Don't Blame the Boomers: What's Really Driving Health Care Costs

For the most recent debunking of the idea that rising health care costs are due to the retirement of the baby boomers and other demographic factors, see this great summary by Maggie Mahar of a recent speech by Princeton's Uwe Reinhardt.

"... what will drive costs in coming years, will come, not from the demand side of the equation, but from the supply side," says Reinhardt, repeating his theme. We can be certain that, without some significant reforms, suppliers will continue to invent new products for every age group, charging us more and selling us more -- using whatever methods it takes, from direct-to-consumer advertising to promises of near immortality and perpetual youth (just as 120 can be the new 80, 55 can be the new 35!)—if we just swallow enough pills and replace enough body parts. ....