6 Shocking Ways Medical Tourism Exposes America’s Hypocrisy Toward Foreign-Trained Doctors

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America’s Dirty Little Healthcare Secret: Why We Trust Foreign Doctors Abroad but Reject Them at Home

Americans Fly Across the Globe for Foreign-Trained Doctors, but Won’t Hire Them at Home. Here’s the Shocking Truth Behind This Hypocrisy and What It Means for You!

A First-Hand Look at America’s Hypocrisy in Healthcare

Before I packed my bags and left for life abroad in the late ’90s, I had the privilege of working as a physician recruiter.

Let’s just say it was the kind of job that could make you question your life choices…

For a couple of years, I got a front-row seat to the subtle (and not-so-subtle) obstacles foreign-trained doctors face in the U.S. healthcare system.

Trust me, it wasn’t pretty.

I’d seen qualified, highly trained physicians… many of whom successfully completed US residencies and hold American board certifications, rejected by hospitals, medical groups, and insurance companies.

Why? 

Not because of their skills or credentials, but because of one glaring, unspoken reality:

Patients’ biases and fears toward doctors from different cultures, backgrounds, and those who speak with an accent.

During my time as a physician recruiter, I worked with hospitals struggling with doctor shortages.

These hospitals and medical groups paid tens of thousands of dollars in recruiting fees and retainers because they said they “needed specialists”.

Yet, they hesitated to hire foreign-born doctors, even those trained in elite U.S. institutions, and hospitals.

All of whom had passed their US Board certifications in their related specialties.

For all intents and purposes, they were just as qualified and sometimes even more qualified and experienced than their American born colleagues.

Some hospital administrators were so bold as to admit it outright:

“NO FMGs! “

“Patients don’t want to see someone they don’t feel comfortable with.”

and that’s saying it nicely….

(“FMG” = Foreign Medical Graduate, industry jargon)

Translation? An unspoken cultural bias, if not outright modern-day racism, was dictating who gets to practice medicine in America.

Yet, here’s the paradox: Many of these same Americans will fly thousands of miles abroad to be treated by foreign doctors when it suits them.

I’ve lived abroad for over 2 decades now, received outstanding healthcare from foreign-trained physicians, and spoken to countless American expats who seek life-saving, affordable medical care outside the U.S.

The growth of medical tourism is undeniable, yet it exposes one of the deep seeded hypocrisies of a healthcare system that both relies on foreign doctors while actively discriminating against them.

Back in the ’90s, I could already sense where things were headed. The early seeds of Medical Tourism starting to sprout.

And I’ve had a front-row seat to watch the whole thing sadly unfold.

Honestly, it’s been like witnessing a train wreck… except in slow motion. 

You can see it coming, but you’re just powerless to stop it.

Now, let’s break down 6 ways medical tourism exposes America’s double standard on foreign-trained physicians, and why this affects every American.

1. America Relies on Foreign Doctors… Just Not at Home

At least 25% of doctors practicing in the U.S. are foreign-trained, with even higher percentages in rural and under-served areas.

Yet, despite their qualifications, many private hospitals and medical groups refuse to hire them due to fear that American patients won’t accept them.

Why It Matters: Hospitals, insurance companies, and medical groups actively block foreign-trained doctors from getting hired, not due to skill, but due to patient biases against non-native accents and cultural differences.

Real Impact: The U.S. faces a projected 124,000 doctor shortage by 2034, yet thousands of foreign-trained doctors are turned away despite meeting or exceeding U.S. medical standards.

2. Medical Tourism is Booming Because the U.S. Healthcare System is Failing

In my decades living abroad, I’ve met countless American expats who routinely seek healthcare outside the U.S.

Not because they want to, but because they have no other choice.

Why It Matters: Americans trust foreign-trained doctors abroad when it means getting cheaper, faster care.

Yet, they hesitate to see those same doctors in their hometown hospitals.

