Surprise: Good Health Isn’t Free
[I]ndividuals with high cholesterol who stayed on their statin medications over a two-year period were healthier but had a slightly higher overall cost of care.
The study found individuals adherent to statin medication went to the hospital or emergency department 2.6 percent less often than non-adherent individuals, resulting in medical costs that were 7 percent lower (a difference of $767). The lower medical costs, however, were offset by pharmacy costs that were 45 percent higher (a difference of $1,606).
There’s a persistent myth that a progressive health can policy can spend our way to savings. Most health care spending is not an investment that returns monetary dividends. Medical care is a consumption good. If you really want to lower health care expenditures, stop consuming medical care. Anything that boosts access to care will boost medical spending. Moreover, spending on asymptomatic patients ups spending without any positive benefit to health.
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with consuming health care. People spend their resources on goods and services all the time. But, people should understand health care for what it is; something they will have to spend money on and need to budget for.
Nothing in life is free!
Was it the drug that reduced the ER visits or were the people who followed directions likely to lead a life that naturally includes fewer ER visits?
No brainer. If you stay on any medication for long periods of time, expect to pay more than someone NOT on that medication.
From a positive perspective, at least these people on statin medications can have peace of mind that the medication is working.
Have to go with Linda. Sounds like people that strictly adhere to prescription regiments are the same people that would value preventative medicine (the kind that keeps you out of the ER).
Wait, so your saying I’ll have to pay to receive a good? There’s a novel idea.
Wow, that’s shocking! Someone who actually continues to buy the medicine they need spend more on care than someone who doesn’t? Unfathomable!
that cost is easily justified if you can live a longer, healthier life
“This conclusion varies from earlier studies that showed individuals adherent to their cholesterol medication had a lower total cost of care because their lower medical costs more than offset their higher pharmacy costs.”
Still interesting though
More cost effective solution? Proper diet and a walk around the neighborhood.
John:
Your analysis is eloquently demonstrated and documented by the recent best selling book titled, “Half the Sky.” The authors (2) document by specific examples how by the means of educating women in female represive cultures of Africa and the eastern and predominately muslim countries have been able the change the economics of each of those regions in specific regions and in specific ways that have developed new economic and profitable projects lifting the populations out of a deeper level of poverty.
If you examine their work you can document your findings much better said than I can.
Thanks for your efforts.