Medical Tourism in Costa Rica as Alternative to Obamacare

Medical Tourists Take a Test Trip to Costa Rica

Costa Rica’s rising medical tourism industry could serve as a test case for an alternative to Obamacare according to Sarah McIntosh who teaches constitutional law and American Politics at Wichita State University in Kansas.

She states her case in the article Medical Tourism Expands As Alternative to Obamacare published 7/11/10 Heartland.org, health policy news.

“Across the globe, entrepreneurial individuals and organizations are looking at the possibility of providing medical tourism services at an increased rate, particularly in the wake of the new U.S. health care law,” said McIntosh.

Medical Tourists Use of Health Savings Accounts

Vicki Morales, owner of Costa Rican Medical Care, a division of HSA Clearing Corp., is quoted as saying  increased interest in medical tourism services began as employers and patients sought cost-saving measures and the best ways of using funds in health savings accounts.

“In the United States we’ve gotten way off track,” said Morales, “We aren’t dealing with the person anymore. We don’t look at real, personal care and the needs of the individual patient.”

Costa Rica Medical Vacations as a Test Trip

According to Morales interested patients should consider a “test trip” if they have need of a mild procedure.

“We encourage people, if their procedure is relatively mild or if they are here for dental care, they ought to come and enjoy the country for a few days first, and then get their procedure done,” Morales suggested.

“Medical tourism is the best use of HSA dollars for accessing and maintaining your health,” Morales said. “You can have an entire battery of diagnostic tests and consultations in Costa Rica for less than the price of one major test in the United States.”