Insurance

Importance: The Balancing Incentives Program (BIP), established under the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act provided federal funding for states to shift long-term care out of institutional settings and into the home.

This paper investigates theoretically how the structure of means-tested public long-term care (LTC) support influences the relationship between LTC insurance and informal care. Three types of public support encountered in various means-tested LTC schemes are examined. First, the level to be considered for means-testing only takes into account the level of wealth of the recipient without considering the cost of LTC or the possible insurance benefits. Second, the public support also considers the LTC needs of the recipient.

A new initiative to support carers in the United States mirrors the national carers strategy in the UK. But there are important differences, such as the role of insurance in the provision of long term care. Looks at some recent research studies, in particular a study to understand how long-term care insurance for disabled older people can affect the lives of their working care givers.

Looks at the situation of family carers in the USA. Discusses how the USA has been slower to recognise the contribution of family carers than in the UK and how they face a more uncoordinated environment.