BACKGROUND: Cost effectiveness and other issues relating to preventive health services have been widely discussed, but a computer search of the literature elicited no reports in which the lifetime cost of a patient's preventive services was calculated. The purpose of our study was to calculate the total lifetime cost of preventive medical services for idealized versions of male and female patients. METHODS: We used the preventive screening recommendations of the US Preventive Services Task Force as our standard. We developed a model using idealized patients who were asymptomatic, had no risk factors, and lived healthful lifestyles. We determined the typical charges in a specified marketplace for the office visits, procedures, laboratory tests, and purchases required to comply with the screening recommendations. RESULTS: Lifetime charges ranged from $5432.60 to $7529.60 for men and from $15,307.10 to $18,525.10 for women. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of the lifetime costs of preventive services may influence the decisions of patients, physicians, and insurance plans when purchasing or providing these services.
BACKGROUND: Cost effectiveness and other issues relating to preventive health services have been widely discussed, but a computer search of the literature elicited no reports in which the lifetime cost of a patient's preventive services was calculated. The purpose of our study was to calculate the total lifetime cost of preventive medical services for idealized versions of male and female patients. METHODS: We used the preventive screening recommendations of the US Preventive Services Task Force as our standard. We developed a model using idealized patients who were asymptomatic, had no risk factors, and lived healthful lifestyles. We determined the typical charges in a specified marketplace for the office visits, procedures, laboratory tests, and purchases required to comply with the screening recommendations. RESULTS: Lifetime charges ranged from $5432.60 to $7529.60 for men and from $15,307.10 to $18,525.10 for women. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of the lifetime costs of preventive services may influence the decisions of patients, physicians, and insurance plans when purchasing or providing these services.