Don't even get me started on insurance, and not only health. When I quit working ten years ago we had to get our own insurance, it cost $525.00 a month per year and now it is $1130.00 a month per year,well it just went up again and so more than that and our deductible is $5,000.00. I just turned 56 and DH is 61. What really makes me boil is we have never used it. I go to the Dr. once a year to have my BP medicine refilled and maybe a sinus infection or two , just office visits.. DH hadn't used it probably three times since we have had it and that was for office visits until last year and he had some tests done. He had an MRI and some other tests and out of pocket was $4800.00 That is the only time we have used it for more than probably 3-4 office visits per year. We pay insurance out the a**, auto, truck, pivot,tractors, equipment, livestock, liability on farm workers, shop, even on two old farm houses that aren't worth anything, then there is homeowners and I am sure I am forgetting something. But, it is just like my Dad used to say "you don't need it till you need it." I am thankful we haven't, but I guess what makes we made is that we have to pay for those that do.

Dedtired...I too had to pay the same the year before Medicare. When on Cobra it is required that the HI take you and cannot deny due to pre-existing conditions. Was with mine for 5 years, but they just kept kicking up the premiums to the last year at 759 a mo. At 65 I found a supplement plan for $90 a month, they pay 100% of what is left after Medicare regardless of the need. Signed for 3 years option to keep the monthly cost. Every year after the 3 it goes up now about 20%, but the coverage remains the same. This year could be the last to afford them. No other insurance will cover me if I lose this. So I'll be in the same situation as many of you. A broker told me that with specific medications and/or condition, a company adds about $50 per item to the monthly cost...if they will even accept you. Health Insurance is for the wealthy or healthy. I'm with all of you, what to do without insurance and am floored by the many posting here without. I know what my medical costs will be for a year and weigh that in to the insurance cost to me...for now. Have mentioned more than once to others that if my IQ was even 1 level down, would never figure any of this out. And the older we get the worse it is to know what to do. Medicare changes are two thick books and one had best know what is and isn't. They have taken away 2/3 of the approved medications. When I asked the pharmacy about one of mine, he said it was due to too many falls from the elderly using it. Jeesh, I use it to keep from falling. We are all in trouble health wise, growing older with all the new research to resolve so many conditions isn't going to do any of us any good. Health insurance will be too costly to utilize great advances. Admission I do not understand what is being created for health coverage by the gov. It eludes me with crazy details. OT. Our state now has a law that if you are stopped for anything when driving or get in an accident and taking a medication that cautions driving while using it, they can charge you with a DUI. I'm waiting for a DUI law because of my age.

If she has a minimal income (which albeit has to be significantly minumal for a single person) she should be able to get medicaid. I would tell her though that that is not a pleasant process. My experiance (when I first had my daughter and needed it) was not a pleasant one. The people are mean and well downright awful and their first response is NO. I went in knowing exactly what I qualified for and didn't except no for an answer. I already knew what forms to fill out so when they told me I had to do certain things (which basically just make you life more difficult and are not a requirement) I told them flat out No, I don't have to do that I only need to fill out this this and this. Visit your state resource to find out the income requirements and such in your specific state. They are different for each. Also - I happen to find this as well In the US, there are a few alternatives that you may want to investigate. The first is Medicaid, if you financially qualify. If your income level is over the Medicaid limit, you may still qualify for Medicaid by using a spend down equation (usually the amount of income you receive over and above their income guidelines). To become eligible for Medicaid your allowable medical expenses must be more than your spend down amount. Expenses for medical care that may be considered in this equation include care from hospitals, doctors, clinics, dentists, drugs, medical supplies and equipment, health insurance premiums, transportation to get medical care, personal assistance services, and adult home help services that are related to your medical care. Read more on this here: --> Medicaid Eligibility http://www.rare-cancer.org/health-insurance.html

We bought LTCI last year at the ages of 49 and 51, and we're glad we did. I did not go into this with eyes half shut. I did uncountable hours of research, attended seminars, talked to people, interviewed agents, etc. I'm the type of person who doesn't allow anyone to talk me into anything - period. We bought a great policy through an A++ rated company, John Hancock. The average age one should buy LTC is 60ish - before health problems begin and the premiums are outrageous if you can even get it with certain conditions. I wasn't waiting 10 years to do so especially since our premiums would double by then even if we remain healthy...but who knows how our health will be in 10 years. Sure, we're healthy now and healthier than our parents were at this age, but no one has a crystal ball to determine how our health and at what age, will affect us. I'm not taking chances knowing DH's parents history. We have no kids or family that will care for us should we need it now or later, and to put 100% burden on the other spouse isn't fair, IMO. And even if we did have kids, who's to say they would want to interrupt their lives to care for sick parents. As cruel as this sounds, I prefer not to care for my mother as she's a difficult one now and she's relatively healthy. This LTC is piece of mind for us. While humans are living longer these days, from my research, it states that a very high percentage of people will require some kind of nursing home facility and the average time is 2.5 years. Should that time come now or later, the insurance is already there to be used. If we were to invest $$ for a rainy day to use toward this, it will take A VERY LONG TIME to match what insurance money is available to us NOW. We hope to never have to use it, but good to know it's in place if we have to, and we're lucky enough to be able to afford it. I realize many cannot. There's much to know about the various companies offering this including their ratings, how their policies work with the options & riders offered, claims stats, etc., and then choosing what is right for each individual. While most people tend to not think about LTC or discount it all together, I really think more people should learn about it and give it serious consideration. (No, I don't sell it). Frankly, IMHO, your sister is wise in thinking about her elder years that way.