Americans are living longer than ever these days, and seniors in Kentucky are no exception to this rule. While a longer life span is of interest to almost everybody, it is also important to think about the realities of your golden years. That is, many people will reach a point where the routines of daily life, like toileting, cleaning, and dressing, are going to become difficult to handle on your own. While most people do not like the idea of needing living assistance, it is a reality for many Americans. Another reality is that long term care can be very expensive. Many Americans believe that Medicare will help defray the costs of long-term care, but according to Aging Care Medicare will not cover long-term care costs.
Thus, it is not a good idea to rely on Medicare for your long-term care needs. Medicare will cover assisted living in very specific instances, but these need to be mentioned by a doctor Medicare will only cover the costs for a limited amount of time. For instance, if you require surgery or come down with an acute illness, your doctor can say you are in need of assisted care due to your current health circumstances. In this case, Medicare will cover the costs for a limited amount of time. Similarly, if your doctor deems that you only have a few months left to live, Medicare will cover hospice care.
But in terms of nursing homes, assisted living centers, or memory care centers, Medicare will not cover these costs. Medicaid will, but only if you are below a certain income level. This is why it is important to consider your long-term care needs during the estate planning process.