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“Every year, hundreds of thousands of Americans cross the border as so-called medical tourists. Collectively, they spend more than 1 billion dollars but what they save can equal three times that amount...” (Al Jazeera English)

“This box would have cost me 100.99 in the U.S. I’m getting from the Mexican side for 27 dollars….”

“The exact same bottle?”

“Yeah.” (CBS)

The cost of health care is rising in the U.S. Many Americans who can’t afford health insurance are going to other countries, such as Mexico and India, for treatment. Media sources are reaching out to medical experts to see if it’s a good idea. We take a look at perspectives from NPR, CNN, KUSA-TV and Medindia.

Medical costs aside, NPR speaks with a nurse who works both in Mexico and the U.S., who says there are risks involved in going to Mexico for treatment.

“These doctors here, they don't know if they're going to see you ever again. They don't know if you're going to ever come back. They don't even want to have your phone number because they do not want to contact you to see if the medication worked, if you had side effects.”

But CNN speaks with a doctor in India who says doctors in India communicate with doctors in the U.S.

“The machines which are used in the US and here are just the same. Most of the people that work with us have been at least in the physician level, have either been trained or have exposure or had communication with doctors in the United States.”

But KUSA-TV speaks with a doctor from a medical society in the US who says there may be problems involved in follow-ups to treatments done overseas.

“There are some issues though, and that is that if one gets into complications or trouble, a couple of months after the procedure, say once one has returned to the United States, who’s going to take care of you, and how will they feel about taking care of somebody else’s problem?"

A writer for health website, Medindia, takes a step back, and says going abroad for health care may help solve a national problem.

“Some experts … see Mexico as an answer to the complex question of how to treat aging and underinsured Americans at a time when the retirement of baby boomers will further tax the U.S. health care system.”

So what do you think? Would there be more benefits or risks in Americans going overseas for treatment?