For decades, runaway Medicare spending was the story of the federal budget.
Now, flat Medicare spending might be a bigger one.
Something strange has been happening in this giant federal program. Instead of growing and growing, as it always had before, spending per Medicare beneficiary has nearly leveled off over more than a decade.
The trend can be a little hard to see because, as baby boomers have aged, the number of people using Medicare has grown. But it has had enormous consequences for federal spending. Budget news often sounds apocalyptic, but the Medicare trend has been unexpectedly good for federal spending, saving taxpayers a huge amount relative to projections.
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The reason for the per-person slowdown is a bit of a mystery. Scholars have been arguing about it for years, but no one seems sure enough to confidently predict whether it is likely to stick around for much longer.
Could it have something to do with hundreds of thousands of the sickest boomers dying suddenly a few years ago?
No, this trend started over a decade ago. Here are some possible explanations from the article:
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Most (all?) insurance plans that charge copays for medications will give heart-related medications for free because of the cost when things like high-blood pressure our not treated.
This is both great and sad news if true. Great that it’s made a big difference in the quality of later life and sad that it’s largely preventable and yet nothing was done, and that there is still so much to improve with our health care system.
Considering that this is a trend that started a decade ago, probably not nearly as much as you seem to think.
Covid: “I’m doing my part!” o7
Looking at the graph, no.
The change appears to start roughly in 2010. It could possibly be ACA related. During the many attempts to repeat it the CBO estimated doing so would drastically increase medicare spending.
No, it’s spending per person.
Considering the change in trend started a decade before that
TFW you don’t even bother to look at the chart, let alone read the article
I am not able to read the article.
Not to mention even bother to read the article’s summary that’s available right here in the comments SMDH
Future right-wing headline: “COVID vaccinated retirees cost Medicare more money”
Maybe Ivermectin not being covered has them all seeking coverage out of Medicare?
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