The Relationship Between the Baby Boom Generation, Health Care Reform and Medicare: A Print Media Analysis

• In Event: 136 - Open Refereed Roundtable Session
  In Refereed Roundtable 100min: Table 10. Aging Americans

Abstract

This paper argues that the duel trends in American society (the baby boom generation and the ongoing efforts to reform the American health care system) are linked. The paper traces the birth and development of the baby boom generation and, at the same time, the ongoing efforts to reform the current health care system. Furthermore, the paper explores how the print media addresses the relationship between the baby boom and health care reform.
Utilizing Lexis-Nexis, newspaper coverage of the phrases "baby boomer" and "health care reform" between January 1, 2011 to March 31, 2015, yielded 181 viable articles. While content could be divided into five broad categories, the financial relationship between baby boomers and health care reform represented the majority of articles. More specifically, the financial relationship is influenced by concern over the continued viability of Medicare. The findings suggest that the print media are attempting to frame the discussion regarding the impact of the baby boom generation on the Medicare system and the broader issue of health care reform. In other words, is the baby boom generation bankrupting the country or is the health care system bankrupting the system and attempting to blame the baby boom generation?

Author

• Duane A. Matcha, Siena College