Both Mayo Clinic and MD Anderson Cancer Center are excellent choices depending on the specific medical needs. Mayo Clinic is a strong choice for a broad range of specialties and high patient satisfaction, while MD Anderson is the preferred option for comprehensive cancer care, offering extensive clinical trials and telemedicine services. However, insurance coverage should be carefully considered, especially for those in Texas seeking individual ACA plans.
| Attribute | Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN) | MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX) |
|---|---|---|
| Specialty focus | Cardiology & heart surgery, ear, nose & throat, gastroenterology & GI surgery, neurology & neurosurgery, and pulmonology & lung surgery | Comprehensive cancer care, including clinical trials, prevention, screening, and treatment for common and rare cancers. Specialized centers for various cancer types. |
| Availability of clinical trials | Wide range of clinical trials focused on various treatments | MD Anderson has the world's largest cancer clinical trials program. In 2024, they enrolled 11,000 patients in clinical trials. |
| Acceptance of insurance plans | Arrangements with many healthcare insurers; participate in Medicare (original Parts A, B, and D) in Arizona, Florida, Rochester, Minnesota, and all Mayo Clinic Health System locations, but not all Medicare Advantage plans; accept Medicaid and TRICARE | MD Anderson is not a participating provider for any Individual insurance plans on or off the marketplace in Texas (i.e., ACA plans). Some individual plans outside of Texas may allow in-network access, but verification with the insurance plan is needed. Plans offering out-of-network benefits may be accepted if they meet MD Anderson's requirements. They are contracted with some Medicare Advantage plans, including certain Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Texas plans and Kelsey-Care Medicare Advantage. Traditional Texas Medicaid is accepted. |
| Patient satisfaction ratings | Overall rating of 95 out of 100; 96 out of 100 would recommend the hospital to others; consistently high patient experience ratings, including 5-star ratings from CMS | Hospital patients: 90% rated MD Anderson as a 9 or 10 on a 10-point scale (June 2024-May 2025 data). Hospital patients: 92% would definitely recommend MD Anderson (June 2024-May 2025 data). Outpatient clinics: 94% of patients rated their provider as a 9 or 10 on a 10-point scale (June 2024-May 2025 data). Outpatient clinics: 96% would definitely recommend their provider's office (June 2024-May 2025 data). MD Anderson has a 4.5-star rating with 1,822 reviews. |
| Waiting times for appointments | Vary; some found it easy to schedule, while others experienced long waits between appointments | MD Anderson is working to improve access to care and reduce wait times based on patient feedback. |
| Location and accessibility | Rochester, Minnesota, approximately 90 miles south of Minneapolis and St. Paul; connected to nearby hotels and other buildings via climate-controlled pedestrian walkways and skyways; shuttle services between campuses and some hotels; wheelchairs available free of charge; accessible parking, including handicapped-accessible parking, available | Located in the Texas Medical Center in Houston. Main Building: 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030. Multiple locations throughout the Greater Houston area. Accessible via major highways (I-610 and SR-288), METRO bus routes and METRORail. MD Anderson Directions app available for navigation. |
| Availability of telemedicine services | Not available | Telehealth is an option for follow-up patients. Most participants in a study expressed high satisfaction with telehealth for breast cancer management. |
| Expertise and reputation of doctors | Reputation for excellence and expertise, attracting referrals for complex cases; many physicians are considered among the best in their specialties | MD Anderson's physicians are extensively trained specialists. 100% of their surgeons are trained in oncology (compared to 30% in community hospitals). MD Anderson boasts one of the nation's most esteemed faculties. |
| Use of advanced technology and equipment | Advanced imaging technology, including 7-tesla MRI scanners and photon-counting CT scanners; dedicated Additive Manufacturing Facility for 3D printing of medical devices; intraoperative MRI for real-time surgical imaging | They use state-of-the-art equipment, instruments, and shared services. The institution has advanced technology like CT scans and MRI equipment. They have the nation's first medical cyclotron. They developed IMRT, a precise radiation therapy technique. |
| Support services for patients and families | Variety of support services, including social work, spiritual services, and patient education; respite for families with patients in transplant, Level II nursery, and hematology/oncology units; services to inform patients and caregivers about available amenities | Offers counseling, nutritional guidance, social work, and spiritual care. They have support groups facilitated by licensed social workers. Patient and Family Advisory Councils provide input on care delivery. myCancerConnection offers one-on-one support. |
| Hospital affiliation and integration | Integrated medical center comprising Saint Marys Campus and Methodist Campus; "single integrated hospital practice" | MD Anderson collaborates with community hospitals and health systems nationwide through the MD Anderson Cancer Network. They have partner members, certified members, associate members, and affiliates. |
| Cost of treatment and payment options | Online payments, mail, in-person, and phone; accept Discover, MasterCard, American Express, Visa, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and ACH bank account payments; payment plans and financial assistance are available to those who qualify | MD Anderson arranges special agreements for some patients who may not be fully covered. They provided $346 million in uncompensated care to uninsured or underinsured Texans in Fiscal Year 2024. |