Monica Schmude, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia
It’s a scenario far too familiar: a routine checkup gets postponed, a screening is delayed, or a symptom is ignored. Life is busy. Appointments take time to schedule, and for many, there’s a real concern about whether care will fit into this week’s budget.
In the moment, delaying care can feel like the practical choice. But postponing routine screenings or appointments often leads to the opposite result — higher costs, more complex treatment, and in some cases, worse long-term health outcomes.
This is why prevention matters. It’s about people’s overall health and financial well-being.
When delaying care becomes expensive care
Preventive care is designed to catch health issues early, when they are easier and less expensive to manage. National research from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association shows that complex health issues like cancer, if detected through preventive screenings, are far more likely to be found at the earliest, most treatable stage, significantly reducing the cost of care.
This matters at a time when the rise in healthcare costs is already straining nationwide budgets. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), the average annual premium for employer-sponsored family coverage now totals nearly $27,000 annually, underscoring how delayed care and rising treatment costs affect families, employers and the healthcare system.
A Healthcare Value Hub survey from August 2025 found that over 1 in 4 Virginia adults experienced at least one healthcare affordability burden in the past year.
Why prevention lowers the cost of care
Lower healthcare costs don’t start in the emergency room or at the pharmacy counter; they begin much earlier. Access to preventive services, early intervention and follow-up support can help manage health issues before small problems become costly crises.
Addressing mental and behavioral health needs before they escalate can also reduce emergency visits and inpatient hospital stays. Likewise, managing chronic conditions like diabetes or heart disease is a great example of how early prevention can avoid costly complications — particularly as the costs of diagnosed diabetes reached $413 billion in 2022 and are projected to reach $2 trillion for cardiovascular diseases by 2050.
Making prevention easier, not harder
Health plans have a responsibility to remove barriers to preventive care by covering recommended screenings and wellness visits, and by helping people navigate where to go, what services they need or how much care will cost. When people have clear guidance and support, they’re more likely to act rather than delay.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia supports prevention by pairing coverage with practical tools and programs, including:
- Rewarding safer care: Through Quality-In-Sights: Hospital Incentive Program, hospitals are encouraged to improve patient safety and reduce preventable complications.
- Simplifying access through technology: The Concierge Care program and digital tools connect members to 24/7 nurse support and guidance, helping reduce avoidable hospital admissions and readmissions.
- Turning data into action: Data insights help identify care gaps and guide members to the right care with tools like the Sydney Health app, making it easier to schedule preventive visits, understand benefits, and avoid unnecessary emergency visits and unexpected costs.
By encouraging earlier action, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia is improving both the experience and overall health outcomes.
Investing in healthier communities
Prevention doesn’t stop at the doctor’s office. It extends into our communities through partnerships that help address barriers like transportation, nutrition and access to behavioral health services. Supporting people’s physical, emotional, and social needs is critical to keeping communities healthy and reducing avoidable healthcare costs.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is also investing in prevention through partnerships that strengthen behavioral health access and coordination across Virginia. Through Aspire 365, Anthem members have access to an annual preventive behavioral health screening at no cost, helping identify needs early and connect individuals to the right level of care before more serious and costly interventions are required. At the same time, partnerships with organizations like Headway are helping close gaps at the primary care level, enabling providers to more easily refer patients, including children showing early signs of behavioral health conditions, to appropriate support.
Expanding access through virtual care and digital tools further reduces barriers, making it easier for individuals to seek care earlier. These efforts reflect a broader focus on coordinated care, where addressing behavioral health needs early not only improves well-being but also helps lower emergency visits, inpatient stays and overall healthcare costs.
A smarter path forward
Health insurance isn’t just for emergencies. It’s meant to support individuals and their families.
With healthcare costs top of mind for families and businesses, prevention offers a clear path forward. It leads to better health outcomes, lowers costs and helps ensure that people get the care they need when they need it most.
Learn more at anthem.com/affordabilityinvirginia.
