Our population is aging. What will we do about it?

Due to population explosion and a global increase in average life expectancies, an unprecedentedly high percentage of the world's population is aging. By the middle of this century there will be up to 2 billion individuals over the age of 65, a demographic shift never before experienced in our human history. In addition, declining birth rates in industrialized countries means a decrease in the number of adults under 64. In Aging Social Policies: An International Perspective the authors consider how policy–domestic and international–affects and will continue to affect the lives of our aging population.

Health Care Policies

Health care policies

The fact that greater numbers of people are living longer is a huge achievement for our societies and our health systems. Life expectancy has risen much in the last fifty years, and will continue to do so also in the coming decades. However, demographic changes will also pose new challenges for our health and long-term care systems.

—Council of the European Union (2003, p. 4)

I pay a 105€ a month for health insurance. … It's for your doctor, the hospital, dentist, and medicines. … If I need medicines, I go the Apotheek (pharmacy). … I don't have to pay for anything. … Same with my hospitalizations. … But I do have to pay something if I go to the dentist. … ...

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