"Our members travel all over the world. That means BCBSTX has always had a need to cover members traveling outside the U.S....but not specifically for the purpose of seeking lower-cost, routine or non-emergency health care," Margaret Jarvis, spokeswoman for the agency, said in an e-mail interview.

While there are often cost-savings in undergoing medical service abroad, Jarvis warns against assuming that is so in all cases.


"It's often a [misconception] that medical services are cheaper in a foreign country," she said. "Knowing which procedures are covered and whether they are less expensive in other countries is challenging and one needs to be quite familiar with their group's coverage and reimbursement policy on foreign claims."

The United Group Program in Florida is actively promoting medical tourism to more than 200,000 individuals covered through self-funded health plans and fully insured mini-med plans. The insurance agency has medical sites at India's Apollo Hospitals and hospitals in Thailand.

Bumrungrad, Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina and Blue Choice Health Plan of South Carolina created an alliance of sorts to promote medical tourism to more than 1 million of its members. Through a subsidiary, Companion Global Healthcare and BCBSSC will help members who are interested in overseas medical treatment, by providing information and access to the Thai hospital.

"Corporations and insurers alike are looking for new solutions to drive down the cost of health care, and we are part of the solution," said Ruben Toral, Bumrungrad's group marketing director, in prepared remarks, e-mailed to DOTmed News.

"More and more third-party payers will offer international health care service reimbursement," said MTA's Stephano.

How medical tourism will affect U.S. health care is still up for debate, with both positive and negative effects presented. According to the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions report, the expansion of medical tourism creates opportunities for health insurers. For example, the low-cost option available abroad allows insurers to develop plans that provide incentives for patients willing to travel for certain procedures and surgeries.

"As the cost of health care continues to rise in the United States, leveraging low-cost care abroad can help health insurers to increase profitability," the report said.

Highly regarded
Despite it being difficult to pinpoint exact numbers for the medical tourism business, it's clear that it is growing - by about 35 percent a year.

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