Waypoints – September 22, 2026
What a knee replacement costs, country by country
The first question everyone asks about care abroad is whether the savings survive the flights and the hotel. For big procedures, the honest answer is: comfortably. A knee replacement is one of the clearest examples, with a price gap wide enough to fund the whole trip several times over, and this issue walks through those numbers country by country. |
Worth reading  Knee replacement cost by country: the full comparisonA knee replacement can cost 60 to 80 percent less abroad than in the US. This comparison walks through what the surgery actually costs in India, Turkey, Mexico, and Thailand, what the packages include, and how the hospitals' surgical volumes stack up against US centers. Why it matters: Joint replacement is where the price gap is widest and the quality data runs deepest, which makes it the best first look at whether care abroad could work for you. |
Worth reading  Medellín for medical care: what to know before you bookMedellín treated 23,323 international patients in 2024, pairing internationally accredited hospitals with procedure costs far below US prices and direct flights from much of the country. The guide covers the hospitals, the logistics, and what a treatment trip there looks like day to day. Why it matters: Destination choice is half the decision. A city with accredited hospitals and easy flights takes most of the risk questions off the table early. |
Patient story  She wore a partial for years. Then a friend said, let's go.Marilyn M., in her 70s, was quoted $48,000 for the dental restoration she needed, with a single root canal priced at $4,200 on its own. She paid $15,150 in Los Algodones, made the trip with a friend, and says she's back to smiling with her teeth in photos. The story lists every number, including the follow-up visits. Why it matters: For most people the real blocker isn't medical, it's going alone. Her fix, one trusted companion, is available to everyone. |
Also worth a look  GLP-1 drugs vs bariatric surgery: the head-to-head dataGLP-1 drugs and bariatric surgery are the two serious tools for major weight loss, and randomized trials now compare them directly: total weight lost, regain after stopping, and cost over five years. A clear, sourced read on one of the most asked health questions of the moment. Why it matters: Even if weight loss isn't your journey, it's the question people around you are asking this year, and this is the sourced answer to pass along. |
New on JetWell  Start here: the whole trip as a checklistEverything a medical trip involves, from vetting a clinic and pre-trip bloodwork to procedure days and follow-up at home, laid out as an interactive checklist you can work through at your own pace. Haven't picked a procedure yet? It reads just as well as a map of what's involved. Why it matters: Seeing the whole process as a few dozen concrete steps makes going abroad for care feel like a plan instead of a leap. |
Questions before you book, or just want to think out loud with someone who's helped other people through the same decision? Email us at concierge@jetwell.ai and a real person on our team will get back to you. |
| Continue your journey |
Follow along for clinic spotlights, patient Q&As, and JetLounge highlights       |