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September 6, 2008 11:46:08 PM CDT

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US Insurers Warming to Medical Tourism

Posted Jun 30, 08 2:26 PM CDT in World,  Science & Health 

(Newser) – If you’re in need of high-priced surgery, your insurance company might have a plane ticket for you. Insurers are starting to warm to “medical tourism” for the same reason uninsured Americans are: Surgery is significantly cheaper overseas. At least 150,000 Americans go abroad for medical procedures every year; insurance typically covers just a handful, but the number is rising rapidly, MSNBC reports.

With analysts predicting savings at $20 billion a year, “I think the initial incentive will be for patients to avoid out-of-pocket costs and for employers to begin lowering their medical benefit costs a bit,” said Blue Cross rep. “But I am confident that what we will see is a steady stream of patients returning to the US as true disciples of this opportunity.”

Source MSNBC

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Surgery is performed in India in this file photo.   (Getty Images)
At least 150,000 Americans went overseas for surgery last year, but their insurance rarely covered it.   (Shutterstock)
The price is right for surgery overseas - particularly if insurance is picking up the bill.   (Shutterstock)
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health insurance  • health care costs  • health insurers  • medical tourism  • Cigna  • Aetna  • Blue Cross


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