United States
Although much attention has been given to the growing trend of uninsured Americans
traveling to foreign countries, a McKinsey and Co. report from 2008 found that a plurality
of an estimated 60,000 to 85,000 medical tourists were traveling to the United States for
the purpose of receiving in-patient medical care; the same McKinsey study estimated
that 750,000 American medical tourists traveled from the United States to other countries
in 2007 (up from 500,000 in 2006). The availability of advanced medical technology and
sophisticated training of physicians are cited as driving motivators for growth in foreigners
traveling to the U.S. for medical care, whereas the low costs for hospital stays and
major/complex procedures at Western-accredited medical facilities abroad are cited as
major motivators for American travelers. Also, it has been noted that the decline in
value of the U.S. dollar is offering additional incentive for foreign travel to the U.S.,
although, costs differences between the US and many locations in Asia far outweigh any
currency fluctuations.