I wrote this a while back. This is the major issue with social programs. The ratio of people paying into the system vs receiving benefits. The math is broken. The largest driver of the growing debt is the social programs. The issue with SS/Medicare is the ratio of people paying into the system vs receiving benefits. In 1960, the ratio was 5:1; now it's 2.7:1. The average SS payout is $24,852/year. Which means the people paying into SS are paying $9,024/year to support retirees. Then add in Medicare, which is about $15,000 per person per year. $15,000/2.7 =$5,555.56. Which means the taxpayer is paying a significant amount to support retirees. In reality, these programs are cash flow negative. If you look at the long-term projections of Social Security, the program will eat the entire federal budget. It's not looking good. https://www.crfb.org/papers/analysis-2026-social-security-trustees-report
