Hits & Misses – 2009/5/22
73% of Americans are willing to change their health behavior if it saves them money. Median required savings: $350 per month.
Want to know what really killed your loved one? An independent autopsy costs $3,000 – $5,000.
Is a refrigerator packed with food more energy-efficient than one sparsely stocked? Yes.
Can the gift of a pen or coffee mug influence a doctor's prescribing habits? Yes.
The first one is a real shocker. It means that people aren’t going to change their behavior unless they bear a major portion of their health care costs directly.
A savings of $350 per month will motivate 73% of Americans to change their health behavior? The laws of nature certainly cut across various disciplines.
Does that mean economic motivation is more powerful than biological motivation (risk of death and disease)?
Juan, it means that whatever biological motivation there is, people will go beyond that level of motivation if the monetary price is right.