US Consumers Aren't Enthusiastic About Medical Tourism

In an effort to control skyrocketing health costs, some pioneering health plans and employers are testing the waters of medical tourism by paying for consumers to travel overseas for less expensive care. To gauge consumers' interest, Forrester asked US online consumers whether they would consider medical tourism, and a small majority said no. Among those who would consider medical tourism, the bar is still high — most want both lower costs and higher quality to justify leaving the familiarity of local care. Customer experience professionals can help shape and promote medical tourism programs by recommending pilots with predisposed consumers, delving into consumers' concerns about overseas care, and collecting and publicizing early success stories.