3 ms·

Cancer, in particular, can be practically free to insurance if caught early. Colon and skin cancer are the poster children. Colon cancer can be treated in the

Cancer, in particular, can be practically free to insurance if caught early. Colon and skin cancer are the poster children. Colon cancer can be treated in the process of doing the screening when caught early. And skin cancer is a pretty minor "just lop off that mole" procedure that also ends up being the treatment. Letting it grow and catching it when symptoms arise is terribly expensive. The chemo, surgery, scans, and frequent doctors visits are all crazy expensive. About the only way I could see preventative care not costing less is if you just let the people die and call it god's will rather than calling it a death that could have been prevented.

theologic 1y ago
Another variation of this are GLP 1 drugs. Obesity costs USA $1.75T (https://milkeninstitute.org/content-hub/news-releases/economic-impact-obesity-increased-14-trillion-says-milken-institute https://milkeninstitute.org/content-hub/news-releases/econom..., grossed up for inflation) Number of people that are obese: 100M Annual economic impact from obesity per person: $17,500 per year GLP-1 "For All": $6,000 per year (assuming multiple vendors, and some will be over vs under) Savings: $11,500 per year per person. Economic impact: Around $1T This should free up around 3% of GDP for better uses of money rather than just fixing up people. Obviously, the devil is in the details, but the potential impact is so massive that it should be deeply studied.
- dzhiurgis 1y ago
  Could US gov just buy out one the patents and make it free for all?
  - theologic 1y ago
    The challenge is that we have a rapidly evolving GLP/GIP/Other landscape being developed. In other words, you take a risk that the government buys the wrong thing. However, I think with a little push, you could have a highly competitive field to lower the federal cost, and the ROI should be easy to plot. Actually, you don't need to do everybody all at once. Target the biggest (no pun intended) opportunities first.

theologic 1y ago

Another variation of this are GLP 1 drugs. Obesity costs USA $1.75T (https://milkeninstitute.org/content-hub/news-releases/economic-impact-obesity-increased-14-trillion-says-milken-institute https://milkeninstitute.org/content-hub/news-releases/econom..., grossed up for inflation) Number of people that are obese: 100M Annual economic impact from obesity per person: $17,500 per year GLP-1 "For All": $6,000 per year (assuming multiple vendors, and some will be over vs under) Savings: $11,500 per year per person. Economic impact: Around $1T This should free up around 3% of GDP for better uses of money rather than just fixing up people. Obviously, the devil is in the details, but the potential impact is so massive that it should be deeply studied.

dzhiurgis 1y ago
Could US gov just buy out one the patents and make it free for all?
- theologic 1y ago
  The challenge is that we have a rapidly evolving GLP/GIP/Other landscape being developed. In other words, you take a risk that the government buys the wrong thing. However, I think with a little push, you could have a highly competitive field to lower the federal cost, and the ROI should be easy to plot. Actually, you don't need to do everybody all at once. Target the biggest (no pun intended) opportunities first.