Question

Define what is meant by rationing of health care. In what age-based population is health care rationing most likely to occur? How might this be done? (Give two examples, and provide references as appropriate.) (200 words only)

Answer 1

The term “age-based health care rationing” refers to limiting the healthcare services to the people based on their age. United States’ population of those older than 65 is projected to double come the year 2060 to approximately 98 million (Population Reference Bureau). Looking at these staggering figures, policymakers often wonder is it possible to sustain them when the time arrives. Many studies have been conducted to investigate how the elderly cope with the challenges of advanced age and how this affects their quality of life.

Due to the higher susceptibility of the elderly to health care issues, these groups are at highest risk for healthcare rationing. Especially, people above 65 years of age are most susceptible to chronic diseases and the insurance companies usually deny insurance coverage to those who smoke, those with heritable diseases, and with other chronic diseases. The healthcare rationing is based on the assumption that the young people can protect their health mostly by the preventive approaches such as exercise, taking nutritious food, health education, etc., but the medical conditions of elderly are usually complicated and require high technology treatments, which often does not provide any tangible benefit for both to the patient and the society.

Reference: Reinhardt, U. E. (1996). Rationing health care: what it is, what it is not, and why we cannot avoid it. The Baxter health policy review, 2, 63-99.