Should a new health care system be created in light of the graying of America?

Question

The baby-boomers of America may have the most health-related problems of any generation. This due to cultural changes when they were young (50s mentality to 60's mentality), the shift in popular diet (the growing portion sizes), and the amount of overall products that have been introduced, including the drug and alcohol related substances. This said, America's current health care system will most likely be unable to support its graying citizens and support the incoming elderly poor of newer generations.

Answer 1

ACtually, we are much healthier than previous generations. We now have meds for hypertension, cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease etc. We are living longer. We also played more outside as children, got plenty of excercise. The younger generation with its little eyes glued to a TV set, computer or game playing maybe the unhealthiest yet.

Answer 2

Sorry. Have to disagree. For earlier generations the Medicare program's payments went mostly to hospital-based acute care in the last 90 days of the patient's life. That's not health care. That's terminal care. And it wasn't until a year ago that Medicare would pay for a comprehensive physical exam so the health care provider could get an honest assessment of the patient's condition and what needed to be taken care of. There were a few cagey health administrators who found a way around that by billing Medicare for "System Review of Existing Patient". That's a physical under a fancier name.
Now, with Medicare pre-paying the annual fee for HMOs and the like we are getting more and more into preventive medicine. More emphasis on drug therapy rather than going through surgery and cutting out the offending part.
Those whose health was permanently affected by the use of illegal drugs and the like will probably die from the complications before eating up too much of the Medicare budget. The poor among that populace also have Medicaid to fall back on.
What does bother me is the dreadful physical condition of the generations that have to pick up the current bill for the elderly. I walk among them every day and am overwhelmed by the sight of 300+ pound adults. If they die early, then Medicare and Social Security face a crisis from a sudden drop in taxpayers in the work force.

Answer 3

Hey good buddy......sorry but I believe this new generation is much more healthier than previous ones....I had my first child when my mom was contemplating her funeral. My mom got married at 16...122 lbs. I got married in my late 20's at 102. At 48 years old my mom was knocking 220 on the scales.....I had 2 late children and was STILL 102. We have grade school kids weighing more than me now.

I don't have diabetes, or high blood pressure or cancer or heart problems....frankly....I'm probably healthier than the 16 yr old down the street. I smoked and drank and didn't come home at night.

GLOBALLY people are FAT. It's not an "American" thing or a "greying" thing.

I swear......I'll take any one of you ignorant butts on to say this something that's NEW to "greying" people. Or something "different" than any other generation. If something was introduced to me....you also get the effects.

I challenge you....seriously....check out the genetically engineered foods. The hormones. I won't be around for the results.....but you will be.

Answer 4

I don't know what the answer is and I'm not certain our problem is connected to the 'graying of America.? I do think that something is broken in a system that provides better health care for a prisoner on death row or a to a child of an illegal alien than to a member of a middle class American family.

Answer 5

i think over all the baby boomers are more healthily and more knowledgeable than we seniors give them credit -- the system has certain faults but i do not think it needs a complete over haul!!! i am more concern about the number of children that do not have the coverage because of poor planning by their folks!!! i do not worry about the single mothers -- here i go "they made there bed......." -- but the children deserve more!!!!

edit before everyone jumps on abosasho band wagon yes he like me spend 20 years in the military -- i do not realize if he knows it or not when he reads 65 == he has to go to tri care for life and his insurance will go up to about 1300 a year!!!

Answer 6

Very good question and something to think about.
I seriously think that if a health care plan can be done..that each person either Baby or Senior should be treated equal.
Lets hope and pray that we can get someone in office that is concerned about ones health instead of fighting.

Answer 7

Sure, let's have the government take it over. They have done such a super job with Social Security! If a health care system is nationalized to benefit the "poor" nobody will get quality healthcare. At least now you can get it if you can afford it!

Answer 8

The govenment and the insurance industry need to have less paperwork and less regulations. This whole mess started with the introducation of HMO's. Prior to that insurance was cheap enough. HMO's was another clever idea on how to separate the consumer from his money for the sake of profits for the insurance industry.

Answer 9

Well, here's a shocker!! The latest information I received today is that
in the year 2008 our Medicare Part B
MONTHLY PREMIUM will be $98.00.!
I was too scared to read about the
deductibles/co-pay/and treatments that
have been cut.

Answer 10

RETIRED MILITARY AND CIVILIAN. JUST GOT TRICARE INSURANCE. $260 A YEAR FOR COVERAGE--BC/BS WAS $218 P/M??

WHY CAN THE GOVERNMENT NOT PROTECT ALL SENIOR CITIZENS WITH A HEALTH CARE PLAN THAT IS AFFORDABLE?

SS IS ABOUT WHAT I ENVISIONED IT $1,385 A MONTH BUT THEN I PLANNED 40 YEARS AGO TO HAVE THREE RETIREMENTS. PAID DEARLY FOR IT OVER THE YEARS WORKING OT AND MILITARY CALL UPS BUT NOW IT IS PAYING OFF.