The ROI of Getting Checked
Every dollar spent on screening returns multiple dollars in avoided treatment costs.
The Screening Gap
Men consistently under-screen compared to women, across every major preventable disease.
What Prevention Actually Costs
Most essential screenings are free or under $150 with insurance. These are the real numbers.
FREE
Blood Pressure
At any pharmacy or doctor visit
$20
Lipid Panel
Cholesterol + triglycerides
$35
A1C Blood Test
3-month blood sugar average
$150
Colonoscopy
Covered at 45+ by most plans
Screening vs. Treatment: The Savings
Catching disease early doesn't just save lives — it saves tens of thousands of dollars.
$0ColonoscopyFree under ACA at 45+
$120K+Late-Stage Colon CancerAvg. treatment cost, Stage III–IV
$20Lipid PanelCholesterol screening
$760K+Heart Attack TreatmentHospitalization + surgery + rehab
FREEBlood Pressure CheckAny pharmacy, any time
$30K+Stroke (First Year)ER, hospitalization, rehab
$35A1C / Glucose TestPrediabetes detection
$16K/yrType 2 DiabetesAnnual management cost
$50Skin Cancer ScreeningDermatologist exam
$58K+Melanoma TreatmentLate-stage avg. treatment
Who's Actually Getting Screened?
Completion rates by age group — men fall behind at every stage.
23%
Men 20–39 with Annual Checkup
vs. 41% of women same age
48%
Men 40–49 Getting Bloodwork
Lipid panel, glucose, CBC at least annually
57%
Men 45+ with Colonoscopy
Recommended at 45 — nearly half skip it
63%
Men 50+ PSA Test
Prostate cancer screening — 37% never tested
31%
Men with Family History Screened
69% skip despite elevated genetic risk
$3,700
Avg. Annual Cost of Preventable Disease
Per man — medication, visits, lost productivity
The Lifetime Wealth Impact
Prevention isn't just health — it's financial strategy. Over a lifetime, the numbers compound.
$1.4M
Lifetime Medical Savings
Man who screens vs. man who doesn't
7.3 yrs
Life Expectancy Gain
Men who follow screening guidelines
$52K
Avg. Lost Wages
From one preventable hospitalization
$250
Annual Screening Cost
Full panel: blood, BP, glucose, lipids
Data Sources
- US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) — Screening Recommendations 2024–2026
- American Cancer Society — Cancer Screening Guidelines by Age and Sex
- CDC — National Health Interview Survey, Preventive Care Utilization
- American Heart Association — Cardiovascular Disease Cost Statistics 2025
- Journal of the American Medical Association — Preventive Care ROI Analysis
- Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) — Treatment Cost Benchmarks
- Kaiser Family Foundation — Health Insurance Coverage and Screening Access Data