Posted on 02/16/2015 7:46:37 PM PST by Steelfish
Yes, but only initially, and not for very long, even if it has to be taken on permanent basis, which is unlikely.
Let's assume the cost of medicine is equal to the cost of nursing home care, starting out. Within a few years, pharma will start costing less, due to a likely competition and several other factors, including one that care involves humans and structures and regulations — and the wages, housing and cost of compliance usually rise while the costs of pharmaceuticals usually start to go lower after a while. In the long run, pharma is usually much more cost-effective over "manual" long-term care.
That doesn't even take into account diminished QoL (quality of life) and productivity of the afflicted and their families and friends, the time spent for visits, care and mental anguish and suffering, as well as potential for the facilities / homes to be used for other, more useful medical or non-medical needs.
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