DQ2, Week 2:What effects will changing population demographics have on health care costs and services?The changing of population demographics will have a large effect on health care costs and services. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, "...demand for nurses from approximately 2 million in& 2000 to 2.8 million by 2020 (a 41 percent increase)" (Changes and Demographics, 2009) The demographics of population change with the aging of our populations; the difference in ethnical backgrounds; poverty; unemployment rising. The more we age the greater health care services are needed and the length of services also grow. In certain&populations, access to health care is scarce or not available at all; the poorer a family is the lower health care coverage and treatment becomes on the list of what to spend money on. If a family has to make the decision to eat or pay for a prescription, more than likely they will chose to eat. It appears that more American's now are uninsured than 5 to 10 years ago. The cost of insurance is skyrocketing; unemployment continues to multiple every day and the more without insurance the more the State and Federal Governments will need to step up and help out. Unfortunately, the changes in these demographics has just about exhausted those specificgovernment funds as well. It is said that over 200,000 employers stopped offering health insurance between 2001 & 2006, in most families this is the only way they can afford healthcare coverage, and even then some cannot. The changing population demographics will hit everyone in the same places: Not enough money to get the right treatment nor timely treatment.Response 2Population demographics drive health care costs and marketing. Population demographics such as culture, age, education level drive the type of health care access or products the public will access. Health care business must understand the population demographics in order to market the product to the target audience. In example, a low income and education level patient is not going to respond to a high cost technological treatment such as a glucose monitor that costs $500 when there is a less technical version at the price of $200. A Hispanicmale who may have aids is not going to access a clinic or attempt testing since the culture sees this as a socially unacceptable disease but if the clinic ensured confidentiality and presented an advertisement with other Hispanic patents the marketing may have a different affect. On the other hand if the population does not indicate a need for the health care service and the ability to sell the product it may result in unavailability of a service needed by those with the need.&The younger population demands technology, which is one of the highest contributors to increasing costs in health care. The upcoming baby boomers will reach retirement age and further tax the health care system with additional need for care. The career-oriented womenwho wait to become mothers at a later age tax the system with higher costs in care like genetic abnormality screening due to age of the mother.&The federal government through Medicare and Medicaid funds health care. If the current population is 1000 members at $1,000,000 and the baby boomers results in 2000 members who have to share the same $1,000,000 then the services and spending and costs increased because elderly population have a higher access to health care. With a declining economy there are more people out of work and without insurance and in need of Medicaid. According to our book…“Existing and projected population demographics and disease patterns will determine the needed specialty mixes such as the aging population requires more physicians who perform colonoscopies (gastroenterology), cataract removals (ophthalmology), and other geriatric services. Likewise, if diseases such as HIV/AIDS or other widespread infections occur, practitioners in that specialty will be required.” Specialty care is expensive and as the need for this care grows so does the cost of delivering it (Kotler, Shalowitz, & Stevens,&2008). Kotler, P., Shalowitz, J., & Stevens, R. J. (2008). Strategic marketing for Health Care Organizations. Retrieved