Poor Health Costs U.S. Economy $576 Billion According to the Integrated Benefits Institute: “With the upcoming presidential election hinging on health care and the economy, analysis shows that poor health and its impact on productivity costs the U.S. economy $576 billion per year. This is according to estimates by the Integrated Benefits Institute (IBI), a nonprofit health and productivity research organization. In addition to showing the entire financial burden of poor health, IBI researchers found that 39 percent – or $227 billion – is due to lost productivity associated with poor health. Lost productivity results when employees are absent due to illness or when they are underperforming due to poor health (“presenteeism” – when employees are at work but not performing at their peak).”