Income Tax Rates

Both medical and non medical aid to those that are ill or disabled is considered long term care. Medical aid is for those that have become sick and need to be cared for constantly. Non medical items are things like cooking, going to the bathroom or bathing. Long term care pertains to care given in a nursing facility or it can be something that happens inside the persons home. It is important to note that senior citizens are not the only ones that may need it. If you are in an accident and can no longer take care of yourself you may need it even when you are young.

Those people considered Baby Boomers are starting to hit their sixties. In 2020 there will be about 12 million of them that may need long term medical care. Many will have family that will provide care but there are a little less than half that will have to find a place to go where someone will take care of them.

Long term medical care costs a great deal of money. There are all kinds of rules and regulations and administrative costs are high and health care workers deserve to be paid a good salary. Those baby boomers that get sick will have Medicare to pay for their care. But since people today are healthier than they were several years ago there will be those that still may need help but can not go into a nursing home because they do not qualify to do so. Medicare does not pay for other care besides nursing care. This will have to come out of the person's savings or the person's family will have to pay for it.

There are some exceptions to this rule. In some states Medicare will kick in if the person has no assets and very low income. Each state has different rules so until a person applies for aid they will not know if they can get it or not. Income is a factor and also resources, such as family that can help, will affect the outcome.

Long term care is available in many different ways. One is to be placed in assisted living or nursing care. There are programs that deliver food and a daily basis, some programs drive people to appointments or to the store, if a person can not care for the house anymore they supply cleaning services. There is also adult day care if a person needs to be supervised part of a day. These services generally do not cost a great deal and may even be free being run by volunteers.

An individual that needs help during the day but not twenty four hours is just right for adult day care. During the day they will interact with others their age or that have similar disabilities. Telephone services can be provided to some individuals that wish to be independent in their own home. They wear a panic button that can be pushed and help will be on the way. Other telephone services make a call to an individual every day about the same time and should there be no answer someone will be at the door to check. If an individual can no longer drive some areas will provide transportation for them. Medicare pays ambulance fees but not for regular transportation. Meals can be delivered for those who have trouble cooking. These services generally have to be paid for by either the individual or their family.

The good news is that long term medical care insurance is available and it can be purchased when the individual is younger. In fact, it is better to get it then because it will not cost as much. This insurance will pay for those things that Medicare will not. Premiums are different from state to state and another factor will be your age and your health. You will have a very hard time getting the insurance if your health is already declining. Unfortunately this type of insurance is something you will have to find and pay for yourself and it is hardly ever part of the benefits for employment.