Look up "medical tourism" if you think USA is number 1 in healthcare

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

More and more Americans are finding it is more cost effective to pay for the costs of medical/dental procedures outside of the USA. This is including the cost of travel and lodging.

One more way America is losing ground. Also, we will cease to be the medical destination of choice for wealthy "furriners". They don't like to throw away money anymore than anyone else does.

[Warpy]

1. A few of the better teaching hospitals in this country

will continue to draw medical tourists as that is where new treatments are being pursued here. Most of the rest of the medical infrastructure is starting to deteriorate, a victim of decades of stupid cost cutting to maximize profit.

My hip is starting to go. Since I have absolutely no faith in this country's ability to provide anything for its citizens, I'll probably join the crowd overseas when it's time.

[Stinky The Clown]

3. Many years ago, in another life, I worked at Johns Hopkins

(No, I am in no way a medical professional.)

This was in the late 70s.

There was a steady stream of Middle Eastern potentates, mucky mucks, pooh bahs, and assorted rich fucks with beards and robes.

I know, cuz I hadda feed 'em. It was hard to find fresh goat back then.

[Warpy]

4. The same thing was happening at Mass. General

where I was working. They'd show up with the suitcase full of money and hospital administration would kiss their feet for the duration.

I actually figured out how to establish a decent rapport with them across the language barrier but it wasn't easy.

I imagine the flood to both places has now slowed to a trickle. There are nicer hospitals in Thailand, India, Brazil, Mexico, and many other places.

[Stinky The Clown]

5. Hopkins is now mostly a HMO

I kid you not .......

[stray cat]

2. More cost effective but thats not the same as going some place because it has better treatments

health care on the cheap - if we got rid of lawsuits I could start up a medical practice offering health care on the cheap as well although I suspect my surgery success rates would be quite limiting.