Social Insurance: A Critical Base for Financing Long-Term Services and Supports
summary
This brief series summarizes current issues in financing long-term care and outlines policy options for increasing affordable access to services.
Date Updated: 03/20/2013
The Current System
America is graying – fast. Although much attention has been paid to baby boomers who are qualifying for Medicare at the rate of 10,000 a day, the most rapidly growing segment of the population is individuals over the age of 85, who have significantly higher rates of disability. As the median age of the population increases over the next two decades, the demand for long-term services and supports (LTSS) is expected to increase sharply.1 The issue, however, is not limited to older adults – about 40 percent of individuals who need LTSS are under the age of 65. The nation is ill prepared to meet this complex demographic challenge. Only a small percentage of the population that will need nursing or home care has coverage ahead of time through either a private plan or a public program.2 The vast majority of people have no protection against future LTSS liabilities…
Download the publication for all visuals and complete references.
Continue Reading
This policy brief provides an introduction to The SCAN Foundation’s CLASS Technical Assistance Brief Series, which explores many of the critical issues to be considered for successfully implementing CLASS.
This policy brief describes the broad needs of individuals with disability and the wide range of supportive and environmental solutions that can allow for the most independent living possible. It suggests how findings on social and environmental supports for individuals with disability can inform implementation of CLASS.
This policy brief provides background on the historical development of benefit eligibility triggers in the private long-term care insurance market. Understanding how these triggers came into being can provide important information to those charged with implementing the CLASS Plan.