Census Bureau: Health Spending Likely To Change as Number of U.S. Residents 65 and Older Doubles by 2050

A Census Bureau report released Tuesday finds that the number of U.S. residents age 65 and older is expected to nearly double from 43.1 million in 2012 to 83.7 by 2050, spurring "profound changes" in health care spending and federal programs. According to the report, the increase in elderly residents has been spurred in part by declining rates of mortality.

• "Graying of America Is Speeding, Report Says" (Williams, New York Times, 5/6).