New Report: Preventive Care Saves Families Thousands While Supporting Long-Term Affordability
Blue Daily
| 3 min read
Key Takeaways
- A new report examined the value of preventive services that are required to be covered without cost-sharing for most people enrolled in ACA-compliant private health plans.
- Under the ACA, many preventive services are covered at no additional cost to members.
- A 2025 Nationwide Retirement Institute study showed Americans regularly cancel or postpone dental cleanings, vision tests and other preventive exams.
- Preventive care plays an important role in keeping healthcare affordable, on both an individual and systemwide level.
Preventive care is one of the best ways to manage your long-term physical and mental health, but new research suggests it also delivers significant financial benefits for families.
A recent report from researchers at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health (GWSPH) found that families covered by Affordable Care Act (ACA) preventive care protections can save more than $4,000 annually in out-of-pocket healthcare costs.
The report examined the value of preventive services that are required to be covered without cost-sharing for most people enrolled in ACA-compliant private health plans.
Health insurers and providers have long emphasized how important it is to invest in preventive care today to help avoid serious health problems and higher medical costs tomorrow, but statistics show many people do not take advantage of these services. A 2025 Nationwide Retirement Institute study showed the following percentage of Americans postponed or canceled:
- Dental cleanings (23%)
- Vision tests (20%)
- Seeing a specialist (17%)
- Mental health care (16%)
Preventive care helps catch problems early
Under the ACA, many preventive services are covered at no additional cost to members. These include annual wellness visits, immunizations, blood pressure screenings and recommended cancer screenings, among other services. Researchers with the GWSPH estimate approximately 150 million Americans have access to these benefits through ACA-compliant health plans.
The report found that nearly two-thirds of privately insured patients used at least one covered preventive service in 2024. These screenings and checkups can identify health risks before they become serious, allowing patients to seek treatment earlier when conditions are often easier and less expensive to manage.
Many of the preventive services covered under the ACA focus on detecting or reducing the risk of chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity and certain cancers. Early detection can improve outcomes while helping patients avoid costly complications later in life.
Better health can lead to lower costs for everyone
Preventive care plays an important role in keeping healthcare affordable, on both an individual and systemwide level.
When chronic diseases are prevented, delayed or managed early, patients are less likely to require expensive hospitalizations, emergency care and complex treatments. That can help reduce overall healthcare spending while improving quality of life. Preventive care is one of the best ways to support long-term physical, mental and financial health because healthier individuals generally need fewer high-cost medical services.
The GWSPH report found that a typical family could save thousands of dollars each year because preventive services are covered without cost-sharing. Without those protections, families could face the full cost of many recommended screenings, vaccinations and preventive visits.
As healthcare affordability continues to be a concern for many Americans, the report serves as an important reminder that preventive care is more than a health benefit. It is also a financial tool that can help families avoid unnecessary expenses, improve their health span and reduce the need for costly care in the future.
Learn more about what Blue Cross is doing to keep healthcare affordable by visiting bcbsm.mibluedaily.com/affordability.
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