People cancel their gym memberships because they think it saves them $50 a month. They buy processed junk food because it’s cheaper than fresh produce. They skip the annual physical because they’re too busy.
I see this all the time, and it drives me crazy. Because if you think staying fit is expensive, wait until you see the bill for being sick.
In reality, letting your health slide is a financial disaster waiting to happen. The cost of chronic illness will drain your bank accounts faster than any premium fitness class ever could.
The true price of doing nothing
We often trick ourselves into believing that ignoring our health is a cost-saving measure. It isn’t.
Researchers at the University of Georgia looked at the data and found that physical inactivity leads to $192 billion in annual health care costs in the United States alone. The people who aren’t moving are the ones racking up the highest medical bills.
When you don’t exercise, you’re practically inviting chronic conditions into your life.
Take cardiovascular disease, for example. The American Heart Association reports that the average health care cost per person for coronary heart disease is $13,000. If you develop a condition like that, you’re not just paying for a few doctor visits. You’re paying for specialists, continuous monitoring, and expensive prescription medications.
Where the thousands of dollars go
You might be wondering how a lack of fitness translates to $10,000 or more leaving your pocket. It happens faster than you think.
- A catastrophic hospital stay: One emergency room visit or hospital admission can wipe out savings. According to federal data from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the median expense for an inpatient hospital stay related to heart disease is nearly $15,000.
- A lifetime of prescriptions: Once you’re diagnosed with a chronic, lifestyle-related condition like Type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure, you’re usually on medication for life. Even with good insurance, the out-of-pocket costs for these drugs add up to thousands of dollars over a decade.
- Lost income and productivity: It’s hard to earn a living if you’re too sick to work. Poor health leads to missed days, lower energy, and early forced retirement. You aren’t just spending money on health care; you’re losing the ability to generate income. And speaking of retirement, health care might cost you over $172,000 once you stop working.
How to get fit without spending a fortune
You don’t need a $2,000 exercise bike or a private chef to stay out of the hospital. You just need to move your body and pay attention to what you eat.
If you’re worried about the upfront costs of getting healthy, there are plenty of ways to do it on a budget. You can easily find smart ways to save on gym memberships or learn how to get fit on your own.
If you have a high-deductible health plan, you can also use a health savings account to pay for eligible medical expenses with pre-tax dollars. (Related: See “How to Get the Most Benefit From Your Health Savings Account.”)
The bottom line is simple. You can either invest a little time and money into your health today, or you can pay a massive medical bill tomorrow. I know which one I’d choose.