Human Cost of ‘Excess Deaths’: Tragedy Overpowers Marginal Savings in Social Security Funds
WASHINGTON — A recent report highlighting the financial implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the U.S. Social Security fund has sparked a complex discussion about the value of human life versus economic gain. The analysis showed an influx of $205 billion into the Social Security reserves due to approximately 1.7 million premature deaths between 2020 and 2022. These “excess deaths,” largely among working-age individuals, paradoxically strengthened the financial standing of the fund by reducing future …