37% of Uninsured Americans Ready To Travel Overseas For Medical Treatement

According to a a latest poll conducted by Gallup, A growing number of U.S. citizens are opening up to Medical Tourism and traveling to different countries for Medical Treatments.

Gallup found that 29 percent of respondents would consider traveling to non-U.S. destinations for a major problem or procedure, 24 percent would seek cancer diagnosis and treatment overseas, 15 percent would travel for orthopedic procedures, 14 percent would go abroad for heart treatment and 10 percent would travel to get plastic surgery.

The poll concludes that the uninsured are the most interested in medical tourism options, with 37 percent of uninsured respondents saying that they would consider cancer care overseas. Only 22 percent of those with health insurance shared this sentiment.

Gallup says the survey results indicate that the increasing cost of medical care in the United States and large numbers of uninsured is making medical tourism a viable option.

"If strides in insurance reimbursements, overseas hospital quality, and affordability continue, it will be an increasingly attractive option for Americans," Gallup says. "The data suggest the estimated population of 48 million Americans without health insurance are motivated by costs and would be more likely than those with health insurance coverage to consider seeking medical care from alternative sources."

The Gallup Poll throws up some interesting trends

• 29% of respondents would consider traveling outside of the US for alternative medical treatments for a major medical problem
• 24% would seek cancer diagnosis and treatment abroad
• 15% would receive orthopedic procedures
• 14% would consider traveling to another country for heart treatment
• 10% would seek plastic surgery

Americans from Mid Western region are the least willing to consider medical treatment abroad. Westerners are the most open to Medical Tourism,while Southerners are also below average in their enthusiasm for medical tourism, with the exception of hip or knee replacement.