Heart of the Matter: Prevent Heart Disease and Save Money
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States. One in three deaths in the United States in 2014 were due to cardiovascular disease. With over 600,000 deaths in 2015, heart disease is a serious condition not only for the concern of yourself and those who care about you, but also for your financial future.
In 2011, heart disease cost the U.S. $215 billion according to the CDC. With an aging population, it’s predicted that direct medical costs associated with cardiovascular diseases are projected to rise to more than $818 billion by 2030.
In addition to medical expenses, the additional cost from loss of productivity from patients suffering with cardiovascular diseases increases to nearly $1billion per day.
Cardiovascular disease is the most costly of all diseases. For those who have heart disease and are uninsured, the medical costs can be enormous. About 60 percent of uninsured heart attack patients had bills higher than their annual income, according to a study from UT Southwestern Medical Center. The average medical care costs for patients with established cardiovascular disease were $18,953 per patient per year, finds a 2010 study by The American Journal of Managed Care. Patients who suffer from some form of cardiovascular disease incur more than twice the medical costs of their healthy counterparts largely due to the likelihood of subsequent hospitalizations.
When uninsured patients require emergency care, this increases costs for every American in the way of increased taxes and health and life insurance rates.
What does this mean for you?
It’s clear that individually and as a country, steps should be taken to prevent heart disease. The leading risk factors for cardiovascular disease, in order of prevalence, include physical inactivity, obesity, high blood pressure, combustible tobacco products, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Physical inactivity leads as the most prevalent risk factor at 50.2 percent in a 2014 study by the CDC. To prevent these health risks and to lower the astronomical costs of heart disease, take steps now to improve your health. By taking the lead on your health, you can save money for yourself in way of lower taxes and lower health insurance rates.
We are here to help you save money and protect your future. With a few steps you can seriously reduce your risk of cardiovascular diseases, saving you money and trouble down the road. Call us today to learn how we can help you feel safe and save!