Demographics Paper
The demographics of the aging population consist of persons age 65 and older. Moreover, the aging population represents 12.9 percent of the American population. Basically one out of eight Americans belongs to the aging population. The projected growth rate by 2030 of the aging population is 19 percent or 72.1 million people in the United States (Administration on Aging, 2011). The following paper will discuss the general impact that the changing population may have on the health care market, also how and why changes in the demographics of this population will affect health care, identify two health care related challenges to the aging population, describe how a chronic disease wellness program may …show more content…
2011 marks the start of person’s age 65 pertaining to the Baby Boomers and in 2015 the vast majority of the baby boomers will be 65 or older. “Over the next 30 years the population of adults 85 or older who tend to have the heaviest need for long-term care, will grow faster than any other segment of the population” (Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency, 2004, p.3). Other demographics of the aging population include changing their living arrangements and facing threat to economic security (Finger Lakes Health Systems, 2004). The threat of finance security may evolve due to the population change of non-working age population. Between 2000 and 2050 the ages 16-64 and 65 and older ratio is determined to decline from 5:1 in 2000 to 2:9 in 2050 a 43 percent decline, ultimately meaning less tax money from workers to fund public programs for the aging population ( Weiner, Tilly, …show more content…
Many insurance companies raise their premiums once a person reaches a certain age. Other factors such as age and health play a role in premiums. However people pay higher co-pays when they have chronic illnesses such as diabetes and certain mental illness because these require individuals to be on prescription medications all the time. Prescription drug premiums continue to grow higher annually, for instance the Human insurance company required that patients increase their co-pays from one dollar to
The second challenge the aging population faces is the rise in health care costs. The cost of health care or spending on health care in the United States has grown significantly faster than the economy for several years. The rising cost in health care is affecting the aging population through the decrease in funding for government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid as well as private insurance