Economics of Health

[Clodfobble]

I found this very interesting, especially with all the recent media coverage of the various candidates' health plans. Turns out poor living habits are actually cheaper on the healthcare system, in the long run:

The researchers found that from age 20 to 56, obese people racked up the most expensive health costs. But because both the smokers and the obese people died sooner than the healthy group, it cost less to treat them in the long run.

...

"Lung cancer is a cheap disease to treat because people don't survive very long," van Baal said. "But if they are old enough to get Alzheimer's one day, they may survive longer and cost more."