Prevention pays off: Better health, lower costs for families in Kentucky
It’s a scenario far too familiar: a routine checkup gets postponed, a screening is delayed, or a symptom is ignored. Life is busy. Appointments take time to schedule, and for many, there’s a real concern about whether care will fit into this week’s budget.
In the moment, delaying care can feel like the practical choice. But postponing routine screenings or appointments often leads to the opposite result — higher costs, more complex treatment, and in some cases, worse long-term health outcomes.
This is why prevention matters. It’s about our overall health and our financial well-being.
When delaying care becomes expensive care
Preventive care is designed to catch health issues early, when they are easier and less expensive to manage. National research from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association shows that complex health issues like cancer, if detected through preventative screenings, are far more likely to be found at the earliest, most treatable stage, significantly reducing the cost of care.
This matters at a time when the rise in healthcare costs is already under strain nationwide. Healthcare spending in the US reached $5.3 trillion in 2024, the second consecutive year of growth above 7 percent, according to Health Affairs. In Kentucky, that impact is tangible: A 2024 statewide survey found that 55% of insured Kentuckians delayed or skipped care due to cost, rising to 61% in rural areas.
Why prevention lowers the cost of care
Lower healthcare costs don’t start in the emergency room or at the pharmacy counter; they begin much earlier. Access to preventive services, early intervention, and follow-up support can help manage health issues before small problems become costly crises.
Addressing mental and behavioral health needs before they escalate can also reduce emergency visits and in-patient hospital stays. Likewise, managing chronic conditions like diabetes or heart disease is a great example of how early prevention can avoid costly complications—particularly as the costs of diagnosed diabetes reached $413 billion in 2022 and are projected to reach $2 trillion for cardiovascular diseases by 2050.
Making prevention easier, not harder
Health plans have a responsibility to remove barriers to preventive care by covering recommended screenings and wellness visits, and by helping people navigate where to go, what services they need, or how much care will cost. When people have clear guidance and support, they’re more likely to act rather than delay.
We support prevention by pairing coverage with practical tools and programs, including:
- Rewarding safer care: Through our Quality-In-Sights: Hospital Incentive Program, hospitals are encouraged to improve patient safety and reduce preventable complications.
- Simplifying access through technology: Our Concierge Care program and digital tools connect members to 24/7 nurse support and guidance, helping reduce avoidable hospital admissions and remissions.
- Turning data into action: Data insights help identify care gaps and guide members to the right care with tools like the Sydney Health app, making it easier to schedule preventative visits, understand benefits, and avoid unnecessary emergency visits and unexpected costs.
By encouraging earlier action, we’re improving both the experience and overall health outcomes.
Investing in healthier communities
Prevention doesn’t stop at the doctor’s office. It extends into our communities through partnerships that help address barriers like transportation, nutrition, and access to behavioral health services. Supporting people’s physical, emotional, and social needs is critical to keeping our communities healthy and reducing avoidable healthcare costs.
We’re supporting prevention in Kentucky through investments in rural medicine care providers, maternal health education, food as medicine programs, and many more initiatives aimed at making it easier for people to access care earlier and overcome barriers to healthier outcomes now and in the future.
A smarter path forward
Health insurance isn’t just for emergencies. It’s meant to support individuals and their families so emergencies are less likely to occur.
With healthcare costs top of mind for families and businesses, prevention offers a clear path forward. It leads to better health outcomes, lowers costs, and helps ensure that people get the care they need when they need it most.
Learn more at anthem.com/affordabilityinkentucky.
Kennan Wethington is the president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Kentucky.