ihavenobias's Journal - Are Republicans Right? No One Leaves The US For Healthcare?

One of the biggest Republican talking points in response to the fact that the US healthcare system is insanely expensive but doesn't provide the best outcomes in some key areas is that 'we have the best system in the world because everyone comes here for healthcare but no one leaves for it'.

Now, aside from the fact that they're ignoring the clear and devastating (to their arguments) research, no one bothers to ask if their talking point is true. Sure, we know that people with a ton of money sometimes come to the US for healthcare, but what's the relevance to the average person with an average financial situation?

And more importantly, they claim that no one leaves the US. Is that true?

No: "...in 2005 the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons reported that as many 500,000 people sought care overseas. The medical tourism industry is forecast to grow to 40 million trips and $40 billion by 2010, according to Tourism Research and Marketing..."

And No: "Although up from 500,000 in 2006 to 750,000 in 2007, the number of Americans traveling abroad for healthcare is tipped to increase to 6 million by 2010."

What About Cost?: "...data show that heart surgery which costs more than $50,000 in the United States can be purchased for $20,000 in Singapore, for $12,000 in Thailand and between $3,000 and $10,000 in India."

What About Quality?: "...Though one may have doubts about the quality and safety of such a heavily discounted heart procedure, the success rate of coronary bypass surgery in India is reported to be 98.7 per cent as against 97.5 per cent in the US..."

And that's not even getting into the millions of Americans buying safe, high quality prescription drugs from outside the US for a small fraction of the cost.

PS---Why aren't these facts being used to crush the right wing talking point? I have yet to see someone challenge a TV talking head on this issue. I encourage you to spread this information far and wide, and hopefully it'll make its way to TV before it's too late. Finally, a special thanks to DUer Sinkingfeeling who originally found these links after I posed the question recently.