Waypoints – August 25, 2026
1.4 million Americans did this last year
People considering care abroad usually want to know two things first: whether anyone actually does this, and what to ask so they do not get burned. This issue answers both, with real numbers on how many Americans travel for care and the questions that separate a good clinic from a bad one. |
Worth reading  How many Americans actually travel for careRoughly 1.4 million a year, according to CDC and BRFSS surveillance data. The piece covers who goes, what for, and where the commonly quoted figures come from. Why it matters: Most numbers floating around this subject come from industry marketing. These come from public health surveillance. |
Worth reading  26 questions that protect youThe gap between a good outcome and a bad one usually opens during the booking conversation, not in the operating room. These questions surface a problem while you can still walk away. Why it matters: You only get one chance to ask these while you still have leverage, which is before you pay. |
Patient story  The blind leading the blindBrian C. priced LASIK at home for over ten years and kept landing on the same verdict: glasses are annoying, but not $5,000 annoying. When his wife booked hers in Bangkok on a family trip they already had planned, he joined her, and both eyes, astigmatism included, came to $1,732. Why it matters: Plenty of first procedures abroad start exactly like this, added onto a trip that was happening anyway. It's a low-stakes way to see how care abroad actually works. |
Watch: JetLounge replay  What nobody tells you about IVFBeverly Yip, who spent $60,000 and lost 20 eggs before her son was born, sits down with Cherry Y., whose whole path to motherhood came down to one good egg. No clinic reps and no sales pitch, just the parts people usually go through quietly. Why it matters: The replay is up, so you can watch the whole conversation whenever you have the time. |
Also worth a look  Veneers or crowns, if dental work is on your mindThe choice turns on how much healthy tooth each option removes, which is permanent. Worth reading before a clinic recommends one. Why it matters: A wider look at what people run into when planning care abroad, whatever procedure brought them here. |
New on JetWell How we research what we publishWe put up a page setting out exactly where our numbers come from, what has to be true before an article goes live, and what we do not do. It names our sources, and it says plainly that nothing we publish is reviewed by a clinician yet. Why it matters: Prices and safety claims about care abroad are easy to assert and hard to check. This is how you can check ours. |
If you've got questions before you book, or just want to talk through your options, reach out. Email us at concierge@jetwell.ai and a real person on our team will get back to you. |
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