20 pages. Excerpt: This primer ... examines the rapid growth in the nation's health care costs since 1970 .... examines the impact of health care costs on families .... [and] describes the types and sources of health care spending and the demographic factors associated with higher or lower levels of spending. It also discusses other factors that influence health care spending growth, including the use of new medical technology, population changes, and changes in disease prevalence.  MORE >>