Myths persist about how people will get long-term care and pay for it as they get older, according to a new poll.
Specifically, an annual poll completed this spring by the Associated Press (AP) and the independent NORC research center shows that many of us need help connecting the dots when it comes to long-term care.
One example: 38% of poll respondents mistakenly expect to rely “quite a bit” or “completely” on Medicare to pay for long-term supports and services. The reality is that with few exceptions, Medicare does not pay for long-term care. While Medicare is essentially a health insurance program, most long-term care is non-medical, providing help with basic daily activities like walking, dressing and eating, or managing a home by shopping, cooking and cleaning.