Offshore HMO for Airlines

Problem: Health care costs are too high in the west. Lawsuits and the ensuing high insurance rates have driven the cost of medicine, at least in the U.S., to high levels.

Suggestion: During a "Cost saving suggestions drive" I suggested this idea to an airline that I worked for around 1992: Offer a health plan that will allow employees to get their health care offshore. Airlines with international routes are in a unique position to be able to fly employees, at a low cost, to offshore clinics. The idea was rejected by the airline at the time. Today I heard on the radio that a California HMO is offering a very low cost, high quality HMO whose treatments are performed in Mexico. A person, say, in Kansas, will find Mexico harder to get to, obviously. This is what puts airlines in a unique position to offer an extraordinary benefit that will attract quality employees. HMOs serving non-airline employees could negotiate package travel deals with airlines to have their clients transported offshore for treatment as well.