By Reagan Steele – Business & Economic Policy Writer

Long-term care. Most of us will need it at some point in our lives. And most Americans believe that when the time comes in their golden years, Medicare will pick up the tab.

But it won’t.

Medicare doesn’t even consider long-term care to be “healthcare,” even though it’s vital for seniors who can’t live independently. Long-term care is the help you need when illness, injury, or aging make it impossible to handle basic tasks like bathing, eating, cooking, or keeping up with household chores.

That’s not “medical care,” according to the federal definition — and Medicare generally won’t pay for it. It’s a little like buying a “car” that doesn’t come with an engine, wheels, or seats. Those other parts? They’re “optional.”

The costs are staggering. A nursing home can run close to $10,000 a month, meaning a full year of professional care could top $100,000. That’s why long-term care is one of the leading causes of financial ruin for seniors. While some can rely on family members, many can’t — and without a plan, the bill will come due fast.

There are insurance options, but only a small fraction of Americans have them. And as America ages — with lower birthrates and people living longer than ever — the gap between what’s needed and what’s covered will only grow.

Solving it will require more than wishful thinking. We need awareness, financial literacy, and proactive planning to keep seniors from losing everything or winding up on the street. And while some argue for folding long-term care into a universal care plan, that raises another debate: do we trust government bureaucrats with life-and-death decisions?

Most Americans would say no.