Growing up, my parents had medical insurance. I didn’t know any different. So when I was looking for employment as a young adult, finding an employer with medical insurance was a factor because down the road it would be necessary to have good coverage/long-term health care. When I married and had a family, I was the sole carrier of the medical insurance for my family for many years. I have been employed at a healthcare facility for 25 years and I realize times are changing. I am uncertain what long-term care will be available for me and I ask what lies ahead for my children? My parents have been retired for many years now, and continue to live at home independently. They have good healthcare.

I have had a grandmother spend her final years in a long-term health care facility. She was well taken care of and to be very honest, I have no idea what sort of long-term health care coverage she received. I would guess that it was medicare/medicaid. At 93 y/o, grandma suffered a stroke and they transported her to the hospital. It was her wish to have no life prolonging measures performed. So she was transported back to the care center and kept comfortable until her passing. 20 yrs ago, I believed my grandmother received proper long-term care.

Since that time, I’ve had my father-in-law in the same facility. My father-in-law was in his late 50’s and suffered from MS. My mother-in-law had already passed away and my husband was his power of attorney. We attempted to keep my father-in-law at our home for us to take care of, but with the young family we had and the care my father-in-law needed, it just was not possible. The county social worker visited and evaluated my father-in-law and in that very same afternoon, moved him to the care center facility in our town. My father-in-law was self-employed and therefore carried his own health insurance. After my mother-in-laws battle with cancer, my father-in-law was left with a great deal of debt. So any monies he had for his own long-term care was limited. When his own health care coverage ended, and a great deal of paperwork completed, he received Medicaid. I believe that my father-in-law was well taken care of for the less than ideal situation he was dealt in life.

This blog has brought some very interesting proposals. All of which could work for the right individual/situation. We can argue with the guidelines that the insurance companies are dictating for long-term care. But there will never be 100% approval. I believe that everyone’s situation is different; everyone’s expectations are different.

I think Holistic health care is a good thing, but should be covered by long-term health care (chiropractic included). Education on holistic health care would need to improve for individuals to buy into, especially our elderly. Most medical doctors do not believe in Holistic therapy; so many patients won’t buy into it at first. Those that I know who use holistic therapy are those who are looking for a change because current and some times long term medical treatments are no longer working. For instance, I have a friend who has suffered from chronic pain for the last 10 yrs. Her medical doctor has prescribed meds for her pain, and then also offered her anti-depressants because, “Everyone who suffers from chronic pain also has depression.” So after years of masking the pain and treating her for depression never actually diagnosed, she has sought help from a homeopath who is addressing her pain which in turn is alleviating much of her pain and has taken away the antidepressants. Holistic Health care focuses on the entire person’s well-being. Isn’t that one of the most important issues we are looking for in long-term healthcare – everyone’s personal well-being? If this therapy is working, then shouldn’t our healthcare cover those expenses?

My employer does have an affiliation with a long-term healthcare facility in close proximity. Residents of this facility benefit from the closeness to our healthcare institution. Residents have choices regarding their care. They can choose from 1 and 2 bedroom apartment styles for independent living; Home healthcare; assisted-living programs; and on-site skilled nursing care are available when needed. If necessary a medical professional from our institution will make a “house call”. I don’t receive preferential treatment because this facility is associated with my employer (no part of my benefits). Many residents are individuals who have had and continue to live with life-long diagnosis that requires them to be seen frequently at our medical center.

As far as my own long-term healthcare, with the current changes in legislature, it is unclear what I will receive from my employer. I’ve already seen changes in premium payments and coverage. I’ve gone from 100% to 80% and my monthly medical insurance rate has almost doubled. I, like the majority of employees, supplement our retirement with outside plans because we will need more later in life. Many employees who are eligible are retiring this year because they’ve heard the future is not going to be good. At this time there is uncertainty and changes are evident. But will they be for the better or the worse? Who knows, maybe every American will be equal; everyone will receive exactly the same long-term healthcare.