With this article, I’m starting a series of educational articles on the subject of Long-Term Care. Almost everyone over 35 to 40 years of age has some knowledge on the subject. Yet, there still seems to be a great deal of mis-understanding and mis-information available.

Since most people are aware of the statistics about the need for nursing home care (around 50% at age 65), I will not discuss that in this article. This article will cover one of the possible solutions to pay for nursing home care - Medicaid.

The federal government set up the Medicaid welfare program to insure that poor people get the medical care they need. But the rules for obtaining coverage for nursing home expenses are so constructed that almost anyone with the right financial positioning, rich and poor, can get covered by Medicaid. But you probably don't want that coverage unless you have to.

Many people do not realize the obvious facts--nursing homes are like any other business. They are interested in making a profit. So, realistically, if they receive from Medicaid only $6000 per month and have to wait to receive that amount to provide care, but $9000 per month before the month begins from a patient paying his/her own bill, who do you think will get better care?

Would you rather have a private room with a sunny window or share a room with two others and no window? That's one of many of the potential differences faced by private-pay patients vs. Medicaid patients.

Then why do so many people consult financial planners and attorneys wanting to know about how to qualify for Medicaid? Because they are focusing on saving money today, rather than thinking about their future comfort. It's a simple tradeoff of sacrificing the future for a few extra dollars today. But to a growing number of knowledgeable people, it doesn’t seem to make sense when for $150 to $500/month, most people under age 70 can get good long term care insurance that will pay for the cost of care. (Obviously, the younger one is, the less the monthly cost. This is the reason many 35 and 40 year olds are now obtaining this coverage while the cost is "super cheap" and they can medically qualify. More are thinking about, and planning for, their future by building in flexibility as well as independence and quality of care.)

Additionally, people who take the Medicaid qualification approach put themselves at risk of even getting care. Some nursing homes will not accept Medicaid patients. Others will force people out of the nursing home (although it's illegal but commonly accomplished) once they run out of money and go on Medicaid welfare.

Contact the Massachusetts Medicaid office at www.magnet.state.ma.us/dma/ or 1-800-841-2900 concerning eligibility requirements and benefits. Then, contact your own insurance broker for quotes from leading companies, as good long-term care insurance protection may cost a lot less than you think. Armed with this information, you can then compare the government Medicaid welfare program with long-term care insurance and the potential quality of care as well as the peace of mind that goes along with it. Then you can decide - Medicaid welfare or private-pay.

With ALL of the facts, the solution can be simple. Consider forgetting about qualifying for government Medicaid welfare unless you have to. Instead, take a small amount from your budget and get proper long-term care insurance. Have it tailored to your needs and your affordability. You wouldn't think about going without medical insurance, and long term care protection should be no different. You might think of long-term care insurance as your automobile insurance. Neither prevents an accident or "the health condition". Insurances are there "in case" and to pay or help pay the bill after the incident occurs. Compare nursing home costs of more than $9000 a month in our area for 3 or 4 or more years vs. the cost of repairing your automobile. Hopefully, you will never need any insurance. However, statistics are such that you might.....

The next article will address the question "Long-term care - Why not wait?". (If you have a topic you would like addressed, please let me know or let this paper know and they can forward it to me.)