Many Americans go abroad for health care

More than 45 million people in the U.S. have no health insurance. So, where do they go when they're sick or hurt?

Many leave and head out of the country where they can afford to pay for the care they need on a trip becoming known as medical tourism.

A torn bicep caused searing pain, and a dilemma for Stephen Hoyle. He could not afford the surgery to fix it.

"We are one of America's 20 million uninsured families, and started looking at costs approaching $20,000," Hoyle said.

Hoyle was priced out of the U.S. Health Care System, so he flew to Costa Rica, where medical costs are dramatically lower.

Hoyle joined an estimated 500,000 Americans traveling out of the U.S. every year for some type of medical care. Care they can't afford here.

Stephanie Sulger, R.N. and Medical Tour Operator, said people go to great lengths for cheaper care.

"People are going everywhere," Sulger said. "They're going to Russia, China, Pakistan, south central American, Europe, south east Asia."

For a flat fee, medical tourism companies arrange for airfare, travel and health services. Many surgeons are U.S. trained, and post operative recovery is often booked at plush resorts and typically includes 24-hour private nurses.

Hoyle said his experience was outstanding.

"I got extraordinarily good medical care from a doctor who has supervised medical residents from American medical schools, you know, in a world class hospital for a fifth of the cost of doing it here," Hoyle said.

Arnold Berlin, M.D. at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, said you have to know what you are getting into.

"I think the one thing to first remind people is that it's not a vacation," Berlin said. "One needs to understand that there are risks to any surgical procedure."

Berlin said those risks include infection, heart and lung failure and even death.

Sulger said the situation can be problematic.

"Having desperate people looking for medical care outside of the United States, and you've got a situation that's really a set up for problems," Sulger said.

Experts suggest you find out all you can about the hospital and the doctor before the visit. Track the credential online, speak to other patients and know that medical tourists should arrive a few days early to meet the surgeon before going under the knife.

Legal experts say buyer beware: most foreign countries don't have malpractice systems, and offer no recourse if things go wrong.

Several major U.S. insurance companies, like Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina and southern California are now considering sending patients overseas for surgeries.

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