Here are some AARP pieces — one from 2007.

http://www.aarp.org/aarp/broadcast/my_gen_archives/Mygen_107_archive/My_gen_106_seg_1/

http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourhealth/healthyliving/articles/affordable_surgery_closer_to_home_.html

http://bulletin.aarp.org/yourhealth/articles/traveling_for_treatment.html

FWIW, I am not a big fan of AARP, and I do not favor the federal government managing health care and business in the States.

I have been a medical tourist — 30 + years ago — before it was a “trend.” We had served in a developing country with a mission board. Went back for another purpose 2 years after returning to the States and had a crown put in by my “there” dentist who I already knew as part of out trip.

Would probably do it again if I knew who was at the mission hospital and what their training was …

But here’s a kicker — my physician here, now, is having some jaw surgery done on one of his kids in a South American country. Researched it and decided it was worth it and responsible.

There also was an article last year sometime on medical tourism — maybe in an AARP rag? Some place like that. Complete with contact info for researching stuff.

It’s out there. Ben Whatshyzname nothwithstanding.

They come to the US to get the best treatment money can buy. The US medical tourists can be broken down into two camps: those who do it to get more affordable treatment for standard conditions and those who do it looking for desperate cures.

RE: the 38th best medical care in the world.

This figure is very deceiving. For example, some boards rate a country lower depending on whether or not it has a socialized system. Also, as a rich country, albeit one living beyond its means, the US suffers from a number of diseases caused by self abuse via diet, etc. Finally, the US has some very violent minorities whose activities slew our results. For example, about 45% of the murders in the US is the result of black on black crime. I think the relative ranking of the US would rise it one discounted violent crime.

Nations specialize. There’s nothing surprising about it.

How many medical tourists come to the US vs. how many leave the US for other countries.

And then for the pontification. . . on why so many people travel half way around the world to get medical treatment in the country that only has the 38th best medical care in the world.

Incidently. . . .excellent point about the medical quacks abroad. In the 70’s and 80’s there were lots of Americans getting their laetrile and coffee enemas from the Mexican Cancer Clinics.