Plan for Long-term Needs Now
A letter from Timothy M. Kaine, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia:
Dear Fellow Virginian:
Most of us do not think about aging -- especially the possibility that in the future we may not be able to live independently. In fact, many of us will need long-term assistance at some point in our lives and most of us have not planned sufficiently for this type of care and its extraordinary cost.
This is why I want to tell you about the Own Your Future program sponsored by the Commonwealth of Virginia and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The program encourages individuals to plan for long-term needs now instead of waiting until a crisis occurs in the future. Many people believe they can rely on Medicare to pay for any long-term care services they will need. However, Medicare generally doesn’t pay for long-term care.
Planning ahead gives you control. Most people have strong opinions about what they will need as they grow older, but they have not taken the steps to address these needs. Planning ahead gives you time to explore whether your home will be a good fit as you age and to think about who will manage your legal affairs if you are no longer able to do so. Planning ahead enables you to determine who will assist you as your needs change and whether you will receive assistance in your home or in a long-term care facility. Planning ahead helps you prepare your finances to meet the rising costs of long-term care. Planning for the future allows you to make decisions instead of relying on family or friends to make these important decisions for you.
I am pleased to [present] the Own Your Future DVD produced by the Virginia Department for the Aging, which provides information on long-term care planning including Medicaid, Medicare, and the Virginia Long-Term Care Partnership. I also encourage you to order the Own Your Future “Long-Term Care Planning Tool Kit” with information specific to Virginia services by calling 1-866-PLANLTC (1-866-752-6582). You may also download an electronic version by visiting www.longtermcare.gov. There is no cost or obligation to request this information.
Please Own Your Future by watching the DVD and ordering your free "Long Term Care Planning Tool Kit" today.
Sincerely,
Timothy M. Kaine
