Is "Medical Tourism" Worth It? (Traveling for Meds vs. Advocacy)

I saw a news story yesterday about a woman who flies to Mexico twice a year just to buy her insulin and asthma inhalers. She calls it her "pharmacy vacation." It’s a catchy name, but it’s a symptom of a failed system. It’s insane that an American citizen has to cross a border to afford a drug that was likely researched and developed right here in the US.

Before you book a flight, you need to understand the hidden risks and the easier path that exists at home.

The Quality Control Risk

When you buy medication in another country, you are stepping outside the protection of the FDA. While many pharmacies in Mexico or Canada are legitimate, the "cash only" tourist spots often have issues with counterfeit drugs or improper storage. If a biologic like Humira isn't kept at the exact right temperature during your flight home, it becomes a $6,000 bottle of useless liquid.

The Legal Gray Area

Technically, importing prescription drugs into the US is illegal, though the government often looks the other way for personal supplies. But "looking the other way" isn't a healthcare plan. You shouldn't have to feel like a smuggler just to stay healthy.

The Advocacy Alternative

Why fly to another country when you can get the same "international prices" delivered to your door? Patient Assistance Programs allow you to get the exact same brand-name, FDA-approved drugs for $40 a month.

No flights, no customs, no risks. We act as your domestic "border crossing," cutting through the US retail markups to get you the manufacturer’s lowest price. You keep the plane ticket money; we’ll get you the meds.

Skip the trip. Get your meds for $40/mo through advocacy.