Hicran
August 19, 2009

Those who have lost their jobs and can no longer benefit from health insurance in the United States have discovered Turkey and its offer of health services at reasonable prices.

Turkish health tourism has reached a business volume of $150 million with loss of health insurance accompanying widespread job loss in the United States, more Americans have discovered Turkey’s health tourism to lower their medical expenses.

Americans are contributing an important share among health tourism patients, mainly due to low prices. Turkey hosts around 40,000 people in health tourism annually, creating a business volume of $150 million. The country is preferred by people from European Union member countries, but U.S. citizens have also started to show interest after the global crisis.

The arriving patient profile has changed amid the crisis and the number of American patients has surpassed the number of Europeans, said Health Tourism Turkey Coordinator Gül Soydan.

Many people in the United States have been left without insurance, Soydan said. “If an American chooses to have a complete teeth treatment in the U.S., the cost is $100,000, but it is at most $30,000. Having realized this advantage, U.S. citizens have been flocking to Turkey for health tourism during the first six months of this year,” Soydan said.