CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Mexico, India, Singapore and Costa Rica are popular destinations with people seeking treatments for health issues from cancer to fertility.
North Carolina is one of states with the highest number of visitors to Costa Rica for medical reasons, according to the executive director of the Costa Rican Chamber of Health Massimo Manzi.
The organization estimates out of nearly 70,000 international patients the country receives, 83% are from the United States. Of that amount, about 10 to 15 percent are from the North Carolina.
Medical tourism in Costa Rica is now a $465 million a year industry, more than its coffee exports which generates around $300 million per year.
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Prosthodontist Dr. Eugenio Brenes received his education and training in California and moved his dental practice to his home country of Costa Rica in 2007. He said more international patients are making the trip to his home country, especially when substantial work needs to be done.
For example, a ceramic crown at his practice in the U.S. would have run about $3,000, whereas in Costa Rica, that same crown would only cost $550.
He said his facility uses the same technology that American doctors do, but the cost of living is significantly lower in Costa Rica. He can pass those savings off onto his patients.
When it comes to feeling safe when going abroad for medical treatment, Brenes said it's crucial to do your research, including looking for practitioners with U.S. or international training and accreditation.
The Costa Rican Chamber of Health told WCNC Charlotte a medical tourism law was approved in December 2022, establishing medical tourism as a public policy, which ensured various aspects like infrastructure and consumer protections.
According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, national health spending is projected to grow at an average rate of 5.4% per year reaching nearly $6.2 trillion by 2028.
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