In 2003, about 45 million Americans were uninsured at some point and millions more lacked access to care, even if they had public or private health insurance. The health care safety net is health care professionals who are willing to provide care to the uninsured and underserved form a loosely knit, frayed, and often torn group. It is consists of a combination of people and institutions that includes hospital emergency departments, public hospitals, community health centers, free clinics, and private physicians’ offices, among others. Its financing is equally varied and reflects a range of funding sources, such as federal, state, and local expenditures through Medicaid, including the disproportionate share hospital (DSH) program; federal community health center grants; and philanthropic contributions.
Health tourists need to purchase specialist travel insurance before they make a trip abroad for the purpose of undergoing medical treatment. During 2007, statistics show that Britons taking advantage of faster and cheaper treatments abroad is rising by around 30% per annum, with over 70,000 people choosing to have cosmetic surgery or elective medical treatments. The Post Office research found that over 25,000 people put themselves at risk last year by failing to take out adequate insurance cover. The head of the Post office Travel Services, Helen Warburton , says that it is “vital” that people purchase additional specialist cover when an overseas trip involves medical treatment.