I’m sure most of you heard about this study, published yesterday in The American Journal of Medicine, and covered by The New York Times.  The list of illnesses/events that account for the highest costs, per year, are listed below, and include mental illnesses, as one might expect.  This is definitely information that should be referenced in some way during our June 15 “Who Pulled the Rug Out” event, as it’s clear that these financial catastrophes are ever-present in our society, and can occur whether someone has lost their job or not.  Talk about stress and anxiety……

The health problems that left patients with the highest out-of-pocket expenses were ranked as follows:

Neurologic (i.e., multiple sclerosis): $34,167
Diabetes: $26,971
Injuries: 25,096
Stroke: $23,380
Mental illnesses: $23,178
Heart disease: $21,955