Recession slows dental tourism growth in US

Many Americans travel abroad for dental treatment other medical surgeries but scientists believe a recession will slow down the growth of medical tourism.

Around 648,000 patients are predicted to take medical vacations overseas this year, which is an increase of 20 per cent from 2008.

However, this is a far lower growth than scientists have seen in previous years.

Deloitte Center for Health Solutions, who once predicted that medical tourism would double every year, has now said that more patients are delaying optional treatments to save money and has readjusted its predictions.

However, the think tank still expects the number of people taking medical vacations to increase by 35 per cent next year, as it believes Americans are becoming more comfortable about the quality of foreign health care.

The results of President Obama’s health care reforms could affect this figure too, but in which direction experts can only guess.

Paul Keckley, Deloitte executive director, believes that as many of the reform plans don't begin until 2013 that they will have very little effect on medical tourism in the next few years.

Thanks to the recession many employers are now exploring more cost-cutting ideas when it comes to health care, including going abroad. However, many are scared about negative publicity that could surround medical accidents that happen overseas.

Some people are now even cashing-in on the medical tourism trade. Stryker Warren set up a Centers of Excellence designation for foreign-based medical facilities which acts as a seal of approval and will bring in American customers.

12 November 2009

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Recession slows dental tourism growth in US

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