Medical tourism

With all of the talk about how we have the best health care system in the world, and deliver the most advanced treatments, etc., little has been said about medical tourism. Or more to the point, about those in the US who seek medical treatment abroad.

In 2007, it is estimated that between 500,000 to 750,000 Americans sought medical treatment abroad.

That's a big number. I seriously doubt whether as many people come into the US seeking medical care. Yet, while the Republicans continue to shout that people come from all over the world to take advantage of our wonderfully advanced medical procedures, we Democrats fail to mention the high numbers of our own citizens who go abroad to get medical care.

References:

http://www.health-tourism.com/medical-tourism/statistics/

http://www.asianhhm.com/healthcare_management/health_tourism.htm

we no longer offer cutting edge procedures and equipment at all but a very few top name hospitals in the US. Many hospitals are falling into disrepair, staffing is at dangerous levels, and housekeeping is lax due to staff cuts.

Our system is being destroyed completely from what it was just 20 short years ago. I watched a lot of it happen and it was a relief when I left.

The last place the profit motive belongs is health care.

...why do we not hear this point being made in the health care debate? Every time some Republican spouts off about how people come into the US to get "leading edge" medical care, someone needs to point out that every year, more than 500,000 Americans seek health care abroad.

but don't expect a lazy and corrupt press to report it.

...but on the other hand, we have got a lot of the other rebuttal points out there, little by little. I'd like to see this one get ot there too.