This reseaech investigates the effect of the burden of health care expenditure on the elderly adults aged 65 years and above using a growth factor model methodology. The analysis shows that per capital health expenditure of the elderly is higher than the per capita health expenditure of other age group in Nigeria. The results show that for the 5 years considered those in the age group 65 years and above spend the larger share of health expenditure. For government total health expenditure the 65 years and above age group claimed 6.6% in 1998, 8.5% in 1999, 11.5% in 2000, 19.9% in 2001, 17.2% in 2001 and 31.0% in 2002. For households total health expenditure the age group 65 years and above spent 31.0% in 1998, 33.8% in 1999, 39.9% in 2000, 44.9% in 2001 and 52.3% in 2002 and finally from total health expenditure; they spent 44.7% in 1998, 51.2% in 1999, 61.3% in 2000, 73.1% in 2001 and 79.4% in 2002. This puts more pressure on family income and reduces the consumption of other goods. The effect of which is increase in old age related disease and quickens the death rate of the elder. Hence, it was suggested that an adequate social security programme and health insurance be established for the elderly adults to ease the pressure of health expenditure on family income, pensions and transfer earnings.