Americans have the highest health spending on the planet. Why? Because they can afford to do so. What few people realize is that the United States has increased its standard of living vis-à-vis its biggest competitors despite rising health expenditures … read more >

To pay for the increases in federal health spending promised 75 years from now, federal income taxes that year would have to be 175 percent higher than they are today. If you don’t like that idea, how about tripling the … read more >

Attention, children and grandchildren of Baby Boomers: save early and save often. Within 75 years, the average monthly premiums required for Medicare and out-of-pocket spending for Medicare-covered services (i.e., deductibles and coinsurance) will equal the average monthly Social Security check … read more >

Ezekiel Emanuel last month pointed out that if we want to rein in health expenditures, “real savings require changing the way we care for these chronically ill patients.” But to better understand the determinants of health spending, it is important … read more >