Older People and Health Care Reform

Abstract

This discussion of older people and health care reform begins with a brief overview of the patterns through which older people use health care services and account for one third of total U.S. health care expenditures. Particular attention is paid to high usage rates at advanced old ages because the American older population is rapidly becoming older, within itself, indicating that future health care costs for older people may be enormous. Following this are analyses of measures to reform Medicare, proposals to ration the care of older people, and issues involved in expanding public long-term-care insurance. The article concludes by considering what impact the politics of older persons and old-age interest groups may have as American health care reform efforts unfold in the next few years.