Cardiovascular Disease
Cardiovascular claims rise with age, and males have a 6% greater chance of suffering from this type of disease. Those making less than $75,000 a year have higher rates of cardiovascular disease than the general public. Concentrations of cardiovascular disease are found in North Carolina, Greenville, and Atlanta. The South has higher rates due to obesity and lack of physical activity according to cardiosmart.org. Arrhythmias represent 10% of all cardio claims. Cardio claims cost employers $357 million in 2021. Metabolic syndrome is caused by high blood sugar, low levels of
good cholesterol, high triglycerides, large waist circumference, and high blood pressure, all of which likely lead to diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Gastrointestinal (GI)
Females have 17% more claims than males. Infants have the highest claims due to colic and reflux. Claims increase with age in the adult population. Types of GI are colitis, Crohn’s disease, pancreatitis, Celiac disease, hernias, gallbladder attack, and Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS.) Treatments include Immunosuppressive drugs which represent 12% of the $284 million spent by employers covering GI. Lower-cost alternatives called biosimilars are now entering the market and should help drive down costs associated with GI.
Neurological Conditions
Females have a 28% greater chance of suffering from neurological conditions. Spinal cord and seizure conditions are higher in children 12 and under. Claims rise with age in adults. Those with lower incomes have less claims, and those with high incomes have more claims. This is likely due to high earners seeking out specialists more often. Types of neurological conditions include carpal tunnel syndrome, Parkinson’s disease, migraines and headaches, Multiple Sclerosis (MS,) and Epilepsy. MS medications represent 13% of the $225 million spent by employers covering neurological conditions. Patients in Greensboro have 8 times as many carpal tunnel surgeries than patients in Phoenix. Surgery in L.A. costs four times more than Philly for exact same procedure.