The Queer Cost Factor

Glen Whitman on Agoraphilia warns "liberals" -- parenthetically, sort of an afterthought -- that "it is only a matter of time before conservatives use public healthcare costs as the basis for further bludgeoning of homosexuals, since homosexual practices do in fact carry greater health risks."

Glen is conflating health risks and healthcare costs. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Development:

Pregnancies and childbirth-related conditions account for nearly a quarter of hospitalizations. Twelve percent of hospital stays are related to pregnancy and childbirth (the mother’s stay) and 11 percent are related to newborn infant births.

Nos. 1,2, and 5 on the Top 10 list of "principal diagnoses with the highest mean charges" are pregnancy- and childbirth-related. No STDs on the list.

Nos. 1,2 and 4 on the top 10 list of "principal diagnoses with the longest mean length of stay" are pregnancy- and childbirth-related. No STDs on the list.

But we're talking about public healthcare costs. So it's more significant that 6 of the top ten "principal diagnoses for Medicaid" are pregnancy- or childbirth-related. No STDs on the list.

And there's this from the National Women's Law Center: 71% of adult Medicaid beneficiaries are women, and Medicaid covers nearly 40% of all childbirths in the U.S.

On further reflection, maybe queer is cost-efficient.