>Another example was asthmatics, there are some asthmatics that end up in the ER on a weekly basis, sometimes simply because they can't afford an inhaler (even with insurance). The inhaler cost is far less than the ER visit. It would be more informative to call them Preventable Hospitalizations.
The inhaler example is pretty good but if you replace "inhaler" with "daily dose of Advair", it would be an even better example. When most people say "inhaler", they usually mean "something related to albuterol that is used in a reactive fashion after wheezing has started". Giving an albuterol inhaler to someone with asthma who is not capable of paying for an albuterol inhaler is a *good* idea and may keep them from a visit to the Emergency Department. Giving Advair to someone with asthma who is not capable of paying for Advair is a *great* idea and will be a lot cheaper than a visit to the Emergency Department (even though Advair is one pricey little saucer).
Disclosure: I am not a drug rep nor do I own shares in GlaxoSmithKline. I take Advair every day to keep my asthma under control (maybe my insurance company should send me a check every month that I use Advair as prescribed because it is keeping me out of the doctor's office or the E.D. Hmmm... I wonder if they'll go for that plan.)