Unseen Financial Peril in Long-Term Care System Costs
TL/DR –
The Dying Broke series has highlighted the financial burden of long-term care in the United States, generating over 4,200 comments from readers, many of whom shared personal experiences of the hardships of caring for elderly relatives. Many readers criticized the for-profit nature of American medicine and the long-term care industry for draining the financial resources of older people and leaving them to rely on Medicaid. Suggestions for solutions included expanding the government’s payments for care, allowing more immigrants to help meet the demand for workers, and improving insurance policies.
The Financial Burden of Long-Term Care in the United States
A series of articles focused on the financial strain of long-term care in the U.S. generated thousands of responses from readers sharing personal stories and proposing solutions. There was a consensus on the need for policy reform and more accessible care options.
The Struggles of Providing Care
Readers shared their experiences looking after elderly family members, expressing anxieties about their own impending old age. Many called for an amendment in U.S. policy to expand government payments for care and welcome more immigrants to meet the demand for workers.
Financial Drain by For-Profit Healthcare
The for-profit nature of American healthcare and the long-term care industry garnered criticism for exhausting the finances of the elderly. Some readers suggested that the industry’s profits should be channeled into elder care facilities to ease the financial burden on families.
Comparison with Foreign Systems
Several readers contrasted U.S. elderly care with foreign countries’ systems. The U.S. spends less on long-term care relative to its GDP than most wealthy nations, leading some to praise the care in places like Denmark and Germany. Others have moved to countries like Mexico, where care is more affordable.
The Debate on Insurance Policies
The discussion also touched on long-term care insurance policies. While some found them helpful, others criticized insurers for excessive paperwork and high costs. Some readers suggested Americans needed to save more to support themselves in old age.
The Need for Immigrant Workers
Increasing the number of immigrant workers was proposed as a solution to the shortage of long-term care workers. Many noted the invaluable role of immigrant workers in the care of elderly relatives.
Calls for Federal Fixes
Many readers called for a national long-term care system, as available in other countries. Currently, U.S. federal and state programs that finance long-term care mostly benefit the very poor, leaving middle-class families without substantial subsidies for home care.
Questioning Life-Prolonging Procedures
Criticism was also directed at the medical culture for promoting costly procedures that do little to improve an elderly person’s quality of life. Some mentioned their intention to refuse hospitalization and other extraordinary measures if they suffered from dementia.
Considering Assisted Dying
Finally, some readers declared they would prefer to arrange their own deaths rather than live in a diminished capacity. Such readers proposed making medically assisted death a more widely available option.
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