Dr. Mehmet Oz believes a healthier America isn’t just about living longer, it’s about working longer, too. Speaking at a White House press event last month and again during the launch of the \u201cAction for Progress\u201d mental health initiative this week, Oz said better health could mean huge economic gains for the country.<\/p>\n
Launching<\/a> the mental health initiative with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Monday, Oz said that when Americans are healthier, the nation benefits. He laid out a simple math equation: \u201cIf we could get the average American, because they feel healthy, they\u2019re vital, they\u2019re strong, they have agency over their future, to start working a year earlier, right out of high school, or work a year later\u2026 it would generate about $3 trillion to the U.S. economy.\u201d<\/p>\n Don’t Miss:<\/p>\n That kind of productivity bump, he said, \u201cwould more than remove the [national] debt. \u201cThe taxes on that $3 trillion would allow us to keep Medicare Part A solvent, to make a trust fund. It would allow us to make Social Security healthier,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Oz advocated for more human-centered approaches, as many Americans are struggling not because they need medication, but because they need purpose and connection<\/a>. Programs like the peer-to-peer mentoring foundation he co-founded, which reaches about 200,000 high schoolers each year, are a step in that direction, he said.<\/p>\n Oz warned that if we don’t start focusing on actual outcomes instead of checking boxes, we risk letting the mental health care system get overrun. He warned that if mental health systems don’t focus on what actually works and tie payments to results, they risk becoming ineffective. Helping someone with a mental health condition recover, he said, creates immense value, not just economically, but ethically as well.<\/p>\n Trending: Wall Street’s $12B Real Estate Manager Is Opening Its Doors to Individual Investors \u2014 Without the Crowdfunding Middlemen<\/a><\/p>\n At a White House press conference<\/a> last month, Oz also warned that America\u2019s current approach to health care spends too much on treating diseases and not enough on preventing them. He praised the Trump administration’s updated dietary guidelines<\/a> that promote whole foods, proteins and healthy fats while cutting out ultraprocessed foods and added sugars.<\/p>\n \u201cThe best way to reduce drug spend in America is to not need the drugs in the first place,\u201d he said, pointing out that 30% of Medicare spending, about $300 billion a year, is tied directly to obesity.<\/p>\n If Americans could stay healthy enough to work just one additional year beyond the current average retirement age of 61, it would \u201cincrease the overall GDP<\/a> of our nation by trillions of dollars,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n See Also: Americans With a Financial Plan Can 4X Their Wealth \u2014 Get Your Personalized Plan from a CFP Pro<\/a><\/p>\n For people trying to stay financially healthy, the first easy step is getting professional guidance. WiserAdvisor<\/a> offers a free matching tool to connect you with a vetted financial advisor who meets your needs with no obligation to hire. It’s especially useful for households earning $100,000 or more who are planning for the long term.<\/p>\n At the White House last month, Oz reminded everyone that health and wealth aren’t separate issues. \u201cYou can’t be a wealthy nation without being a healthy nation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Read Next: Professional traders demand transparency \u2014 see why Kraken Pro has become one of crypto’s most trusted advanced trading platforms.<\/a><\/p>\n Image: Shutterstock<\/p>\n Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge’s one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights<\/a> that can set you ahead in today’s competitive market.<\/p>\n Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga:<\/p>\n This article Dr. Oz Says Americans Starting Work ‘Right Out Of High School’ Or Retiring One Year Later Would ‘More Than Remove’ The National Debt<\/a> originally appeared on Benzinga.com<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a9 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Dr. Mehmet Oz believes a healthier America isn’t just about living longer, it’s about working longer, too. 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