Nearly 70% of Americans Will Need Long Term Care at Some Point

There is a good chance that you’ll need help at some point in the future with everyday tasks like eating, dressing and bathing. You may also need medical care over an extended period of time. 

A 2005 study indicated that 69% of those individuals aged 65 and beyond will need long term care at some point in the future. However, many people are not prepared with how to plan for it and how to safeguard against the potential decimation of their own retirement and savings as a result of a long-term care event.

Many people assume that Medicare will help pay for any long-term care expenses. But the truth is that Medicare does not cover most long-term care expenses because these are not classified as medical treatment. While Medicare will pay for the first 100 days of care in a nursing home, and Medicaid will cover some of the costs of long-term expenses, the Medicaid program is intended for low-income individuals and will not begin until your income is below the state threshold. Retirees with a lot of assets or with high income may never qualify for Medicaid without an advanced planning strategy, so long-term care insurance can be a huge assistance.