Over a decade ago, a buddy without health insurance needed a hernia repair. It was going to cost him $15K to have it done as an outpatient--and that was supposedly a cut rate deal procured by close friends in the medical profession. He researched it himself and located the Shouldice Hospital in Canada which specialized in the eponymous procedure. The total cost including air fare to and from Canada, the surgery, and hospital bill was $3k. He said the hospital was like a hotel and the food was outstanding. Gil