The baby Boomer refers to the generation born immediately after the Second World War between 1946 and 1964. The newborns during this period were estimated to be around 78 million. The boom led to an increased demand for services such as schools, recreation centers, housing, and health care (Knickman, Kovner, & Jonas, 2015). Therefore, the government needed to develop more institutions to provide these services adequately. The generation that was born at that age is now getting old, and almost all of them are retiring. Old age comes with health complications which mean that a large percentage of the population needs health care attention. The boomers will bring a major shift in the utilization of the healthcare facilities since they account for a significant percentage of the United States population. It is estimated that by 2030, more than 70 million Americans will be 65 years and above.
The baby boomers are expected to live longer than the other generations. Their longevity is attributed to improved health care, enhanced lifestyles, and advancement in technology. The boomers will create a notable demand for health care which will increase as the number of people seeking medical assistance increases (Carrington College, 2014). A study showed that most of the people above 65 years of age in America suffer from a chronic illness, indicating that they will be seeking medical care and will live longer due to the improvement in the health care industry and better lifestyles (AHA, 2014). However, an increment in chronic illnesses will require the medical students to be more conversant with the diseases to provide quality health care for the older generation. Additionally, there will be a need for more medical assistants whose role will be to provide care to the growing number of senior citizens (Jennel, 2015). Despite the boomers having a longer life than the previous generation, they have a high likelihood of getting chronic or lifestyle diseases which will make the cost of health care quite expensive and also the need to have more health care specialists.
The boomers will be more educated, indicating that they will have more understanding and hence exhibit different expectations and needs than those of the past generations. Consequently, given that the boomer’s generation is educated, and more informed they are likely to have fewer health complications since they will be able to look after themselves better (Knickman, Kovner, and Jonas, 2015). The United States government should, therefore, invest more in medical technology to care for the ballooning population of older people who are likely to suffer from certain ailments. Also, the government should set aside money to ensure that the elderly are taken care of. Indeed, this will translate to a higher medical expenditure on health care for this generation.
As it is evident from the discussion, the baby boomers make up a significant portion of the United States population, and they have a notable effect on the economy and the healthcare industry. In most cases, old age comes with various health complications a situation that will affect the American health care industry due to the high number of people seeking health care services. Although they are likely to live longer than the previous generation, the baby boomers have a high likelihood of suffering from chronic illnesses, which will require medical assistance. Therefore, the medical industry is likely to be under pressure while trying to cater for their health needs.