Saving On Healthcare Thanks To Our Animals
Animal guardianship continues to increase in the U.S., especially among Millennials. Studies show that companion animals can support mental health, exercise, social capital, and other positive health benefits. A previous report estimated that the U.S. saved $11.8 billion in total healthcare costs in 2015 thanks to our companion animals.
The goal of this report was to provide an updated estimate for the annual healthcare savings as a result of living with companion animals in 2021. The authors used existing data that either outlined savings directly or provided enough information that they could estimate the savings themselves. They also relied on economic data (e.g., healthcare inflation rates) and updated animal guardianship statistics to be as precise as possible in their figures.
Doctor Visits
Previous studies have found that animal guardians go to the physician’s office up to 25% less frequently than those without companion animals, perhaps due to the overall physical and mental health benefits of living with non-human companions. The authors estimated the cost of one primary care visit to be around $296 in 2021, and that U.S. animal guardians saved $15 billion in doctor visits that year.
Obesity Support
Living with dogs in particular is linked with lower rates of obesity, as those who regularly walk a dog show significantly lower BMIs than those who don’t. The authors estimated that around 40 million people benefitted from walking their dogs regularly in 2021, and that this saved $4.5 billion in obesity-related healthcare costs.
C. difficile Treatment
Clostridioides difficile is a dangerous bacterial infection with an average treatment cost of $34,104. Research has found that interacting with companion animals reduces the risk of recurring C. difficile infections. The authors predicted that 2,653 fewer infections occurred as a result of being an animal guardian in 2021, with savings amounting to $90.5 million.
Mental Health Benefits
Companion animals have the broadest impact on mental health: being an animal guardian is linked to lower rates of anxiety, depression, and loneliness. It’s also associated with higher rates of happiness and satisfaction with life. The authors looked at childhood anxiety in particular, which is recognized as an urgent healthcare threat.
Treating childhood anxiety can include paying for general and specialized medical services, rehabilitation and substance abuse treatment, and other supports. Research has found that children in families with a dog are 9% less likely to develop anxiety, which may have amounted to $7.6 billion in cost savings in 2021. However, due to limited research, the authors were only able to estimate savings of $672 million.
Seniors And Social Isolation
Social isolation is a condition of intense loneliness that makes seniors more likely to need hospital or emergency room visits. Companion animals have been found to lower social isolation and loneliness rates among seniors by providing companionship and encouraging socialization with other humans. As a result, the authors estimated that seniors saved $1.8 billion in Medicare costs related to social isolation in 2021.
PTSD Among Veterans
Veterans who suffer from PTSD are known to benefit greatly from companion animals, especially emotional support dogs. The authors argue that this may translate to lower spending on mental health treatment, saving veterans around $688 million across the U.S. in 2021.
A Cautionary Tale
In total, then, the healthcare savings estimate of living with companion animals amounted to $22.7 billion in 2021. However, the authors point out that they were unable to include costs that they couldn’t quantify or that they could only partially quantify based on research. These include benefits such as reduced Type 1 Diabetes expenses, improved memory for care home residents with access to an aquarium, reduced costs for smokers who quit to protect their animals, therapy dogs available in hospital settings, and more.
It’s important to approach these figures with caution. They are, as the authors remind us, only estimates. Furthermore, while living with companion animals may save people money from a healthcare perspective, there are other lifetime costs that guardians need to be prepared for. Similarly, there are additional health risks associated with companion animals (for example, the spread of zoonoses).
All that is to say, it’s important to provide an accurate and balanced perspective to aspiring animal guardians. Nevertheless, this study gives us one more reason why humans benefit by strengthening their bond with animals.