Social Insurance: A Critical Base for Financing Long-Term Services and Supports

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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…


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