| With America's changing population demographics, | | | | the most modern technology and services - including |
| health care costs have risen along with the aging of | | | | state-of-the art operating rooms and diagnostic |
| the current population. As more senior citizens require | | | | services across all medical fields - Mexican hospitals |
| increased care, Medicare and private insurers have | | | | attract top medical talent from around the world. |
| had to increase rates and reduce services -- | | | | About Hip Replacement Surgery |
| ultimately leading to hardships. Orthopedic hip and | | | | A total hip replacement, also called a hip arthroplasty, |
| knee replacements, for example, have nearly doubled | | | | is a surgical procedure that re-forms the hip joint. In |
| in the past five years and are expected to reach a | | | | this procedure, the head of the femur is removed |
| total of two million procedures in the year 2015. | | | | along with the surface layer of the socket in the |
| In order to address the issue of healthcare services, | | | | pelvis. The head of the femur, which is situated |
| a whole industry of Mexico medical travel has been | | | | within the pelvis socket, is replaced with a metal ball |
| created. Mexico medical travel is an option for many | | | | and stem. This stem fits into the shaft of the femur. |
| Americans, providing access to healthcare services | | | | The socket is replaced with a plastic or a metal and |
| from doctors and hospitals in other countries. This | | | | plastic cup. |
| allows patients to pay much less than what they | | | | For nearly a century, doctors have been putting |
| would pay for the same procedure in the U.S., even | | | | various materials into diseased and painful hip joints to |
| if they have medical insurance or are on Medicare. | | | | relieve pain. Up until the 1960s, outcomes had been |
| Out-of-pocket expenses, like deductibles, are often | | | | unreliable. At that time, the metal ball and plastic |
| more expensive than the total cost of a procedure in | | | | socket for the replacement of the hip joint was |
| another country, especially for elective surgery. | | | | introduced. Today, the artificial components used in a |
| Mexico Medical Travel | | | | total hip replacement are stronger and more designs |
| Low cost options for health travel, especially for | | | | are available. |
| those in need of orthopedic care, used to focus on | | | | There are many different shapes, sizes, and designs |
| taking patients to India for treatment. However, the | | | | of artificial components of the hip joint. For the most |
| 15-hour flight and language barrier quickly proved to | | | | part these are composed of chrome, cobalt, titanium, |
| be prohibitive for many Americans. The high cost of | | | | or ceramic materials. Some surgeons are also using |
| travel and lodging in a developing country was far | | | | custom-made components to improve the fit in the |
| from ideal. | | | | femur. Hospitals in Mexico use the exact same |
| Today, Mexico medical travel is among the best | | | | medical implants for hip replacement (and all joint |
| options for healthcare abroad. Health travel to Mexico | | | | replacements) that are approved and widely used in |
| combines the convenience of short travel times with | | | | the U.S. |
| reasonable prices and facilities and doctors that rival | | | | The Future Of Medical Tourism |
| or surpass their American counterparts. The language | | | | Medical tourism companies have been established to |
| barrier between Mexico and the US is practically | | | | act as guides, facilitators, and translators for those in |
| nonexistent; English is very commonly spoken in | | | | need for serious procedures like hip and knee |
| nearly every major Mexican city. | | | | replacements. Health travel packages are available |
| Tijuana Medical Services | | | | that allow patients to pay one fee that covers all of |
| Tijuana exemplifies the benefits of health travel to | | | | their pre-operative testing and exams, the in-patient |
| neighboring Mexico. The metropolitan area is the | | | | procedure and hospital stay. These days, no |
| sister city to San Diego, California, and sits directly | | | | American has to face a health care crisis alone. |
| across the border. This location offers American | | | | Change may eventually come to the health care |
| patients the ability to completely avoid international | | | | system in America, but for many people, waiting is |
| flights. For example, many patients use airlines that | | | | not an option. There are many patients who have |
| fly directly to San Diego and then cross the border | | | | lived with pain far too long and are taking advantage |
| via Hospital Angeles Tijuana or other hospital medical | | | | of the care provided in Mexico. Health travel is |
| shuttle services. | | | | predicted to continue to grow over the coming years |
| Hospitals in Tijuana have treated more Americans | | | | and will be an important option for more and more |
| traveling abroad than any other hospitals in the world. | | | | Americans. |
| With a focus on delivering top tier medical care with | | | | |