Real Impact: If the U.S. eliminated its bias against foreign-trained doctors, many Americans wouldn’t need to fly overseas for healthcare.

3. Outdated Licensing Rules Punish Foreign-Trained Doctors

I’d worked with doctors from top medical schools all over the world, including Canada, the UK, and Australia, who were forced to repeat years of training just to qualify for a U.S. medical board certification.

  • A doctor with 15 years of experience in the Philippines or India may have to do an entire U.S. residency.
  • Some state medical boards have refused to recognize foreign credentials, even if they have met U.S. standards (Although this has been changing in recent years).

Yet, even after successfully completing their U.S. residencies and getting their U.S. board certifications, many were forced to return to their home countries.

Why It Matters: If these doctors are qualified enough to treat Americans abroad, why aren’t they good enough to practice in the U.S.?

Real Impact: Many highly trained doctors give up on practicing in the U.S. altogether, worsening the physician shortage. 

Ironically, many of these highly trained physicians have not only returned to their home countries, armed with U.S. training, board certifications, and polished English skills, but now work in private clinics and hospitals renowned for medical tourism. 

These are the very facilities that Americans now flock to for affordable, quality healthcare.

For instance, procedures like heart bypass surgery, which can cost up to $210,000 in the U.S., are available for around $12,000 in Thailand.

Similarly, hip replacements priced at $75,000 domestically can be obtained for $9,000 in India.

It’s a curious twist isn’t it? 

American patients traveling abroad to receive care from doctors who once aspired to practice in the U.S.

Which leads me to the next point.

4. The U.S. Actively Pushes Away the Doctors It Trains

One of the most frustrating things I saw as a physician recruiter was how the U.S. encourages medical brain drain, but then complains about doctor shortages.

Why It Matters: The U.S. spends billions training foreign doctors… only to send them away while Americans struggle to find care.

Real Impact: This policy artificially worsens the doctor shortage, making healthcare harder to access and more expensive.

5. The Same U.S. Hospitals That Reject Foreign Doctors Send Patients to Them Abroad

I had spoken to hospital administrators who had secretly referred patients to foreign-trained doctors overseas for cost savings, while refusing to hire them in the U.S.

Major insurance companies and employers contract with international hospitals to save money.

For instance, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina has partnered with health providers in Thailand, Turkey, Singapore, and Costa Rica to create low-premium, high-deductible insurance plans aimed at cost-conscious workers.

Companies like HSM, a manufacturing firm, have sent employees overseas for medical procedures, such as knee replacements, resulting in significant cost savings. HSM reported saving close to $11 million over a few years by adopting this approach.

However, it’s important to note that while some insurers and employers have embraced this strategy, others remain cautious, weighing the potential benefits against concerns over quality of care and legal liabilities.

(Sources provided below)

Yet, these same hospitals reject foreign-trained doctors from working locally.

Why It Matters: If these doctors are “good enough” to treat Americans abroad, why aren’t they good enough to work in America?

Real Impact: This two-tier system forces middle-class Americans to travel while the wealthy pay inflated U.S. prices.

6. America’s Healthcare Crisis is a Policy Choice… Not a Necessity

The U.S. is desperate for more doctors, yet thousands of qualified, U.S.-trained foreign doctors are locked out of practicing every year.

What Needs to Change:

  • Expand residency slots for foreign-trained doctors.
  • Recognize top-tier foreign medical credentials.
  • Reform visa and licensing laws to retain more foreign-trained doctors.

Will This Change, or Will America Keep Losing Its Best Doctors?

Medical tourism isn’t just about cheaper healthcare… it’s proof of America’s double standard on foreign-trained physicians.

Americans trust them abroad, but not at home… why?

Because the system puts patient biases above patient care.

What Do You Think?

  • Would you trust a foreign-trained doctor?
  • Have you or someone you know traveled abroad for medical care? 

Here are some of the sources used in this article in the links below: