical care, how is that any different than in the U.S.?  If I get a hip replacement done by a crappy surgeon in California, move to Virginia, and then need to go to the EE because of the crappy surgery, the ER doc in VA is still going to be dealing with crappy work left behind by a doctor far away.

American doctors think they’re the best in the world and that the rest of the world is incapable of training just as good physicians.  What a farce.   Typical dumb scare tactics used to convince Americans they should keep paying 10-1000x more for the same procedures that are done elsewhere in the world at just as good if not better standards than what you get here. [/quote]

This.  The difference in cost isn't because our doctors or equipment are better, it's due to many factors.

1) Doctors have to make enough to compensate for huge student debt and many years of not earning enough to pay it off.  Otherwise nobody will be going into medical profession 
2) Insurance companies are not non-profits and will be looking out to maximize returns. 
[b]3) Big Pharma and medical equipment industry will lobby hard to get their products pushed to general public and incentivize medical professionals to give them to patients.  This may not often be in patient's interests due to high prices or drugs/equipment later proven to be unsafe. [/b]
4) Malpractice insurance is very costly here and doesn't exist overseas.  If someone screws up your surgery overseas, can you sue?  
5) Not every hospital can turn away uninsured, some have to take in patients who are expensive to treat and will never pay.  This cost is prorated to the paying customers in the form of exorbitant and irrational fees for the same procedures/meds provided in other clinics and urgent care centers for a fraction of the cost. 
[b]6) Big hospital systems have huge admin overheads and dont' care to compete on prices with smaller clinics or radiology centers. 
7) hospital rooms cost more than 5 star hotels and this doesn't include care [/b]
[/quote]

These are standard insurance industry talking points. PP, are you affiliated with an insurance company of payer. [/quote]
Nope.  Not at all.  I would never advocate for insurance industry and our entire healthcare clusterf**k.     I Had stated this in point (2) .  
This doesn't negate issues with Hospital systems and Big Pharma I observe directly as a consumer.

I've had private health insurance and high deductible corporate plans.  [b]I've had to fight multiple claims and a couple of these lasted for years to avoid paying many thousands hospitals/insurance said I owed when they change things around with their network contracts.[/b]  I am not a fan. [/quote]

Can we talk about the bolded?  I also have good insurance, but the last couple of years I have defn seen an increase in me being told I was responsible for things that are clearly covered in my plan.  The biggest reason I get is "well we did cover that, but the medical office coded this other thing and that thing isn't covered."  Like I'm supposed to discuss coding on check out.  Last was I went in for an annual well woman aka gyn check.  The visit was covered, but the Dr's office "coded" an extra charge for the pelvic exam.  I was absolutely incredulous.....like how can you do an annual gyn exam without a pelvic?  Back and forth, back and forth until I finally figured that right appeal mechanism and got it removed.  It was also "only" for $50 so I'm sure a lot folks wouldn't even fight it.  But this type of thing is happening more and more in my experience.  And I'm sure it all has to do with players in the system trying to maximize profits.  Not healthcare.
[/quote]

They are literally scamming us. Right out in the open.[/quote]

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