Nearly 30% of long term care costs are paid out of pocket, a new analysis by Avalere Health L.L.C., Washington, D.C., finds.
Avalere notes that its study includes spending on assisted living.
This analysis, sponsored by SCAN Health Plan, Long Beach, Calif., estimates that individuals and their families contributed $64 billion of their own funds towards LTC services in 2006. In addition, families and communities provided unpaid care valued at $350 billion, Avalere says. Private health and LTC insurance contributed only a little over $16 billion.