DENVER, Colo. -- A couple of Coloradans recently took a trip, traveling on a matter of the heart. Their destination? New Delhi.

Tom Hiland and Nancy Kulhman said traveling some 10,000 miles was worth it.

"There's no place better to go for heart surgery," said Kuhlman.

Americans going to India for surgery? Kuhlman said it was her only option. After years of putting it off, she needed a mitral valve replacement. Finances and a lack of insurance coverage, however, presented as many complications as her heart condition.

"Because of my condition, I'm not really insurable," said Kuhlman. "If you went in for the four days they allow for this you're probably looking at a couple hundred thousand dollars," she said.

It might be thousands of miles away, but the cost of the surgery is thousands of dollars less.

"It was $16,000 and I can't begin to tell you how many tests I had," said Kuhlman.

Kuhlman's bill included a four-week stay in the hospital for recovery.

Hiland said he got the same care when he went to India for the same procedure.

"You have a nurse after surgery that is in your room, a 24/7 personal nurse," said Hiland.

Hiland said he also enjoyed having a barber available. He received four English-language newspapers every morning and was given a copy of each test doctors ran. Before the surgery, both Kuhlman and Hiland were treated to a trip to the Taj Mahal. All amenities were included in the package price.

"In India, my whole 20-day stay in the hospital was $15,000," said Hiland.

Hiland said the cost for the same procedure and hospital stay in the United States was astronomical.

"It would have easily exceeded $175,000," said Hiland.

Dr. John Carroll, chief cardiologist at University of Colorado's Health and Sciences Center, said it's an "interesting phenomenon."

He acknowledged that American doctors are beginning to take notice of the medical migration. Carroll acknowledged the skill of Indian physicians but injected a note of caution.

"Read the fine print. Think about it. Talk about it and ask yourself, 'Why am I doing this versus going down the street in a place that can deliver high quality care for you?'" said Carroll.

For Kuhlman and Hiland, insurance and high costs are two issues they couldn't ignore. They think that until something changes, India and other countries will continue to see an influx of medical migrants from the U.S.

"It's a wake-up call, America. More and more people are going to be coming abroad to do their surgeries," said Kuhlman.

Hiland believed in medical outsourcing so much he started his own company called India Global Solutions. For $499 he will help those looking to go to India with their medical visas, records, diagnosis and hospital package price.