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Return to Article: The Long Haul: Part One

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  Highly recommend long term care health insurance coverage. I watched what happened to my Mom, who died of emphasema. Luckily, she had really good health insurance - much, much better than what federal employees receive. If it were not for that, her last days on earth would have been terrible.

  Suzanne Posted July 29, 2008 2:02 PM
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  I read of this article and come to realize that it is all a game of numbers associated with "Risk". The "Risk" of not have the insurance and the "Risk" of paying out a very large dollar amount to ensure "Piece of Mind". It's all a numbers game and the only one making money is the insurance company that sells you the insurance. Yes, you want your love one to be taken care of in their last days, but we as a country repected the family unit like they do in other foreign countries your love ones would remain with family in their last days instead of some home where the care can be questionable at times. Me...if my body is worn old and my mind is gone...just let me go in peace knowing that I lived life to the fullest and have no regrets in the end. More than 75% of the cost for medical costs in this country is spent on those that have less than six months to live...think about it.

  L. Stewart Posted July 28, 2008 2:04 PM
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  When the government first offered long-term care insurance, my husband and I sat down and discussed both our own and our families' medical histories. We came to the conclusion that since both of our families had long histories of good health right up to the end with (more or less) sudden deaths, it would not pay us to take the insurance. Anyone can, of course, have an accident that could make this insurance necessary, but we're taking our chances against that. In other words, people should take the time to check both their own medical pasts as well as their families', it could save you heartache later or it could lead to just pouring money down a rathole for years.

  GovExec.com reader Posted July 28, 2006 10:54 AM
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  Tammy,

  You have set the stage very well in opening this discussion. My parents went through the same progression, except that my mother died first (Alzheimers) and Dad is still alive (TIAs/Heart Condition).

  The pressure on Dad was not apparent until Mom was hospitalized with a broken hip. She left the hospital and went straight to a nursing home setting. The good news was that Dad had bought a private LTC policy for Mom. It covered about half her expenses for the 6 months until she died of pneumonia two years ago.

  The bad news was that he'd cancelled the LTC he had originally taken out for himself, thinking the VA was a fall-back if he ever needed it. As you point out, VA is usually not an option -- even for combat injured vets who have less than 100 percent disability.

  Now Dad is in a nursing home setting. His CSRS and Military Reserve pensions cover about 80 percent of the cost, and thankfully his savings are enough to make up the difference, and will last a long time. The imponderable is how long will Dad live? He's 91. His mother lived to 99. His grandfather lived to 97. There is no family within 1,400 miles of my father, so as the eldest son I'm overseeing most of this from long distance, with periodic visits to see him.

  Do I and my wife have LTC? You bet we do.

  Allen R. Thuring Posted July 28, 2006 9:47 AM
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  This was an excellent, excellent article. I could relate through my current experience with my 85-year-old father and it has opened my eyes as to what I may need to do so that I can help my children help my husband and I, if and when needed. I plan to retire within the next two-plus years and I look forward to every article written by Tammy. Thanks so much for bringing this much needed information to us.

  Patty Duvernay Posted July 28, 2006 9:37 AM