Social Security and Medicare spending continue to grow and take up larger shares of the federal budget because:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Social Security and Medicare spending continue to grow and take up larger shares of the federal budget because life expectancy is increasing, which means people are living longer and receiving benefits for a longer period of time. At the same time, the number of people receiving benefits is increasing quickly, as the baby boomer generation reaches retirement age. Finally, the growth in the number of people paying into the programs is decreasing, as birth rates decline and the workforce ages. These factors combine to put pressure on the programs and increase their costs.

Social Security and Medicare Spending Continue to Grow and Take