In recent years, medical tourism has become extremely popular within the United States. There is a growing trend among Americans to travel outside the country for elective surgeries and procedures; and this trend has also been observed in Western Europe, Australia and Asia. It is estimated that about 500,000 Americans travel abroad for medical treatment each year to take advantage of affordable medical care and medical procedures.

Medical tourism is a term coined by the media that defines going to another country for medical treatment. Practically all over the world, people not only go on vacation abroad, but also enjoy their vacation with a medical procedure. Medical services in other countries are estimated to cost 10 to 90 percent less than they do in the United States. This fact has given a boost to medical tourism in the United States.

This is not to say that health associations, insurance companies, and health care providers in the US are unaware of this growing trend. Is it so; and many health insurance companies are now offering coverage for certain medical procedures that the insured may have had done in another country. Furthermore, insurance providers are also offering discounted rates if the person opts for medical tourism.

From cosmetic surgery to dental care and hip replacement, they are available at cost-effective prices in countries like Mexico, India, Thailand, Argentina, and Malaysia. In fact, many facilities in these countries are accredited by the accreditation boards of the Medical Association in the United States.

The reason why medical tourism has become so popular is because of the rising cost of health insurance and medical care in the United States. The attraction of being able to save money and combine the medical procedure with a vacation is very strong. This is also a source for finding treatment for uninsured Americans, and the cost of the trip, stay, and medical procedure is much cheaper than what the person would have paid in the US.