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Long-Term Health Expenditure

Meaning

Long-Term Health Expenditure refers to the cumulative financial and non-financial investment an individual makes over their lifetime to maintain, protect, and optimize their health, specifically targeting disease prevention and the extension of healthspan. This expenditure includes direct costs for clinical diagnostics, preventative therapies, and advanced health interventions, as well as the indirect costs of time and effort dedicated to lifestyle practices like nutrition and exercise. Clinically, viewing health as a long-term expenditure frames preventative care as an investment with substantial future returns in reduced disease burden and improved quality of life, moving away from a reactive, sickness-based model.