Medical Tourism to experience resurgence, says Deloitte

November 11th, 2009 by SimpleCare World Health

In a new report, the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions
projects medical tourism to rebound strongly from the effects
of the economic recession in coming years.

The report, entitled “Medical Tourism: Update and Implications”,
says that while outbound medical travel from the United States
fell by nearly 14% between 2007 and 2009 as a result of the
recession, it is predicted to show a strong resurgence as economic
conditions improve. The number of outbound medical travelers could
be as much as 5 million per year by 2017, the report suggests, if
the industry continues to grow at the expected rate of 35% per year.

Paul H. Keckley, executive director of the Deloitte Center for
Health Solutions,  expects outbound medical tourism to continue its
rapid growth despite the efforts at health care reform in the
United States. “There is nothing in current health reform bills that
decelerates the cost of care,” said Keckley, “so that contributes to
the appetite that people have.”

Health-care costs will continue to rise by six percent per year for
the next decade, the report says, making medical tourism an increasingly
attractive option for the aging US population. With medical tourism “offering
savings of up to 70 percent after travel expenses, we anticipate that the
industry will recover from the current economic downturn,” said Heckley.
”Medical tourism represents an important option for patient populations who
need care but lack adequate out-of-pocket funds to afford a procedure in
the U.S., or those who seek lower prices for purposes of savings.”

need care but lack adequate out-of-pocket funds to afford a procedure in
the U.S., or those who seek lower prices.
Medical tourism represents an important option for patient populations who
for purposes of savings.

Posted in medical tourism