CBO: preventive care costs exceed the savings from averted illness

[mawilson 2,133]

Something I've been saying all along - now confirmed by the Congressional Budget Office.

"Researchers who have examined the effects of preventive care generally find that

the added costs of widespread use of preventive services tend to exceed the savings

from averted illness."

CBO link - pdf

I had a serious hunch this was the case.

I know more than a couple people who run to the doctor for every pimple, and when it comes to their kids it;s even worse.. this is really the downside of having insurance, it has instilled a "wasteful" trivial use of medical care.

But how could it not? Anytime you pay one price and can use all you want, this is the result, just look at the half full plates at the -All you can eat Buffet. People take way more than they will eat on each trip to refill their plate.

Politicians love to push this myth about "It's better to go often and catch it early".

This feeds right into this wasteful attitude so many have developed.

Exactly, Danno. It's just common sense.

It's always easy to order lobster when someone else is paying for dinner.

[Dan J 277]

Something I've been saying all along - now confirmed by the Congressional Budget Office.

"Researchers who have examined the effects of preventive care generally find that

the added costs of widespread use of preventive services tend to exceed the savings

from averted illness."

CBO link - pdf

It has to do with broad based screening efforts, for certain diseases on the entire population. Not that its entirely a bad thing, early detection can improve survivability.

Its just a matter of finding ways to identify who is most at risk and implementing screening for just those populations.

[DIARD 1]

"Researchers who have examined the effects of preventive care generally find that

the added costs of widespread use of preventive services tend to exceed the savings

from averted illness."

I don't believe this is true for all medical conditions though. It has been proven that pre-natal care produces healthier babies. I would think a health baby versus one with lifelong medical problems would be less a drain on the system. Also who cares what the cost is? Would you rather go in for preventative care or come down with the illness? Seems like a no brainer to me.