Men’s Health Month: Why Preventive Care is Cost-Effective Care
James Grant, M.D.
| 4 min read
James D. Grant, M.D., is senior vice president and c...
Key Takeaways
- Men who delay or avoid medical care often face higher costs in the long run.
- By seeking preventive care, men can reduce risk of developing chronic conditions.
- Seeking regular screenings, healthy habits and early intervention can help avoid costly medical bills, reduce stress and improve overall health.
Men historically tend to delay or avoid proactive or preventive medical care. Surveys have consistently shown that men visit their doctors less than women. For example, 44% of the men polled in a 2023 Cleveland Clinic study stated they do not attend their annual wellness visits. But delaying or avoiding health care usually leads to added costs in the long run.
This is because illnesses and conditions can be managed much more cost-effectively when detected and treated early.
When health problems worsen, you’ll need more health services and more expensive services. And this not only costs money, it demands more of your time and can cause emotional strain for you and your loved ones.
Saving money with preventive health care
Taking an active role in your health and paying attention to preventive care can reduce your costs in several ways:
Early detection
Health screenings such as blood sugar, cholesterol and colonoscopy screenings can identify conditions like diabetes, heart disease or colon cancer in their earliest stages when treatment is more effective and less costly.
For example, the average cost for a colonoscopy screening in Michigan is $2,200. During a colonoscopy, doctors can remove polyps or pre-cancerous growths before they begin to cause problems.
Alternatively, treating colon cancer once it has developed can require medications, chemotherapy and radiation treatments, surgeries and more. Costs can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars. And while your insurance may cover the bulk of those costs, you will still be hit with deductibles, copays and coinsurance, not to mention the time and toll of treatment.
Less hospitalization and fewer emergency room visits
When you work with your physician regularly to take care of minor concerns, issues can be treated or resolved before they turn into something more serious. For example, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) physicians had lower rates of patients visiting the ER or being hospitalized, resulting in a savings of more than $800 million over 14 years. PCMH physicians oversee their patients’ whole health, making sure they get needed exams, screenings and tests. They also offer extended hours or access so patients’ needs can be addressed in a timely fashion.
Prevention and better management of chronic disease
Everyone has a certain amount of risk factors for chronic illness. But these risk factors can be managed through regular health exams and doctor visits.
For example, if you have a family history of heart disease, you and your doctor may work together to manage your blood pressure, heart rate, cholesterol and exercise regimen. This can keep your risk factors under control to prevent heart disease from progressing or prevent you from having a heart attack or stroke. And that can save tens of thousands of dollars in hospitalization, prescriptions and lost wages.
Mental health intervention
Although it is lessening, there remains a stigma associated with men and mental health. But ignoring feelings of anxiety or depression can worsen a possible undiagnosed condition. Untreated mental health issues can result in physical health problems, like headaches, pain or digestive issues. It can also cause strained relationships, difficulties at work, difficulty sleeping or getting through your daily routine.
Asking for help leads to earlier intervention, which reduces the need for expensive emergency or inpatient care and helps prevent additional costly problems.
Proactive health: An investment in your wallet and well-being
Preventive health care is a proactive approach that can significantly reduce health care costs, minimize stress and protect families from emotional turmoil. Here are some things you can do to keep your health care costs and your stress levels down:
- Get an annual physical
- Get needed health screenings and immunizations
- Stop smoking
- Exercise as appropriate
- Maintain a healthy diet
- Practice stress management
- Get health concerns checked out
By embracing regular screenings, healthy habits and early intervention, you can avoid costly medical bills, reduce personal stress and prevent the emotional toll of serious illness on your loved ones. Staying healthy and attending to your health needs is good for you, your family and your wallet.
Image: Getty Images
Related:
