Healthcare Cost Explosion Ahead

Why America’s health-care spending is projected to soar over the next decade, by Carolyn Johnson, 2/15/17

U.S. health-care spending grew 4.8 percent last year, as the country has emerged from a period of historically low health spending growth, according to new federal estimates.

However, that growth is projected to accelerate over the next decade as Americans age and medical prices rise.

The country spent $3.4 trillion on health care in 2016, a number that is projected to grow to $5.5 trillion by 2025.

The study, by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, projects that the average growth in health spending will be even faster between 2016 and 2025, at 5.6 percent per year, driven by inflation in the cost of medical services and products and an aging population. The estimates were published in the journal Health Affairs on Wednesday.

The projections are based on an assumption that the legislative status quo will prevail — an unlikely scenario given President Trump and Republicans' plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act.

The spending projections are similar to previous estimates, putting health care on track to make up about a fifth of the economy by 2025.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/02/15/u-s-health-care-spending-projected-to-soar-to-5-5-trillion-by-2025/?utm_term=.f253ff4494d0

Comments

There is no reason to continue to put up with this scam. Healthcare is already overpriced and underperforming. The federal government needs to publish a plan to reduce government subsidies for healthcare over the next 10 years. If they do this, healthcare costs will begin to drop like a rock.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader