Long-term care financing: are current methods enough?

Financing long-term care services can be extremely cost prohibitive to the average United States citizen. Given the complex patchwork of multidisciplinary services that may be required, operational issues and system efficiencies often draw considerable attention. Notwithstanding these challenges, this article reviews the major sources of long-term care financing, including some lesser-known options. Potential advantages and disadvantages are presented. A descriptive analysis of existing policies and consumer practices raises the question of whether recent incremental reforms will lead to future solutions for the major constituents most affected by their implementation.