OLDER AMERICANS AND THE RATIONING OF HEALTH-CARE

Americans long ago dedicated themselves to the removal of social and economic barriers that unfairly burdened racial and ethnic minorities, women, and older people. Discrimination against individuals on the basis of their membership in artificially defined groups was rejected. The current crisis in health care expenditures, however, may be reviving some old prejudices and creating new ones, particularly against older people. Questions have been raised about older Americans, their place in society, and their rightful claim on resources such as health care. The way that society addresses these questions may well determine the character and quality of life in this country over the next few decades.