Why it matters:
Every dollar in profits is a dollar spent by someone else — whether that's individual patients, employers or taxpayers.Higher profits don't necessarily mean higher overall spending , and trends vary significantly within and between sectors.McKinsey analysts predict that earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization will rise by 6% a year between 2021 and 2025, translating into an addition $31 billion in health industry profits.
Earnings grew by 5% between 2017 and 2019, but remained flat in 2020 and 2021 during the height of the pandemic.The analysts cautioned that profits could decline by more than $70 billion during the 2021-2025 period "if inflation continues unchecked.
An aging population will mean more chronic conditions and higher demand for care — a trend the pandemic likely exacerbated.
Just means more hardship for everyone else.
Profit in healthcare comes from denying care to others