Medical tourism — where patients struggling to afford or find the right treatment at home head overseas — is booming, with many countries jostling to offer high-quality health care at a good price. In 2013, around 900,000 Americans traveled overseas for treatment, according to Patients Beyond Borders, a provider of medical travel information. And that number looks set to increase: 50 million Americans were either uninsured or underinsured for health care in 2013, according to the U.S.’s Medical Tourism Resource Guide.
However, health tourism is not the preserve of Americans — around 8 million patients from across the world seek overseas treatment each year, contributing to a global industry worth $24-$40 billion, says Patients Beyond Borders.
Reasons other than cost to travel overseas for health care include better treatment, as well as avoiding long waiting lists and dodging questions from colleagues and family.
Dentistry and cosmetic treatments in particular are commonly sought abroad. Click ahead to learn more about some of the most popular destinations for health care tourism, according to providers including Patients Beyond Borders and consultancies such as Deloitte.
Top destinations for health tourism
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