Jan 1, 2010 12:00 PM

, By Bernard A. Krooks & Michael Gilfix

In the national debate over health care reform, more attention should be given to how families pay the devastatingly costly expense of nursing care for the elderly and disabled

By Bernard A. Krooks & Michael Gilfix

Perhaps the greatest development in the world of elder care and special needs law during 2009 was the lack of any real development. With the national debate raging over health insurance and health care reform, we're disappointed that only minimal attention has been given to an issue of enormous importance to older and disabled Americans: the cost of long-term care.

As this article was being prepared, House and Senate health care bills had emerged from committee. Both versions created a modest plan to address long-term care. They provided that premiums would be deducted automatically from paychecks from individuals employed by companies that choose to participate. Coverage — in the form of cash payments to individuals who become disabled — would be limited to those who'd paid premiums for a minimum of five years. Importantly, employees would be able to opt out. Critics point out that the solvency of the program was threatened by the probability that healthy, younger employees would opt out, while those with greater perceived needs would participate. ??