Patients are traveling abroad for medical care. The medical tourism industry is growing slowly. A survey by an international consultancy firm says that nearly 750,000 Americans traveled abroad for hospitalization in 2007. This number could increase to 6 million by 2010. According to a report, Thailand saw 1.2 million medical tourists in 2006. It costs only 30 percent in Thailand compared to American prices. Many U.S people are moving to India for their medical treatment. Every year nearly 400,000 medical tourists come to India for their treatment. Many Americans also go to Mexico and South America for surgeries. This procedures cost nearly 50 to 75 percent lesser than U.S. Data shows that a heart replacement surgery would cost nearly $200,000 in U.S but the same surgery would cost only $10,000 in India including a round trip airfare and a brief vacation package. Lasik eye surgery would cost $3,700 in U.S. whereas in other countries it would cost only $730. Some of the medical treatments pursued by medical tourists are heart procedures, orthopedic treatment, laparoscopic surgery and many kinds of transplants.

In South Carolina, insurance companies like bluecross blueshield and bluechoice has tied up with the famous Thailand hospitals to encourage medical tourism to its 1.3 million members. Even other insurers like blue shield and health net of California has tied up with Mexico hospitals for medical treatment to its members.