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In What are the real savings in medical tourism?, Dr. Michael D. Horowitz suggests uninsured patients negotiate pricing upfront with their US-based provider rather than waiting for the bill, which invariably will be for much more than the inflated prices that insurance companies pay.

But how can a typical consumer handle such negotiations --and do so without offending the providers on whom they are relying for their health?

The MedTripInfo site has a commentary posted on August 9, 2007 by David Williams: “What questions should health plans and employers be asking about medical tourism?” In this commentary, item 8 poses the question: “How much am I likely to save ...?” Mr. Williams indicates that most of the estimates tossed around claim “90% savings”, however, a methodical analysis of the true savings potential for an insured population has not been reported.
My research on medical tourism allows me to provide some perspective on this question. In explaining the methodology of my analysis, readers will understand why this is such a difficult number to come by. In addition, this preliminary work may serve as a useful framework for others who wish to address this question.