Cara West had never seen such a gorgeous hospital.
The 34-year-old is traveling the world with her husband and toddler and often seeks medical care abroad rather than in their hometown of Austin, Texas. Last summer, they flew to Istanbul for a primary care check-up. They stayed at a hotel, boarded the morning shuttle arranged by their medical tourism agency, and began a full-day itinerary.
Each family member received bloodwork, scans, an EKG, and doctor consultations over the next few hours. West’s daughter even got her eyes checked. As a midday break, they ordered lunch at the hospital’s restaurant, complete with a menu featuring items like veggie omelettes and raspberry cheesecake. It all felt “luxurious.”
When the bill came, the total was $1,330 before insurance — and West is still in shock.
“There’s this fear as an American because you know that medicine is so expensive and it’s confusing,” West said. She estimates the same check-ups would have cost her family thousands more in the US and caused months of insurance stress. “I think that’s been the biggest eye opener, this feeling of relief.”
As healthcare prices climb in the US, Americans are looking for ways to cut costs. To avoid breaking the bank, more people are turning toward medical tourism. Some foreign hospitals — especially in places like Turkey — are even marketing themselves directly to American patients.
Data on the phenomenon is limited, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that millions of Americans seek healthcare abroad each year, most commonly in Mexico, Canada, and the Caribbean. The market for international health insurance is expected to grow from nearly $32 billion in 2025 to $40 billion in 2030, and North Americans account for the largest share. Patients travel for a range of services, including cosmetic surgeries, reproductive procedures like IVF, and cancer care.
West plans to move abroad permanently — and cheaper healthcare sweetens the deal
West and her husband first considered living abroad after the birth of their daughter in 2022. They were paying off expensive labor and delivery bills, and craving a more travel-oriented lifestyle. Temporarily relocating to a lower-cost-of-living city seemed like the perfect solution.
West was working remotely for a startup, and her husband took a break from his job as a restaurant manager. With a combined six-figure income, they had been living nearly paycheck to paycheck in Austin — but one salary was more than enough to comfortably afford life in Lisbon. They stayed for three months as part of a program for people interested in traveling and living abroad.
It was around this time that the family enrolled in an international healthcare plan. Their US employer-sponsored plans had become unaffordable and didn’t meet their growing healthcare requirements while abroad, West said. They began regularly traveling overseas and wanted to ensure they could still easily fill prescriptions and visit urgent care when needed.
West enrolled in the international healthcare plan Genki, which covers doctor visits and hospital stays for travelers and digital nomads in most countries. It costs $657 a month for the family, but she said she was paying nearly twice that in Texas with much higher deductibles. The deductible for international coverage is $1,000, though West said, “It’s actually kind of hard to meet that, because the cost of medical care is actually very affordable.”
Besides the Istanbul hospital, the family has received medical care in Portugal and Greece. West said all were covered by her international plan. She advised others interested in medical tourism to read reviews, reach out to hospitals directly with questions, and try a video chat with providers first before visiting in person.
“I think a lot of people feel really uneasy because they think, ‘I’m going to a foreign country, I’m going to get medical care. And what happens if something goes wrong?'” she said. “Honestly, it really is all about doing your research.”
West’s family recently settled on the Greek island, Syros. They love the sunshine and close-knit community, and their move from Texas is likely permanent. Cheaper healthcare costs are a main reason for their decision.
As an added bonus, West said the island is a Blue Zone. She hopes it’s good news for their longevity.
“I’ve started learning from the older generation here,” she said. “All of the things that they do, and what they believe is keeping them healthy and young.”
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