How Health Care Spending Is Affecting The National Debt

The United States government currently has a $15 trillion debt, which amounts to 75 percent of the country's total gross domestic product.

By 2047, that debt is projected to reach 150 percent of GDP.

While some blame part of that growing debt on entitlement programs, like Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and welfare, Evan Horowitz does not. Instead, he points to the actual and projected per-person health care spending in the U.S., a number that far outpaces countries that have a similar level of medical care and life expectancy.

Evan Horowitz, Boston Globe "Quick Study Columnist." He tweets @globehorowitz.