Identifying the problem is easier than coming up with a solution. Let's look at some of the issues. We have pretty high expectations of what our health care system can and should do for each of us. We want the best for our loved ones and ourselves, and the system is well equipped to feed our desires. New drugs offer better quality of life, freedom from pain and curtail the need for intervention and hospitalization.
New procedures shorten and eliminate hospital stays.
Sophisticated diagnostic devices identify problems earlier and highly skilled people are able to address more and more elusive problems. On top of this, we are getting older. The Baby Boomers are aging and they are fighting every inch of the way. And as we prolong life, we also have created a population of people who need care for chronic conditions. Until now, we have pretty well managed to keep ourselves insulated from the financial realities of this system.