WDEF News 12

Deborah works in the medical field and knows the importance of long term health care.

Deborah Neal says, "I'm responsible for myself and I want to be able to pass along some of my goods to my family."

Their daughter Jennifer encouraged the couple to come to this seminar, part of the National Long term consciousness tour.

Deborah adds, "I feel she might get caught in the middle and have to take care of elderly parents and I don't want that to happen."

But that's exactly what could happen according to Stephen Moses, President of the Center for Long Term Care Reform.

Moses thinks, "It is a gigantic debt we've transferred to our children and grandchildren."

Moses speaks to the Neals and 2 dozen other people about how their going to be on their own when it comes to programs the government provided in the past.

Moses says, "The government has paid for long term care since 1965 and the public is in denial about the risk....as we get older we're going to produce a tremendous strain on the retirement security program, medicare, acute care security and medicaid for long term security."

So in order to avoid dependence on the government, Moses suggests getting private insurance for long term care.

He says consider it by age 40 and own it by age 50.

Moses adds, "The only other option is to impoverish oneself and become dependant on public welfare...medicaid is primary payor of long term care in the US.

But Moses contends Medicaid has the reputation of paying too little to insure quality care.

And poor care is Deborah Neal's biggest fear.

Moses wants people to stop looking in the rear-view mirror and start planning ahead.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 60% of Americans older than 45 will need help with health and personal needs as they grow older.