http://www.HealthOptionsWorldwide.com: Health Options Worldwide Discusses Inbound Medical Tourism and International Healthcare

PRINCETON, N.J., July 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The world of medical tourism is a fast growing industry. The popular notion behind it currently defines it as Americans leaving the U.S. for inexpensive medical treatment and low cost surgery. However, the business model works both ways. "In the world of medical tourism and medical travel, the United States is certainly a power player, offering high quality care and modern technology to attract international patients," says David Goldstein, President of Health Options Worldwide (HOW), a global healthcare company.

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Health Options Worldwide is a medical tourism company that allows patients to research, request, and reserve affordable healthcare treatments from the privacy of their own home. Patients can use the search function to find affordable surgery and treatment providers based on cost, quality, experience, treatment needed, and geographical location. "Most people hear of 'medical tourism' and they think of American patients seeking healthcare in Asia or Latin America where the services are much less expensive," continued Goldstein, "But cost is not always a factor; quality is."

According to a Deloitte study, nearly 750,000 Americans traveled overseas for medical care in 2007. By this year, that number is estimated to grow to six million. The main driver for this trend is the high cost of U.S. medical care and low rate of insurance coverage. However, according to a report from the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions, international patients on American healthcare spent nearly $5 billion in 2008.

Medical tourism is a huge business opportunity for American hospitals to bring in revenue. What's interesting to note about this trend is that international medical tourists do not come to the U.S. for healthcare because of economics. International patients are attracted by the quality of doctors and state-of-the-art medical technology for which the United States is renowned. American hospitals offer pioneer treatments that are not available anywhere else. Another factor impacting international patients is the fact that the wait for medical treatment in their home country is too long. But quite simply, many of these patients can afford the best and can find it in the U.S.  

According to a recent survey by the Medical Tourism Association, 49 percent of patients research medical tourism options online and 73 percent use the Internet to research countries and healthcare providers. Traveling to the U.S. for healthcare can be costly and complicated for international travelers. Usually, the patients are wealthy people who can afford high quality care, but more than likely, the patients have international insurance policies, which cover most medical expenses. American hospitals benefit greatly from these international insurances because reimbursement rates are usually higher than U.S. government-sponsored plans.

American healthcare providers are actively competing in this "inbound" medical tourism and reaping significant benefits. "However, to gain an even stronger foothold, hospitals should create international patient departments to assist international patients with their medical tourism needs," said Goldstein. Stackpole & Associates, an independent research company, conducted a recent survey of U.S. international patient departments to learn more about inbound medical tourism. The conclusion was that "international patient departments bring prestige to a hospital."

International patient numbers have grown over the last 12 months, and the industry can expect more growth this year. Patients come from: Mexico (21%), Middle East (14%), South America (12%), Central America excluding Mexico (11%) and Europe (11%). The most sought-out treatment areas were oncology  (32%), cardiovascular (14%) and neurological (12%). "In this fast growing market, and despite healthcare reform and costs, the U.S. has a chance to be very competitive," concluded Goldstein.

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SOURCE Health Options Worldwide (HOW)