How Medical Tourism May Save Your LIfe!

Medical Tourism Can Certainly Save You Money -- Especially If You Are Not Insured

Health Tourism -- History

More Americans than ever before are taking advantage of medical treatments in foreign countries. They are medical or health tourists. They are riding the growing wave of health tourism. Some of the travel is for elective surgery and some for major medical procedures.

So far, the debate about health care and health care insurance by both Senator McCain and Senator Obama, has not included any great mention of this viable and important third option that exists between government controlled health care and a struggling private system of health care.

Medical or Health Tourism is a relatively new term, but those who have traveled for health have been around for eons. Ancient Romans traveled to the hot water baths (called thermae) from all across the world, as it existed then. No mere gushing spouts of water and bare rocks, these were elaborate establishments that served up cures but also served as places for the elite to meet.

In the United States, many places with "healing waters" were common until science and medicinal cures overtook a comforting soak. Look at a map, and in nearly every state is someplace with the word "springs" attached. Hot Springs, Arkansas, for instance, was a gathering place for Native Americans to take the cures that the 143 degree water offers. The Native Americans, and the white settlers that followed, traveled to Arkansas; they were the medical tourists of the day.

Modern Medical Travel:

It would seem that with the ease of modern travel that more and more people would be looking for treatment beyond their own city, state and even borders. It turns out to be true. It is estimated that 47 million people in the United States have no health insurance. Some have no insurance by choice (mostly younger and statistically healthier people) and some have been priced out of buying affordable insurance, or do not have it offered through their place of employment. Another 120 millions US citizens are believed to be under-insured.