Although the health care debate this election year is focused primarily on coverage for physician and hospital services, the growing cost of long-term care (LTC) is fast becoming a problem we can no longer ignore. With millions of baby boomers now hitting retirement, state Medicaid budgets under pressure, and older working families ill prepared for the huge cost of nursing home care, LTC is shaping up to be a perfect storm.
With Rep Paul Ryan (R, Wis) now Governor Romney’s running mate, Medicare reform is front and center in the election debate. This development could provide a chance to have a serious national debate about the program. But it could also mean any chance of a real conversation is drowned out by political hysteria and attack ads.