As the number of Americans without health insurance grows, the nation's largest health insurance company is having success in Florida with a new idea: retail stores that sell insurance directly to consumers.

NPR: Shopping For Health Insurance? Try The Mall

Hence, so long as health spending grows at a faster rate than the economy, tax revenue will never keep up.

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The principal reason for this is that health care spending grows at a faster rate than the economy.

FORBES: Move up http://i.forbesimg.com t Move down

As the ratio of retirees to workers grows and the cost of health care rises, Medicare and Social Security will eventually suffocate the budget.

ECONOMIST: The Economy

Long term, however, the insurers earn a mark-up on the national health care bill: the faster health care costs grow, the faster their revenue grows.

FORBES: Health Care Needs Stronger Market Forces

The consensus reflects the view of most mainstream economists and budget analysts that spending on programs such as health care will inevitably rise as the population ages and use of medical technology grows.

FORBES: Areas Of Agreement On Tackling The Budget Deficit

The UK's health departments are trying to develop policies that will respond effectively to dementia as the number of cases grows.

BBC: Club eases the pain of dementia