More Americans Get Surgery In Mexico

Posted by surgery on January 12, 2010 under Mexico | Be the First to Comment

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, weight loss surgery costs between $20,000 to $25,000 on average. While the debate rages on about the long term cost-saving health benefits of weight loss surgery, insurance companies are continuing to make the approval process difficult for a majority of patients seeking the surgery.

Medicare, for example will not cover any weight loss surgery for obese patients, unless they have one of the specific health related problems, even if a doctor has officially diagnosed the patient as being obese.

As a result, more obese Americans fall under the self-pay option for their weight loss surgery needs and are joining the 150,000+ Americans each year who look to medical tourism options to get their surgeries done. With most Americans still feeling the economy troubles, Mexico is becoming the most realistic travel option for these surgeries, as plastic surgery clinics such as CosMed Clinic in Tijuana are only 20 miles from the San Diego US/Mexico Border and is known for its Board Certified Plastic Surgeons who are licensed to practice in both the United States and Mexico.

“We’ve seen a big increase in the number of American patients who are coming to our clinic for weight loss surgery because their U.S. health insurance will not cover their needs,” explained Dr. Alejandro Quiroz, M.D. CosMed’s Chief Surgeon who is Licensed in both the United States and Mexico and lives in Coronado, California. “Surgeries average about 20% less than those in the US, plus we offer realistic financing plans to help them pay for their care.”