September · The Decision Calendar

The Care Gap

Alex Alston

What a care event would cost at your local prices — and the question that matters more: what would be left for the healthy spouse afterward.

01The kind of care National medians shown — replace with local figures

Costs vary two to three times across the country. The national median is a starting point; the number where you live is the one that matters. Look yours up and overwrite the figure below.

Annual cost in your areaOverwrite with a local figure Years until care might be neededFor inflating the cost Care cost inflationHas been running above general inflation

02What an event costs

The risk here is not the average — it is the tail. A short stay is a manageable expense. A multi-year event is a different category entirely.

03What's left for the healthy spouse The number that actually matters

Investable assetsFrom January Annual spending the household still hasThe healthy spouse keeps living Guaranteed income continuingSocial Security and pension

04Four ways to handle it Priced, not recommended

Annual premium quoted, if you've askedTraditional long-term care policy Monthly benefit it would payTimes the benefit period

05What this tells you

Carry forward

Cost figures are national medians from the most recent industry cost-of-care survey and are starting points only — local costs vary substantially and should replace them. Insurance figures use whatever quote you enter. Medicaid eligibility, the five-year lookback, and spousal protection amounts are state-specific. Bring this to the September call.

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