Wondering what the year 2100 looks like?  According to a new study women could live up to 93 years, and men up to 86 years.  The new figures produced by a MacArthur Foundation-funded study are eight years longer than the previous estimates produced by the government. 

We’re looking at perspectives from CNN, The Chicago Sun Times, Psychology Today, and ABC News.

First from CNN comes the perspective that the U.S. social welfare state is not prepared to accommodate Americans living into their 90s.

“The bad news is that they expect it will cost about $8 trillion more by the year 2050 as well.  Obviously taking care of people, Social Security as you mentioned, people will have to delay their retirement age... [W]e are just not built as a society that can handle having more people over a certain age than under the age of 50.”

The Chicago Sun Times examined how the MacArthur Research Network study on an aging society takes into account new advancements in medical technology, which the government’s study did not include.

“The study — estimating Medicare and Social Security outlays of some $3.2 to $8.3 trillion over current government projections — is the first delving into how such cutting-edge interventions will influence life expectancy, mortality and population aging in a country.”

A blog on Psychology Today suggests making policy changes now to offset the costs to Social Security later.

“When Social Security was enacted in the 1930s, the average U.S. life expectancy was less than 65…. Raising the retirement age to 70, by one estimate, would not totally eliminate the projected shortfall, but eliminate more than third of it--by 36 percent.”

Finally, ABC News looks at the difference between living longer and living a better life. They cite hypertension and obesity as health problems that may make longer lives more physically difficult.

“Researchers still predict that improvements in medical treatments will keep overall life expectancy going up, but the improvements will be slower due to our collective weight gain.  Other experts say that obesity’s impact on the quality of life may be its gravest toll. People battling excess weight have higher rates of disability, diabetes and heart disease...”

Will Americans who live longer be a strain on the country in the future? What if longer lives don’t necessarily mean healthier lives?

Writer: Jennifer Herseim