Aging Populations and Healthcare Costs for Employers
The source, an article titled “Health Care Cost Spotlight: Aging Populations,” examines the significant impact of an aging American workforce on rising employer health care costs. It explains that this demographic shift is driven by factors such as longer life expectancy, advanced medical treatments, and declining birth rates, which collectively increase the proportion of older adults. The document details how the aging workforce, now numbering around 11 million for those 65 and older, contributes to higher costs primarily through increased rates of chronic conditions, greater use of expensive technological advancements, and rising prescription drug expenses. Finally, the article outlines several cost mitigation strategies for employers, including revisiting plan design, improving health care literacy for older adults, and implementing targeted wellness and preventative care programs.
