American Bear

American Bear

Why Americans Should Look at Long Term Care Problem Seriously?

 

Most people overlook the possibility of staying in a nursing home or simply hiring a caregiver when they hit 50 because they often speculate Medicaid or Medicare will alleviate the burden of paying for their health care, and they expect their loved ones would do everything to keep them cared safely at home even if their financial resources are at risk. It's only when they have lost half or entire savings for health care they will realize the importance of long term care planning.

 

In a perfect world, elders are being cared by their grandchildren or any immediate family member; and, thus, the burden of staying in nursing home is lessened. People also continue their normal lives as they retire and do not acquire any unwanted illnesses or disability that would increase their risk. But if you see the reality, all of the worst, unexpected things could happen out of a sudden, and if you remain insensitive with the present changes, you will surely fall in the trap of financial black hole.

 

Why everyone is talking about long term care? The Department of Health and Human Services reveals alarming statistics: seniors age 65 and older have 60 percent chance of staying in nursing homes. Women carry the highest chance and risk than men. This is evident as women hold the largest percentage of nursing home residents and they have longer life expectancy. In fact, long term care for women must be given utmost importance. The huge development in medicine and science creates great impact to the lives of people, but this also increases their need for long term care.

 

People make the same mistake of waiting until they are 60 or older because of the misconception that they would receive much cheaper premiums. That's not true, then. In fact, waiting longer may trigger any intolerable ailment that could prevent you from getting coverage and makes your premiums even unaffordable

 

The most distressing problem with long term care is the exorbitant costs of care, and Americans bear the brunt of paying this highly commercialized health care.  In 2010, Genworth Financial, one of America's leading financial companies, conducted survey on the costs of care in the country. In the report, the average median daily rate for nursing home (private room) was $206, while semi private rooms amounted to $185. Assisted living facilities for single bedroom incurred $3,185 median monthly rate. Hourly rate for licensed home health aides was $19.

 

Many Americans feel compelled to deplete their assets when long term care problem arrives. The majority of Americans are reliant on Medicare and Medicare, unaware that both programs do not cover long term care services. Medicare pays only few days of stay in a nursing home, while Medicaid provides financial help only to those who are relatively poor. Long term care insurance is a special product designed to purchase LTC services, but many people do not consider this insurance because of its high cost. However, financial experts agree that LTCi provides considerable protection like no other insurance can. So it would be best to invest on this insurance to protect your health and your savings as well.

About the Author

Long term care is a pressing issue that Americans must be aware of. Long term care for women is even more an important issue. Visit our website for more helpful tips and articles on LTC.

The Iraqi highway of death and the American right to bear arms?

With the sophistication of modern ordinance, as demonstrated by the Iraqi highway of death, how can the right to bear arms and huge social cost that it causes be justified?
After the British forces defeated the American ones in 1815 and burnt the American white house, I guess they don’t have to prove a thing. I cant see Canada invading again, and Mexico seems to have given up on getting California and Texas back. So who exactly are the guns to defend against?
Is it that American’s are so conservative that they regard the American constitution as a perfect document and can’t be change?
The reality is that if you take away legal guns the pool of illegal guns reduces, it has happened else where it would happen in the usa

First of all, there is no relationship between the right to keep and bear arms, and the "Highway of Death" during the 1991 Gulf War.

The entire basis of the U.S. Constitution is this: The Government does not grant rights to the people. The people are endowed with rights from birth, and no government may take them away. The people grant powers to the government. The government is a servant of the people, not the other way around.

If the Government should become corrupt, the people have the right to take back the powers granted, and the right to bear arms is the ultimate guarantee that the people have the ability to enforce their will.

This was all laid out in one on the Federalist Papers. THe Federalist Papers were published in newspapers during the time that ratification of the new constitution was being debated. Most were written by Alexander Hamilton himself. They are the untimate authority as to the intentions of the founding fathers. The relavant document for this discussion is Federalist #29.

The Constitution is by no means a perfect document. The founding fathers anticipated the need for occasional adjustments, and included a means to amend the constitution. Don't expect the United States to EVER abandon the Second Amendment, or the right to bear arms.

American Bear Awakening IV: Cowbear Up!