By: Mary Pat Fralick, COO

I am convinced that we would not need healthcare reform if each of us agreed to a personal reformation. “Huh?” Let me explain…

Recently, while listening to NPR (it was a Friday, so Howard100 was playing reruns) I heard a gentleman talk about four changes in everyday life that he believes would save the country more money and result in a healthier population than any healthcare reform proposal currently being considered. While I can’t remember the show I was listening to or the name of the author of these ideas, I do remember the four changes. The facts to support his ideas are ones that I found through research; he used others that were equally compelling.

#1 – Everyone who smokes should quit now. According to the American Cancer Society , the average lifetime medical costs for male smokers are 32% higher than for men who never smoked and 24% higher for female smokers. The ACS also estimates that smokers make about six more visits to healthcare facilities per year than non-smokers.

#2 – Everyone should ALWAYS wear seatbelts. According to the Division of Motor Vehicles , for every 1% increase in seatbelt usage, close to $100 million in annual injury and death costs could be saved.

# 3 – Severely overweight people need to lose weight. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 10% of the cost of healthcare in the US is related to obesity.

#4 – Women who are pregnant must seek prenatal care. Lack of prenatal care is the #1 cause of preterm births. According to the March of Dimes , in 2005, the cost of medical care for preterm births in the US was at least $16.9 billion. The average first year medical costs, including inpatient and outpatient care, were about 10 times greater for preterm infants than full-term infants.

I wasn’t a math major in college, but I was a mathlete in high school and it sounds to me like this guy is on to something! What would you add to this list? Here’s my suggestion:

Everyone who rides a bike should wear a helmet. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, bicycle safety helmets are highly effective in preventing head injury. It’s estimated that anywhere from 45-88% of brain injuries could be prevented by wearing a helmet and that every $1 spent on a bike helmet is estimated to save $30 in direct medical costs. Sounds like a good ROI to me!