Healthcare: Affordability Across Generations
A focused path through same-age premium burden, income denominators, direct household contributions and generational comparisons.
A focused path through same-age premium burden, income denominators, direct household contributions and generational comparisons. Follow the steps in order to see how the underlying measures connect, where comparisons are valid, and where the evidence requires additional context.
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Start with lifecycle versus cohort
WP018 distinguishes age-driven lifecycle effects from differences tied to historical and policy conditions encountered by a cohort.
Compare real spending at matched ages
WP018 reports higher inflation-adjusted household healthcare spending for successive generations at selected matched ages, while cautioning that period effects remain.
Compare premium burden at age 30
WP019 reports a higher family-premium-to-age-bracket-income ratio for Millennials than Generation X at age 30.
Test the denominator
WP019 shows that age-bracket and all-household income denominators can materially change premium-to-income ratios.
Separate plan cost from worker contribution
WP019 distinguishes the full family-plan premium from the worker's direct premium contribution.
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