I don't know Edge.

The estimated retail cost of having a patient on Lipitor/BP Med/Janumet/Byetta, before even adding on Belviq as the fat-pill at whatever cost that will be, is approximately $2400+$1000+$2400+$2400 = $8200 per year burden on the system. If the fat pill is at ~$200 a month like three of those four (yes Lipitor is going generic but another more effective 'premium' drug will eventually take it's place)then you're looking at close to $10k cost burden per patient per year on the system.

Say the average age of putting someone on these drugs is 35-40 and life expectancy is 75. You're looking at a $350K (non-inflation adjusted!) cost burden of the patient on the system in that time frame and that doesn't even include costs of regular checkup visits, diagnostic testing (and possible ER visits from complications) to make sure they don't need additional drugs or procedures.

That coupled with the likelihood of needing treatment for renal or liver problems from 30 plus years of constant drug exposure of multiple drugs and it's tough to say the benefit of the drugs outweighs the cost of emergency procedures that may be needed due to living an unhealthy lifestyle.

Of course correcting the lifestyle would could very well save at least a $350K of non-inflation adjusted hit to the system as well as cut the chances of costing the system $ for costly procedures. That is the choice that each person has to make hopefully for the benefit of themselves and everyone who pays into the system.

My mom was diagnosed with hypertension, high cholesterol and pre-type 2 last year and when I explained to her these two likely paths she had ahead of her and how I wouldn't be proud of the "easy" approach she chose the lifestyle change and hasn't looked back. All three of those conditions have resolved.