THE IMPACT OF AGING ON HEALTH-CARE EXPENDITURE IN SWEDEN

This study measures the impact of aging on health care expenditure in Sweden in 1970-1985 and the projected impact for 1985-2005. In addition, the distribution of health care expenditure over different age groups is analysed. The study shows that changes in population aging account for barely 13% of the total increase in health care expenditure during the period 1970-1985, and that it is the combined effect of changes in population aging plus the faster increase in health care expenditure per capita in older age groups that governs the development of an increasing concentration of health care expenditure to older age groups. During the period 1976-1985 the per capita health care expenditure increased modestly for the ages 0.74, but 54% for persons older than 74 years.