Why Americans are flocking to one dental office

Updated
Mexican Doctors Attracting More American Patients
Mexican Doctors Attracting More American Patients


As the U.S. works to provide better health plans for residents, some Americans are still seeking help across the border.

The Atlantic spoke with Dr. Jessica Nitardy who lives in Texas, but owns a dental practice in Juarez, Mexico. She says almost all of her patients are American.

"I can count my Mexican patients on my fingers... they all come from Austin, Houston, even Florida, Colorado, Alaska ... "

And it's easy to see why: On her website is a table comparing procedure prices at her office, Rio Grande Dental, to those in the U.S. and Canada. Even with the added travel expenses of getting to Juarez, patients can score big savings.

But Americans aren't just seeking health care from across the border.

A New York mother who died while going under the knife for cosmetic surgery in the Dominican Republic because it was cheaper sparked a warning by U.S. health officials earlier this year.

According to a Gallup Poll report released Monday, 13.4 percent of Americans lack health insurance. This is a sharp drop from the fall of 2013, in part because of Obamacare.

But it might still not be enough to keep Americans from seeking service in border cities because they face high deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses.

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