healthy lifestyles mean lower claims

Data shows that people who engage in healthier lifestyles ‘Significantly’ claim less from their health insurances.

A study published by The Lancet Public why health should be at the centre of all Health has revealed that health risks which policy discussion, not just those related to can be improved by engagement with sickness. We are seeing with Covid-19 that healthier lifestyles were linked to more prevention is paramount to our own health than $730bn of healthcare spending in and the health of our economies. It’s time the US in 2016. The report showed that five to apply the same urgency to these other ‘modifiable’ health risk factors alone rack preventable diseases.” up 27% of US healthcare bills. Of Vitality members’ five most common lower; cardiovascular claims were 33% Francois Millard, chief actuarial officer,

Healthcare costs

The research by Vitality Group and the The study also found that controllable Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) found the costs were largely due to five risk factors, which include overweight and obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, poor diet and smoking. US and treatable risk were strongly related to costly US medical conditions – including cardiovascular disease, cancers, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases. healthcare spending on these factors The breakdown of costs for the five alone reached 27% of the $2.7trn total in modifiable risk factors were overweight 2016, the study revealed. and obesity (high body mass index), $238.5 billion; high blood pressure, $179.9 billion; The findings come at the same time that high fasting plasma glucose, $171.9 billion; Vitality UK data shows that claims were dietary risks, $143.6 billion; and tobacco significantly lower across main claims smoke, $130.0 billion. The Lancet study categories for those who had engaged also showed that health care spending with a healthy and active lifestyle, to increases significantly with age, with the reach a higher Vitality status, during the greatest proportion of risk-attributable same period. spending associated with those aged 65 types of claims for the period, cancer Dr Keith Klintworth, managing director, claims costs were 25% lower for those VitalityHealth said: “This is a significant with a gold or platinum Vitality status study that illustrates the huge costs tied to compared to peers with a bronze status; poor diets, high blood pressure, smoking, gastrointestinal claims costs were 41% and obesity. lower, and trauma claims were 30% lower. “This new data comes at a time when Interestingly, the same relationship was health has been catapulted to the not seen for musculoskeletal claims which forefront of people’s minds, and is a were 2% higher for gold and platinum timely reminder for a renewed focus on members. preventing and managing these key risks ‘Prevention is paramount’ and illnesses.” years and older (44.8%). early before they turn into costly diseases Vitality Group, and a study author, said: “At Vitality we want to help more people “Given that US healthcare expenses are get active and live healthy lives and we almost double that of other developed can see that by engaging in our Vitality nations, we set out to understand how Programme, members can realise the much of these costs could be attributed to numerous benefits of taking care of their modifiable risk factors. health and wellbeing.”

“While the relationship between If you would like to know more about lifestyle risks and medical conditions is Vitality’s approach to health and understood, this is the first study to offer a wellbeing incorporated within their health comprehensive analysis of health spending insurance plans then advo can help. In the related to these risks. This helps inform how first instance contact your advo account our society is investing its resources, and manager or email info@advogroup.co.uk.