The Economic Value of Improving the Health of Disadvantaged Americans

Schoeni, Robert F.; Dow, William H.; Miller, Wilhelmine; Pamuk, Elsie R.

doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2010.09.032

Cited by 35 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Eliminating disparities in morbidity and mortality for people with less than a college education would have an estimated economic value of $1.02 trillion. ( 53 ) Furthermore, research suggests that eliminating racial and ethnic disparities would reduce medical care costs by $230 billion and indirect costs of excess morbidity and mortality by more than $1 trillion over three years. ( 54 )…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating Strategies For Reducing Health Disparities By Addressing The Social Determinants Of Health

et al. 2016

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Research reveals that the opportunities for healthy choices in homes, neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces can have decisive impacts on health. This article reviews scientific evidence from promising interventions focused on the social determinants of health, and describes ways in which they can improve population health and reduce health disparities. We show that there is sufficient evidence to support policy interventions targeted at education and early childhood; urban planning and community development; housing; income enhancements and supplements; and employment. When available, cost-effectiveness evaluations show that these interventions lead to long-term societal savings; however, more routine attention to cost considerations is needed for these interventions. We also discuss challenges to implementation, including the need for long-term financing in order to scale-up effective interventions for implementation at the local, state, or national level. Although we know enough to act, questions remain about how to optimally scale-up these interventions and maximize their benefits for the most vulnerable populations.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating Strategies For Reducing Health Disparities By Addressing The Social Determinants Of Health

et al. 2016

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“…The health status of the US population has improved across most educational levels between 1971 and 2002, but educational disparities widened for premature adult mortality (Reither et al 2006), smoking, and diabetes (Kanjilal et al 2006). Education-linked health and longevity disparities between US adults with and without BAs have been estimated to have an economic value of $1 trillion (Schoeni et al 2011) and to be responsible for about 40% of premature adult cancer deaths (Siegel et al 2011). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Degrees of health disparities: health status disparities between young adults with high school diplomas, sub-baccalaureate degrees, and baccalaureate degrees

Rosenbaum

2012

Health Serv Outcomes Res Method

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Community colleges have increased post-secondary educational access for disadvantaged youth, but it is unknown how community college degrees fit into the educational gradient of health status disparities. Using data from high school graduates in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, we compared young adults ages 26–31 whose highest degrees were high school diplomas (n=5584), sub-baccalaureate credentials (sub-BAs include community college certificates and associate’s degrees) (n=2415), and baccalaureate degrees (BAs) (n=3303) on measures of hypertension, obesity, smoking, sleep problems, dyslipidemia, and depression. Comparisons used multivariate Poisson regression with robust standard errors after exact and nearest-neighbor Mahalanobis matching within propensity score calipers on 23 baseline factors measured in 1995. High school graduates and sub-BAs differed significantly on 3 of 23 baseline factors. After matching, sub-BAs were 16% less likely to smoke daily than if they had only a high school diploma but did not differ in other health status measures. Sub-BAs and BAs differed significantly on 14 of 23 baseline factors. After matching, BAs were 60% less likely to smoke daily, 14% less likely to be obese, and 38% less likely to have been diagnosed with depression. Sub-BA degrees are accessible to high school graduates irrespective of academic backgrounds and predict lower smoking prevalence. BAs are less accessible to high school graduates and predict lower chances of smoking, depression, and obesity.

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“…38 Robert Schoeni and coauthors estimated that giving all Americans the health status of college-educated adults would generate more than $1 trillion per year in health benefits. 39 Making the connection between social determinants and medical spending heightens the relevance of social policy to a pressing national priority: the spiraling costs of health care, which have alarmed elected officials, employers, health plans, and the public. Whether any proposed remedy-from malpractice reform to the implementation of accountable care organizationscan bend the cost curve remains uncertain.…”

Section: Linking Social Policy To Health Disparitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Where Health Disparities Begin: The Role Of Social And Economic Determinants—And Why Current Policies May Make Matters Worse

2011

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Health disparities by racial or ethnic group or by income or education are only partly explained by disparities in medical care. Inadequate education and living conditions-ranging from low income to the unhealthy characteristics of neighborhoods and communities-can harm health through complex pathways. Meaningful progress in narrowing health disparities is unlikely without addressing these root causes. Policies on education, child care, jobs, community and economic revitalization, housing, transportation, and land use bear on these root causes and have implications for health and medical spending. A shortsighted political focus on reducing spending in these areas could actually increase medical costs by magnifying disease burden and widening health disparities.

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The Economic Value of Improving the Health of Disadvantaged Americans

Abstract: Abstract

Cited by 35 publications

References 16 publications

Evaluating Strategies For Reducing Health Disparities By Addressing The Social Determinants Of Health

Evaluating Strategies For Reducing Health Disparities By Addressing The Social Determinants Of Health

Degrees of health disparities: health status disparities between young adults with high school diplomas, sub-baccalaureate degrees, and baccalaureate degrees

Where Health Disparities Begin: The Role Of Social And Economic Determinants—And Why Current Policies May Make Matters Worse

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