During a February speaking engagement at United Nations Association of New York, renowned author Sasha Issenberg offered a glimpse at the current state of medical tourism:

 

Some countries have found economic opportunity in turning healthcare into a global business. [A citizen of the United States] with insurance can expect to pay $90,000 for a heart bypass in the U.S., but only $12,000 if he or she travels to Thailand. Emiratis are heading to South Korea for organ transplants, Canadians to Costa Rica for dental implants, and Libyans to Bulgaria for knee surgery.

 

Mr. Issenberg has written for publications such as The New York Times, Monocle, the Boston Globe, Slate, the Washington Monthly and others. His latest book, OUTPATIENTS: The Astonishing New World of Medical Tourism, is currently getting positive reviews, and he is busy with lectures and appearances.

 

In his book OUTPATIENTS, Mr. Issenberg explores several trends that are shaping medical tourism, a global phenomenon that is doing away with the old standards of medicine at the national level. Mr. Issenberg argues that medical tourism is shattering the medical-industrial complex that shapes nations such as the United States, where the corporate healthcare industry is very aggressive in its intent to squeeze as much as possible from a $5 trillion annual market.

 

Another trend discussed by Mr. Issenberg is how medical tourists are discovering destinations such as Costa Rica. Cost cutting is certainly the main motivation, but reliable, quality results are equally important. “Creating a bond of trust to encourage patients to take the leap of faith to travel to another country for medical or dental care marketing is critical,” said Patrick Goodness, CEO of The Goodness Company, medical tourism marketing specialists. “Sure…the prices are lower for most procedures in Costa Rica when compared to the USA and Canada.  But few patients are willing to risk their health to save money. It’s important for patients to choose providers that are serious about caring for international patients.  Does the provider speak English? Does the provider have strong patient testimonials?  Do you feel 100% comfortable when you speak with your doctor on the phone?  These are very important factors for choosing an international doctor or dentist.”

 

Patients seeking reliable medical and dental providers have thousands of options from which to choose.  Many patients rely on medical and dental guides to help them choose from among the best providers.  These guides often feature serious providers that are dedicated to international patient care and offer competitive pricing.

 

Costa Rica has two official guides to help patients choose the best providers for medical procedures and dental treatments.  CostaRicaMedicalGuide.com and CostaRicaDentalGuide.com are leading resources to help patients find reputable, proven and safe providers.  The service is 100% free for patients. Staffed by actual doctors and dentists, patients are able to discuss their needs with trained medical professionals. After discussing the patient’s needs, patients are directed to reliable providers that pass the highest quality standards. In short, these guides help patients navigate their way to finding the best doctors and dentists with the help of trained medical professionals…not salespeople.

 

As medical and dental tourism options continue to proliferate in Costa Rica and around the globe, more and more patients will become tourists seeking affordable care away from home.  This is the future of healthcare.