Myth #1: Long-term care is only for the elderly.
Actually, a surprising amount of long-term care services are provided to younger people. The U.S. Government Accountability Office estimates that 40% of the 13 million people receiving long-term care services are between the ages 18 and 64.
Myth #2: I’ll pay for my own long-term care.
In 2009, nursing home costs averaged over $79,000 a year nationally, but in some regions these costs are sometimes twice that amount.
Myth #3: Medicare will cover my long-term care expenses.
Medicare does pay for nursing home care, but only for a maximum of 100 days and if the 3-day qualifying hospital stay requirement has been met. In addition, Medicare will only pay as long as you are showing progress towards recovery. Once your condition becomes stable, even if you are not fully well or
back to a completely healthy state of being, Medicare rules indicate that benefits will stop.
