The cost of medical services in the United States

Over the past 20 years, the cost of medical treatment has climbed dramatically in the United States, making it more difficult for many Americans—particularly those with middle- and low-incomes—to pay for their health care. It is more challenging for individuals without insurance. The services are not to most Americans’ satisfaction. They contend that the costs are excessive and the service is of subpar quality (Skountridaki, 2017). The American is being forced to choose to fly to other nations, such Puerto Rico and Mexico, whose expenses are almost half as expensive in the United States, in order to seek medical assistance due to their unhappiness and the high cost of medication.

whose costs are almost half the cost in the United States to seek medical help.

The advantages.

Economic revenue. The amount paid by the patients can be used to improve the infrastructure of medical facilities of a given nation. Japan, for instance, is keen on medical tourism because the country has seen the benefits. It not only generates revenue to the hospitals but also foreign income that can be used to transact other business.

Cheaper options. The cost of medication in America is high to the point that some companies are encouraging their employees to seek medication in other countries. It would cost about 51,000 USD in the United States to get a hip replacement (Skountridaki, 2017). In Puerto Rico, it is half the cost so many people would opt to travel to other countries where the cost are lower than to pay high costs at home.

The comfort. The patients who have traveled to other countries claim that the hospital services at the facilities can be compared to a four-star hotel (“Medical Tourism Thailand Bangkok Hospital Hua Hin”, 2017). Unlike in the United States where those options would be more expensive and beyond the affordability of the majority of the population.

The disadvantages.

The risk of infections. The patients have to travel back to their countries, and if they have not healed well, they may be infected by bacteria causing the patient to develop other life-threatening complications.

The risk of poorly performed procedures. For some people, they are desperate to get the things they want. In Plastic surgeries, for instance, the risks are too high. We have so many Americans with botched bodies. They end up spending more money for corrective surgeries that even put their life at risk.

Inability to sue. Different counties have different legal requirements in the United States. One can sue a medical facility for reduced services, for instance, when a patient develops complications after treatment because of negligence by the doctors (Lee, Han & Lockyer, 2012). In other countries, it may be difficult to sue or even find lawyers who will be willing to travel now and then to the court proceedings.

To maximize the benefits of medical tourism, the destination countries should aim at improving the quality of their services to get referrals from previous people who have been treated at the facilities. Good services increase the confidence and enhance the experience of the customer.

The external effects harm the patients, and it is essential for the medical experts to create awareness about the impact to the public. They should also seek ways to offer affordable medical assistance to the low and medium income earners so that we reduce the number of people traveling to find medical help in other countries.

Conclusion.

Medical tourism offers advantages to the patients, but there are also risks that may arise from the same. There is a need for educating the public about the implications to minimize the risk to a minimum level.

References.

Lee, M., Han, H., & Lockyer, T. (2012). Medical Tourism—Attracting Japanese Tourists For Medical Tourism Experience. Journal Of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 29(1), 69-86. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10548408.2012.638564

Medical Tourism Thailand Bangkok Hospital Hua Hin. (2017). YouTube. Retrieved 28 October 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PxLxXGiSEk

Skountridaki, L. (2017). Barriers to business relations between medical tourism facilitators and medical professionals. Tourism Management, 59, 254-266. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2016.07.008