--- title: "5 Myths about Long-Term Care | HomeCare.com" description: "We assembled 5 common misconceptions about long term care, from how much care costs to questions about Medicare and health insurance coverage" url: https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/paying-for-care/5-long-term-care-myths/ publisher: HomeCare.com phone: 800-974-3458 start: https://care.homecare.com/?source=homecare.com --- Paying for care # 5 Myths about Long-Term Care Published February 5, 20173 min readBy HomeCare.com ![Long Term-Care-Myths](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/_astro/df228fec639f55fc993c8ca9f22acaa4-long-term-care-myths.BbcMBJmw_1U11EU.webp) On this page 1. Myth 1: I am too young to need long term care 2. Myth 2: My family will take care of me 3. Myth 3: Medicare or Government will cover my bills 4. Myth 4: Health Insurance will cover my bills 5. Myth 5: I can save enough on my own Questions about care for your family? [800-974-3458](tel:+18009743458) When you leave a delivery room of a hospital with your newborn, you get a packet of information from food-to-care for your baby. However, when your parents begin to age they may have a need for additional care, and there is no goodie bag of educational information on how to care for an aging loved one. Also, while you are in the process of researching long term care for your parents, you may have some preconceived notions or receive information that may not be correct. This article will discuss some myths associated with long term care and hopefully help you in your decision making. ## Myth 1: I am too young to need long term care Long term care is not just for the elderly. Nearly 41% of long term care is for those under the age of 65 who may need help after a diagnosis of a chronic disease, injury, or mental illness. Also, people are living longer than they ever have before. Per the US Department of Health and Human Services, 70% of people turning 65 this year will require long-term care at some point in their lifetime. ## Myth 2: My family will take care of me Home Care is one of the fastest growing industries for one major reason - families are working and living further away from their parents than ever before. In addition, many adult children are in the sandwich generation that may have a young child and a parent they are taking care of. This additional care results in a rather large undertaking and stress, and comes with a financial cost if they stay home. Ask yourself these questions, “will my kids clean up after me or wash me? Am I willing to clean up after my parent’s explosion?” These are real scenarios that happen every day and need to be considered while planning for your future care needs. ## Myth 3: Medicare or Government will cover my bills Medicare is generally available for those over 65 or disabled, and pays for “skilled” care - or care that is intended to cover medical needs like wound care, rehabilitation, and medication oversight. Medicare may also cover a short-term care stay (only up to 100 days) in a facility. However, personal and companion care like bathing, dressing, and incontinence care are not covered by Medicare. Medicaid is a state based program and may cover you if you meet your state’s poverty criteria. ## Myth 4: Health Insurance will cover my bills Health insurance is used to cover skilled medical care, and it rarely will cover ongoing chronic care needs liker personal or companion care. However, Long Term Care Insurance will cover personal and companion care services provided by an aide in the home. This is a separate policy and different from long term disability insurance (that you may have in your HMO) but it does not cover an aide in the home. ## Myth 5: I can save enough on my own As previously mentioned, personal and companion care usually paid out of pocket. Here is a quick breakdown of typical costs: - $25 - $35 an hour for a home care aide - $71 a day for care in an adult day care center - $3,427 a month for care in an assisted living facility ($43,539/year) - $227 a day for a semi private room in a nursing home ($82,125/year) - $258 for a private room in a nursing home These figures are national averages and care services will vary by state. Each person’s situation is unique and may save or cost you more money. The above numbers are used as a guide to help you make a more informed decision of cost for long term care. This article was first published on HomeCare.com on February 5, 2017. Program rules and costs change; see our [current cost data](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/cost-of-home-care/) and [guides](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/guides/) for up-to-date figures. ## Terms in this article - [Assisted living](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/assisted-living/) - [Adult day care](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/adult-day-care/) - [Companion care](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/companion-care/) - [Incontinence](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/incontinence/) - [Nursing home](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/nursing-home/) - [Home care](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/home-care/) - [Dressing](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/dressing/) - [Medicaid](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/medicaid/) - [Bathing](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/bathing/) ## Keep reading - [**Using Long-Term Care Insurance for Home Care: Elimination Periods, Proof and Claims**Many long-term care insurance policies cover home care, but you must qualify first. You need to meet the policy's benefit trigger, usually help with two of...](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/guides/long-term-care-insurance-home-care-claims/) - [**Going Home From the Hospital: What Care to Line Up Before Discharge**Start planning home care after hospital discharge on day one of the stay. The hospital discharge planner arranges medical follow-up, such as Medicare home...](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/guides/home-care-after-hospital-discharge/) - [**What 24-Hour and Live-In Home Care Really Cost**At the national median of $35 an hour, round-the-clock care by shifts works out to an estimated $840 a day, $5,880 a week and about $25,550 a month. Live-in...](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/guides/24-hour-and-live-in-care-cost/) - [**Home Care Agency, Registry or Private Caregiver: Who Employs Whom and Who Is Liable**The three models differ mainly in who employs the caregiver. With an agency, the caregiver usually works for the agency. With a registry, you usually hire...](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/guides/agency-vs-registry-vs-private-caregiver/) - [**Companion Care vs Personal Care: What Each Level Does and Does Not Do**Companion care gives company, light housekeeping, meals, rides and reminders. Personal care adds hands-on help with bathing, toileting, dressing and moving...](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/guides/companion-care-vs-personal-care/) - [**Dementia Care at Home: A Stage-by-Stage Plan for Families**Dementia care at home can work for years if the level of care rises with each stage. Early stage often needs reminders and check-ins. Middle stage needs...](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/guides/dementia-care-at-home/) ## Talk to a care advisor today. Free consultation. No minimums, no contracts. 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