Surgey Abroad is More Than a Fad ...For Now

Implications: Because of the high cost of medical care in the United States, some individuals have sought care in other countries where out of pocket costs for the treatment can be markedly lower.  However, outcomes results with this apprach are largely anecdotal and the few studies that examine this approach suggest that outcomes may be inferior.

Analysis: At the same time that the buzzword in US Healthcare is "quality," the thrust of "health tourism" and seeking care outside of the US is cost.  Some of this cost difference is due to cheap labor costs outside of the US; a cost that will undubtedly increase with time.  Some is certainly due to decreased regulatory requirements.  In addition, the perverse pricing system in United States heatcare where insurers pay a reduced negotiated price- sometimes below costs forces hospitals to charge full price to those who may least be able to affors the costs.  Health tourism results from the lack of a comprehensive program of healthcare coverage and not from a desire for people to seek care elsewhere.  If we ever have universal healthcare coverage in the United States, the phenomenon of traveling to reduce costs will diminish.