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A new trend in medical tourism is catching a lot of attention; more and more health insurance agencies are offering or planning to offer some coverage to those people who choose to have procedures done overseas.

But this is the kind of health insurance "perk" that needs careful attention. While there are some very good doctors practicing abroad, there are also many who don't have the kind of credentials they really ought to, and combined with other dangerous factors, can lead unsuspecting patients to take risks with their health, and even their lives.

At MSN Health the new medical tourism trend in health insurance coverage is addressed, and when people can save thousands of dollars for expensive treatments, it's easy to see why it's catching on.

But as it says in the article, patients need to be careful, and do their homework. Long plane rides and vacation-type activities don't always mix well with complicated or even dangerous surgeries. Patients should only chose institutions approved by the "international arm of the Joint Commission," a key U.S. accreditation agency, or the International Society for Quality Health Care.

Any time a doctor is chosen who isn't verifiable by one of the two agencies, a patient is risking their life.

And then there's the need for follow-up care at home, including risk of infection.

Certainly patients and health insurance agencies alike can save money by getting these treatments abroad, but it's still all too easy to make a major mistake with your health in a situation like this one.