"Medical Tourism" to the Next County

 As the cost pressures mount, expect that local Medical and Dental “Tourism” to become a more viable option; especially as accreditations spread and help to ensure a comparable level of quality to the payer (whether a consumer, employer or health plan). Similar cost pressures will drive more care out of clinical settings and will shift health management into the home, the community, the workplace and on the go. Markets will expand based on consumers’ ability to pay for cost of care, access to elective procedures and individual care preferences.

The definition of medical and dental “Tourism” could be defined to be no further away than the next county--and not involve a strip search by a Transportation Security Agent, at the airport.

Consumers are increasingly receptive to cost-saving innovations and accepting the idea of traveling a little to experience a different practice environment as well as fresh insights.

88 percent of consumers would consider traveling outside their community or local area to get care if they knew the outcomes were better and/or  the costs were lower.

A variation of this theme might be that unemployed and mobile patients might recognize the regional variations in medical and dental insurance provisions and actually change their locations to take advantage of the significant differences available.

And the willingness to lengthen the distance of an acceptable commute would easily expand the options to unusually adept and skilled practitioners available for your treatment.