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Abstract
Private long-term care insurance has been available in the United States for decades, but has yet to be utilized as frequently as other types of insurances such as health or life insurance. Through the study and evaluation of current research, this paper explores the current state and usage of private long-term care insurance and its role in the current health care culture of the United States.
In addition to the purpose stated above, research is conducted to discover what benefit our country might gain by offering a public long-term care insurance option in the future. By evaluating the failures and successes of other countries that have public long-term care insurance policies, it may be possible to conceive how similar programs could be molded to meet the needs of our own aging population.
When compared to other industrialized nations, the United States has higher health care costs and relies heavily on nursing home placement for the elderly. By exploring alternatives to skilled nursing home placement, there may be a way to offer a higher quality of care while lowering overall costs.
