Failing U.S. Health Care Sends Citizens Across the Border

July 16, 2012 | Crandall & Pera Law
Failing U.S. Health Care Sends Citizens Across the Border

Thousands of Americans are flocking to the Mexican border town of Mexicali, not for vacation or entertainment, but for affordable medical care, according to The New York Times.

From a root canal to a tummy tuck to laser surgery, cheaper medical options are being advertised all along the California/Mexico border, attracting health care commuters from nearby states.

More than 150,000 patients came to Mexicali in 2011 alone, increasing the city's economy by more than $8 million, according to officials. This includes a large number of Americans who cannot afford health care, as well as a growing group of middle-class patients looking for deals on elective surgeries usually not covered by insurance.

But it is not just the lesser costs that are driving people across the border for various procedures; many patients find that the Mexican doctors are more attentive and accessible when it comes to asking questions before and after operations and checkups.

"Here, many Mexicans talk with pride about the easy access they have to their doctors, sending them frequent text messages with questions and expecting calls back within minutes," writes Jennifer Medina. "One oft-repeated anecdote illustrates a sign of more compassionate care: nurses will warm a patient's hand before sticking him with a needle." Read the complete details here:

Mexicali Tour, From Tummy Tuck to Root Canal

Steve Crandall, a top-rated medical malpractice attorney in Ohio and Kentucky, feels these practices show the desperate need for health care reform in the U.S.

"The fact that an increasing number of Americans are leaving our country to obtain medical care elsewhere, including Mexico, is an indictment of how poorly the U.S. health care system operates," says Crandall. "When Mexico's physicians are able to provide more affordable and equally safe care, an alarm in Washington D.C. should be going off."

If you have any questions regarding medical malpractice throughout Ohio and Kentucky, contact Steve Crandall. Steve is available to help answer your  questions and guide you in determining your next steps.