Future health and medical care spending of the elderly
Subtitle: implications for medicare.
Contributors: RAND Health.
Series: Research highlights; Research highlights (RAND Health) -- RB-9161-1-CMS (2005)
Publisher: Rand
Published: 2005
Place of publication: Santa Monica, Calif
Language: eng
Subjects: Medicare -- Finance.; Older people -- Medical care -- United States.; Medicare -- Law and legislation.; Aged -- United States; Medicare -- economics
Description: Policymakers face the challenge of understanding and managing future Medicare spending. Under current projections, it will rise from 2.6 percent of gross domestic product today to 9.2 percent in 2050. Demographics will be a key factor: The first wave of baby boomers turns 65 in 2010. But what if some biomedical advance revolutionizes medical practice? What if a cure were found for one of the deadliest diseases? What if the health status of the elderly continues to improve? Would such changes ease Medicare's financing problems.
Notes: Caption title.

"RB-9146-1-CMS 2005)"--P. [6].

Includes bibliographical references (p. 1).