Americans Embracing Medical Tourism

February 10, 2009 By: Mark Rogers

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According to a study released by the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions more Americans than ever are traveling abroad for medical treatment. Approximately 750,000 Americans traveled outside the country for medical care in 2007, and as many as 6 million will have received healthcare outside the United States by 2010. Medical tourism’s main driver is based on lower prices abroad, lower nurse to patient ratios and access to procedures not yet available in the States. Some domestic insurance companies and employers are encouraging medical tourism as an alternative to high-priced care in the U.S.