Getting Your X-rays and Other Types of Radiology Imaging Procedures in Mexico

While it is well-known that many Americans who live near the border go to Mexico to get health care at lower prices, one thing that many people don't know is that some Americans choose to go to Mexico to have radiology procedures at lower prices, such as X-rays and CAT scans, and then go back to the US to get their health care. In a few rare cases, some Americans choose to have the results of their radiology procedures interpreted as well.

Radiology, in general, is cheaper in Mexico. Since it is considered low risk, the lower prices are usually a good incentive to go to Mexico. Also, some hospitals in the US send the results obtained from radiology to other countries with low labor costs, like India, so that a doctor there can interpret them, and send back the interpretation so that the American doctor can decide on the type of treatment that's most appropriate. As patients become aware of this, they decide to have their scans done in Mexico, where they can talk with a doctor about the results of their scans and their diagnosis.

However, only a few Americans choose to have radiology results interpreted in Mexico, since the American doctor will probably interpret them anyway and charge accordingly. As a results, almost all patients decide to get either only the scanning or the whole treatment in Mexico.

The most common radiology techniques demanded by Americans who travel to Mexico are:

X-rays
Ultrasounds
Computer Tomography (CT or CAT scans)
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

While the procedure itself is the same in both countries, how to get one is a bit different. In Mexico, you usually have to go to a laboratory that may or may not be a partner of the doctor and is typically located in another building in another street. However, if you're having a procedure that requires hospitalization, the hospital will almost always have the necessary equipment.

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Robert Ervin is a freelancer who writes about healthcare, medical tourism, and living in Mexico.

If you're considering traveling to Mexico for healthcare or retiring in Mexico, you may want to get yourself a copy of The English's Speaker's Guide to Doctors and Hospitals in Mexico, in order to find a good doctor or hospital in the main towns and cities of Mexico, or The English Speaker's Guide to Medical Care in Mexico, to understand how the Mexican healthcare system works.