The Long Term Care Trend In Delaware

According to AAPS, the population of Delaware residents aged 85 and above will have doubled by 2030.

Based on 2009 U.S Census Bureau, Delawares older population is comprised of 14 percent of elders 65 and above, while approximately 16,299 residents are age 85 and up. The 85 and above age group will most likely require long term care, but the demand for long-term care services may escalate up to 89%. Therefore, Delaware is among the top 20 states with high demand for long term care services.


The Problem...


The majority of American seniors age 59 and up prefer home care due to the rising costs of long term care. About 184,000 residents rely on Medicaid, 8 percent of which are seniors age 65 and above.

However, Delaware allocates more of its Medicaid funding (almost 91 percent) to adults with physical disabilities in nursing facilities, even though most elders choose to remain in their homes to have their loved ones provide care. Only 10 percent of fund goes to home and community-based care.


Delaware also ranked 18th highest paying home private care in 2008 with a whopping $250 per day. The same year also when the state had pricey rates for Medicare-certified home health aides ($43/ hour) and adult day care ($65/hour). The rate for home health aide of about $20 per hour was almost the same as the national average.


The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) rated nursing homes throughout United States, including those in Delaware, to provide consumers detailed review. In the report, 46 nursing homes in Delaware are rated above average and most of them provide quality services.


The Delaware Long Term Care Insurance Partnership Program


The Delaware federal government noticed the increasing needs of its residents for long term care; thus, the Delaware partnership policy was mandated. This partnership protects existing and potential policy holders from squeezing their finances due to the rising costs of long-term care service and irregularities of Medicaid program. Initially, the states using this program were targeting low and middle income groups, but it suddenly attracted a lot of higher income Americans.


This was originally a pilot program tested on four states: California, Connecticut, Indiana, and New York. The results went well on those states, and later on it has been adapted by other states as part of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA 05). Today, all states are providing partnership policies. This reciprocity agreement grants recipients to use their policies in other partnership states.


Whats good about partnership policies is that you wont get robbed due to the ever-increasing prices of hospice care, because its Medicaid Asset protection feature will help you protect your assets. Moreover, the state requires private insurance companies to sell policies with inflation protection. Individuals may qualify for Medicaid and protect their assets same with the amount of benefits receive during long term care.