Rising Numbers Of Alzheimer's Patients Could Bankrupt Medicare

Alzheimer’s has been called the “most feared disease in America.” More than 5 million people currently live with the neurodegenerative disease, and its death toll has nearly doubled in the past 15 years. It’s also one of the costliest health conditions in America. This year, for the first time, total costs related to caring for patients with Alzheimer’s will surpass a quarter of a trillion dollars, according to the Alzheimer’s Association annual report, released Wednesday.  With roughly 75 million boomers only beginning to reach the age of greatest risk for the disease, the U.S. may be disturbingly close to the tipping point for runaway Alzheimer’s-related health care costs. The 88-page report lays out some sobering statistics, including the possible bankruptcy of Medicare. A Costly Epidemic  By 2050, as the number of Americans with Alzheimer’s doubles, the cost is expected to rise to $1.1 trillion. But we’re likely to see staggering impacts on the health care system long before then.   Total costs in the last five years of life for people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia amount to roughly $341,000 ― that’s 57 percent higher than the costs for those without the disease.  Twenty-seven percent of seniors with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia have both Medicare and Medicaid coverage. According to the new report, average annual Medicaid payment...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news