Where can I learn more about the government's unfunded liabilities over the long term, such as medicare?

Question

For example, over the next 75 years, the expected cost of medicare and social security, given no changes to any programs, will cost a certain amount, which, to some, may be alarming. I'd like to learn more about this.

Answer 1

Check out the annual reports of the Medicare Trustees. There are estimates for costs over time as well as information about more recent expenditures in Medicare --for example in FY 2003 Medicare's budget totalled $280.8 billion. The federal fiscal year is from October 1, 2002 to Sept. 30, 2003. Note that annual report years can be confusing--the annual report with 2003 information in it was issued in 2004.

You can review the budget document and the entire Medicare Trustees' Report at this site: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/Reports TrustFunds/downloads/tr2004.pd...

Another site with good quality informaton on federal budget issues I've found is the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. This group is based in Washington, D. C. The analysis that is provided by this group is very interesting and detailed.

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

Search under Medicare reform, it looks like there is a lot of stuff there.