Health Care Costs Analysis

Health Care Costs Analysis

Healthcare is expensive and Americans want the best possible healthcare they can get. Consumers are demanding more tests, better drugs and insurance coverage. Americans desire a high quality of life and insurers/employers are trying to provide the means, but cost effectively and without raising costs. In order to do this, "consumers will have to make more decisions, pay more and perhaps demand greater value" (Barr, Paul).

"The common forces driving utilization and costs are medical technology advancement, demanding consumers, and an aging population" (Barr). Advancements can be seen all over the medical field in areas such as MRIs, new cardiology procedures, highly specialized drugs, cancer treatments, and new laboratory procedures. Consumers are savvy and know their options. There is advertising from pharmaceutical companies and medical technology corporations promoting their drugs and products nationally via the Internet, magazine and television ads. The aging population