According to Genworth Financial, seven out of ten Americans will require long-term care within their lifetimes. To make matters even worse, Genworth’s 2020 Cost of Care Survey found that the average cost of most long-term care options has increased dramatically due to factors that include the Covid-19 pandemic. If you or a loved one will be turning 65 soon, figuring out how to pay for long-term care without insurance can be a daunting task. When your retirement “nest egg” weighs in the balance, here’s how to get the care you deserve.
Long-Term Care Options for Seniors
According to Medicare.org, long-term care can occur in various settings, including the community, private residences, or designated care facilities.
Most aging adults end up needing at least one of these long-term care types:
- Home Health Care
- Home Care
- Adult Day Care
- Hospice Care
- Respite Care
- Facility-based Care
How Much Does Long-Term Care Cost?
Based again on Genworth’s 2020 Cost of Care Survey, the median national cost for one month of long-term care includes:
- Homemaker services ($4,481)
- Home Health Aide Services ($4,576)
- Adult Day Health Care ($1,603)
- Assisted Living Facility ($4,300)
- Nursing home; semi-private room ($7,756)
Unfortunately, Medicare will only cover home health care, physical therapy, a nursing home stay, long-term care hospital stay, or related skilled nursing care services for up to 20 days. Medicare does not provide coverage for personal care, custodial care, homemaker services, 24-hour care, or meal delivery services.
Creative Ways to Pay for Long-Term Care at Home
For most seniors that need assistance, home is where the heart is. Using in-home care as an example, if you don’t have a long-term care insurance policy or rich relative, here are some creative ways to pay for the long-term care you need:
Out-of-pocket
At first, many older adults pay for care in part with their own money. They may use personal savings, a pension, retirement fund, or income derived from stocks, bonds, or proceeds from the sale of a home.
Additionally, like family and friends, informal caregivers often provide free personal care and related services, like meals, transportation, and housekeeping. To remain in their homes, many seniors also pay out-of-pocket expenses to take advantage of adult day care programs, meal delivery programs, and other community-based services.
Government benefits
Some older adults can receive government healthcare benefits that pay at least some of the expenses associated with professional caregivers. Federal and state programs that may help with nonmedical, healthcare-related costs incurred at home include:
- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
- Medicaid (Once eligibility requirements have been met)
- Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)
- Department of Veterans Affairs (Some veterans and survivors are eligible)
- Social Security Disability Income (SSDI)
National Council on Aging (NCOA)
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is a private organization that offers a free service called BenefitsCheckUp®. This service can help you find state and federal benefit programs that pay for heating bills, housing, meal programs, and prescription drug programs for seniors.
Private financing options
In addition to those listed above, many seniors turn to private payment options to cover home care costs that include long-term care insurance, reverse mortgages, certain life insurance policies, trusts, and annuities.
When your loved one’s care weighs in the balance, choosing the best payment option for your family depends on many factors, including your loved one’s age, health status, household finances, and level of care that’s needed.
Place Your Trust in Adultcare Assistance Homecare
At Adultcare Assistance Homecare, we’ve provided seniors and their families in Phoenix, Tucson, and Sun City with award-winning in-home care since 1996. We often coordinate care with multiple senior support services to provide the highest level of affordable elder care possible. Our compassionate professionals are experts at getting reimbursement benefits for long-term care insurance to help reduce the burden on families. Additionally, the State of Arizona provides some financial assistance through the Arizona Long-Term Care System.
At AAH, our senior services are available 24 hours per day, seven days per week. And because you never stop caring, a caregiving manager is always available for emergency calls. As a locally owned and operated home care provider, we sponsor local senior events and multiple free senior services and even offer FREE Home Care Assessments. If we can assist you and your family, reach out to Adultcare Assistance Homecare today. For more information about our award-winning senior services, please visit us now at: www.adultcareassistance.com.
