Decline In Baby Boomers Health Could Lead To Inflated Benefit Costs

February 8, 2013

A new report from JAMA Internal Medicine shows that the baby boomer generation, once thought to be the healthiest age demographic in the nation, may not be in as good a shape as previously believed. The article went on to explain how the healthcare issues this group is facing could affect medical costs and benefits associated with programs like Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income.

Research shows Baby Boomers are less likely to report being in excellent health or participating in regular exercise. They were also more likely to report being afflicted with obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. As individuals in this demographic begin to retire and depend more on government assistance programs, it could put a financial burden on an already strained system.

This strain is already being recorded with data showing that since the start of the recession, there has been a significant increase in the number of individuals filing for disability insurance and the government’s Supplemental Security Income program. The JAMA report shows the reason is not just economical, but related to overall health as well.

The report compared Baby Boomers’ responses to a survey with those of individuals who were the same age between 1988 and 1994. Researchers concluded boomers were more likely to walk with an assistance device, be limited in the work they could do, to have functional limitations, and higher rates of serious health problems.

The Social Security Disability Attorneys with Fleschner, Stark, Tanoos & Newlin hope a balance between health and the need for assistance can be found.