California/Long-Term Care Crisis—
By Suzanne Potter, producer, California News Service, a bureau of Public News Service.
A nonprofit group fighting for better access to healthcare is speaking out about affordability issues in long-term care funding.
In-home care costs more than $60,000 a year, assisted living is about $54,000, and a private room in a nursing home is around $108,000, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Very low-income people will rely on Medi-Cal.
Bonnie Burns, a training and policy specialist for the nonprofit California Health Advocates, pointed out only wealthy people can afford newer hybrid policies that provide a cash benefit for long-term care paired with an annuity or a life insurance policy, people with average incomes struggle.
“Those people who can’t afford those and who are not poor are really stuck because there isn’t anything out there to finance that kind of care for those middle-income older people,” Burns explained.
Census figures show by 2030, almost 73 million Americans in the baby boomer generation will reach retirement age.
A few years ago, Washington state became the first in the nation to create a long-term care program financed by a tax on wages. Burns noted the State of California Long-Term Care Task Force produced reports a few years back laying out five options to address the issue, but lawmakers have not taken action.
“Certainly, one or more of those options could be a viable way to fund care for the middle-income population as they age. It just needs some attention by the state legislature,” Burns urged.
Burns added the massive cuts to Medicare made by Republicans in Congress last summer will translate into cuts in home-based care and nursing home care for low-income families in the Golden State.
