Crossing the border for health care

A survey was administered to adults attending a health fair in south Los An geles County, approximately 140 miles from the U.S. Mexico border. The surv ey revealed that 14 percent of respondents had crossed the border to seek m edical care during the past year. Nearly 80 percent of respondents crossing the border for medical care were uninsured, while 70 percent reported the low cost of medical care obtained across the border as being the most commo n reason for seeking care there. Twenty-eight percent of respondents report ed purchasing medication in Mexico, with antibiotics and pain medication be ing reported in highest frequency. Ninety percent of these respondents were uninsured. This study shows that the high cost of health health care and l ack of insurance compels the poor and uninsured to seek low-cost health car e and medication in Mexico to meet their most urgent health care needs, des pite the burden of cost and travel.