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February 13, 2012
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Julie Deardorff : Researchers say antioxidants may not be that effective and could do more harm than good
Mark Clayton: How did Anonymous hackers eavesdrop on FBI and Scotland Yard?
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Victoria Kim: Immigrant-smuggling ring used black drivers to avoid racial profiling
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Jim Carney: Wrong number call may have saved her life
Reza Kahlili : Ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard: What Obama doesn't grasp about striking deals with Tehran
Tina Susman: For woodchuck rescuer, every day is Groundhog Day
February 1, 2012
Brian Bennett: US officials see increasing threat of domestic attack from Iran
Emily Brandon: How to Take Advantage of New 401(k) Fee Disclosures
January 31, 2012
January 30, 2012
Paul Richter and Ramin Mostaghim: Misreading Teheran's limits -- deadly and economically devastating as they may be -- is a risk administration, Europe seem willing to take
Suzanne Bohan: Warning: Nap-deprived tots missing more than sleep, study finds
Meg Handley: Banks Revamping Rewards Programs to Woo Customers
January 27, 2012
Caroline B. Glick: Obama: Of course I intend to prevent a nuclear holocaust . . . in a few months
Yochonon Donn: In liberal New York City, fervently-Orthodox Jews may soon be getting a district to call their own
Jeannine Stein: An inflated ego and thinking you're 'all that' doesn't just make others sick of you, it can make you ill
Katy Hopkins: New budget rules may affect how much money you get for college
January 26, 2012
Ed Koch: To the New York Times, calling for the murder of Jews by those capable of having their incitement taken seriously isn't news
Jeannine Stein: Mental illness struck one in five U.S. adults in 2010: Report
January 25, 2012
Richard Simon: House passes two bills endorsing the use of religious symbols at military memorials
Fred Weir: Putin: Multiethnic Russia cannot survive as a US-style 'melting pot'; must find its own way
Susan Johnston: 5 Sneaky Coupon Strategies Consumers Should Watch Out For
January 24, 2012
Carol Clark: The price of your soul: How your brain decides whether to 'sell out'
Caroline B. Glick: America lost most in 'Arab Spring'. Sadly, many voters still don't grasp the extent
Warren Richey: Drug criminal scores win in GPS ruling from conservative-leaning high court
Erika Bolstad: Black conservatives gather to talk about gaining strength
January 23, 2012
Melissa Dribben: Jewish voters to play a key role in Florida's Republican primary
Jordan Rau: In quest to grow, Catholic hospital system will announce this morning its break from church
Ali Safi: U.S. envoy gives Taliban terms for peace talks
January 19, 2012
January 18, 2012
January 17, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: No-kidding red lines: U.S. response to an Iranian nuke may be bluster, but Israel's won't be
David G. Savage: They sued their principals after slandering them online --- now the cases are headed to the Supreme Court
David Francis: Where to Invest in 2012: With stocks expected to rebound, opportunity abounds for investors
January 13, 2012
Ben Lynfield: Israeli lawmakers move to annex Jewish Judea, one museum at a time
Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz: Thriving through touch: Gentle massage helps older people with low mobility improve in mind and body
January 12, 2012
Warren Richey: Landmark Supreme Court ruling a 'resounding win' for religious groups
Warren Richey: Supreme Court says no to new rule on eyewitness testimony
John Fauber : Statins found to raise diabetes risk in postmenopausal women
Katy Hopkins : Consider This Before You Pay for an Online Degree
The Kosher Gourmet by Joseph Erdos: This mushroom and barley soup has an intense -- almost nutty -- flavor that mixes robust with Middle East. It has creaminess without cream
January 11, 2012
Shari Roan: Millions of atrial fibrillation sufferers at risk for devastating, but preventable, stroke
Tom Hussain: Pakistan -- recipient of more than $21 billion in civilian and military aid -- speeds pursuit of Iranian pipeline, defying US
David G. Savage: High court signals it won't be loosening TV's 'indecency' rules
Stephen Ceasar: Oklahoma's Islamic law amendment can't go into effect, court rules
January 10, 2012
Reza Kahlili: From an ex-CIA spy: US must exploit new split in Iran's Revolutionary Guard
Karen Kaplan: Study: Nicotine replacement products ineffective when used in real-life situations
January 9, 2012
Michael Doyle: Put through legal hell over dream home, couple fought back hard --- all the way to Supreme Court
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Jewish World Review
April 11, 2007
/ 23 Nissan, 5767
Americans risk futures without long-term care plans
By
Jan L. Warner & Jan Collins
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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |
Q: My parents are in their late 60s, in good health and retired. My father worked for state government; my mother worked as a church secretary part-time. I have two siblings who live in other states and who visit every six months or so.
My folks never confided in any of us about their finances until just recently, when they asked me to come over to visit. I was shocked to learn they were having problems making ends meet. Because of rising living costs, health insurance, gasoline, etc, when large payments became due - such as automobile and homeowner's insurance, property taxes, life insurance premiums, etc. they have been taking cash advances on their credit cards to pay these amounts. And, because they were making only minimum payments each month, their credit card debt now exceeds $40,000.
They live in a home they purchased on a nearby lake 35 years ago that the county has assessed at more than $750,000, which means high property taxes. They are also concerned that if one of them gets sick, the other will not have enough money to keep their home, and they will die paupers or dependent on their children.
After our talk, I spoke with my siblings about what we could do to help. Since both of my siblings have children in college, they are strapped, and my wife and I don't really have any extra. But we all want to help Mom and Dad get over this crisis. Could you give us some guidance to lead us in the right direction?
A: The issues your family is facing are not uncommon in middle-class America today. Increased living expenses, health insurance premiums and gasoline costs play havoc with folks who are living on fixed incomes. Add to this burden increased property taxes generated by reassessed property values, and you find people like your folks who can no longer afford to pay the taxes on the homes they have owned for decades. Not the American Dream by a long shot.
And your folks are correct to be concerned about the effect that long-term care could have on their lives. According to the recent "2007 Cost of Care Survey" by Genworth Financial, three-fourths of Americans have not planned for long-term care even though the cost of long-term care in a nursing facility increased by 15 percent between 2004 and 2007 to almost $75,000 annually. That's right: More than $6,000 per month.
The expenses associated with assisted-living facilities have increased by more than 13 percent to an annual average cost of more than $32,500 for a one-bedroom unit more than $2,500 monthly. While three-fourths of those polled would prefer care at home, the Genworth study tells us that the average cost to hire a 40-hour-per-week home health aide is nearly $53,000 per year $6,000 more than the median household income in the United States, which is pegged at $46,272.
Too rich for most folks' blood, we assure you. But, unfortunately, despite the size of the potential expense, the Genworth study tells us that nearly half of those polled incorrectly believe that Medicare or private health insurance will pay for their long-term-care needs.
We believe that your folks should look at long-term care insurance.
How are they going to pay for it, you ask? We will address that in our next column.
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
JAN L. WARNER received his A.B. and J.D. degrees from the University of South Carolina and earned a Master of Legal Letters (L.L.M.) in Taxation from the Emory University School of Law in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a frequent lecturer at legal education and public information programs throughout the United States. His articles have been published in national and state legal publications. Jan Collins began co-authoring Flying SoloŽ in 1989. She has more than 27 years of experience as a journalist, writer, and editor. To comment or ask a question, please click here.
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