HEALTH CARE IMPROVEMENTS
March 22, 2002 - WAR REPORT NUMBER 12-2002
How much do Americans know about long-term care options? Not much. Read on.

I have always maintained that the American people confuse long-term medical care with long-term custodial care in a nursing home. Now the Council for Affordable Health Insurance (CAHI) supports my position. An article in their Health Care Headlines for 12/12/01 titled, "Americans Know Less About Long-Term Care Than They Think," an American Association of Retired People (AARP) survey says. This is the last of two WAR reports, both of which are adapted from the above publication.

Just less than half of those interviewed felt they were "very" or "fairly" prepared for the "financial challenges" that come with paying for long-term care, and 46 percent say they are "not very" or "not at all" prepared. According to AARP, the findings indicate that many Americans over age 45 have a "false sense of financial preparedness" when it comes to paying for long-term care (AARP release, 12/11). AARP President Tess Canja said, "People are not prepared for the choices they will have to face--and the clock is ticking."

The insurance industry estimates that the number of people needing long- term care will rise from seven million people in 2001 to 12 million in 2020 (Halifax, AP). "For far too many people, the costs of long-term care will prove to be a crushing burden," Canja said (Hollis, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, 12/12/01).

I maintain that this confusion results from the lack of a distinguishing title given to each type of care by the insurance industry, industry trade associations and/or the government.

I suggest that all parties eliminate this confusion by titling them for what they are: long-term medical care and long-term custodial care.

Stay tuned! Why? Because I tell it like it is and it's your money.

God Bless America.