[Easyrider]

Originally Posted by Villages PL

Some were disappointed that the conversation was limited to hospitals, smoking and being overweight. It was limited because I was referencing an article I read in the newspaper. And I happened to add "being overweight."

But this thread is open to EVERYTHING that might raise health care costs. That means smoking, being overweight, being anorexic, driving too fast, being an alcoholic, or a drug user, etc..

My position: I stand for greater accountability in all areas where lifestyle plays a role. If people don't take personal responsibility to live a healthy lifestyle, they should be the ones to pay higher health insurance premiums. Higher costs should not be shifted to those who play by the rules.

Note: Just the fact of getting older is not a lifestyle choice. Everyone gets older whether they like it or not.

Would have to disagree, age would have to included in the list of things that raise health care costs. Many are already arguing that that older people should be paying a lot more for health insurance since it's the older people that are a heavy burden on the health care system...Age is the main driver of the costs.

Do you think younger healthier people that seldom need health care should pay more to cover older people and those with pre-existing conditions while you pay less?

To apply your thinking would you argue that health insurance premiums should not go up as we get older and if so why?

What if all health premiums started going up say 5-10% each year after we reach say 60 since we are more likely to need health care each day we live.

Since you say we are all ageing like it or not it sounds fair if applied to everyone. View the numbers below and estimate the daily costs.....We all know a great number of these residents bills are being paid by only Medicaid after Medicare pays for the first 100 days or so.

http://www.nolo.com/legal-encycloped...ed-living.html

Nursing homes are getting even more expensive -- with the average price tag now standing at more than $80,000 per year.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney)
The cost of living at a nursing home has soared to a new high of more than $80,000 per year.
Over the past five years, the median annual cost of private nursing home care has jumped 24% from $67,527 to $83,950, according to Genworth's 2013 Cost of Care Survey, based on data from nearly 15,000 long-term care providers. From 2012 to 2013 alone, the price climbed 4%.




Facts about Nursing Homes

There are 17,000 nursing homes in the United States.

1.6 million people live in nursing homes.

The average number of beds per home is 107, with an occupancy rate of 88 percent.

More than 90 percent of current residents are 65 years of age and over. Almost half are 85 years or over.

The average age upon admission to a nursing home is 79.

Women are almost three times as likely to live in nursing homes than men.

In 2000, 4.5 percent of Americans 65 years and older lived in nursing homes, a decline from 5.1 percent in 1990.

In 1999-2000, the average nursing facility patient required assistance with 3.75 activities of daily living. Five common activities are used to measure the functionality of a patient - bathing, dressing, transferring, toileting and eating.

42 percent of nursing home patients suffer from some level of dementia.

33 percent of nursing home patients have documented symptoms of depression.

67 percent of nursing home facilities were for-profit in 1999-2000, 26 percent were nonprofit and 7 percent were government owned and operated.


Sources: American Health Care Association, American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging.



view-source:http://kff.org/other/state-indicator...ity-residents/

Total Number of Residents in Certified Nursing Facilities
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Location
Number of Nursing Facility Residents

Alabama 22,759
Alaska 621
Arizona 11,507
Arkansas 18,033
California 100,065
Colorado 13,724
Connecticut 25,493
Delaware 4,266
District of Columbia 2,588
Florida 72,373
Georgia 27,564
Hawaii 3,012
Idaho 4,276
Illinois 74,564
Indiana 39,045
Iowa 25,165
Kansas 18,497
Kentucky 22,680
Louisiana 25,522
Maine 6,345
Maryland 24,432
Massachusetts 42,160
Michigan 39,683
Minnesota 28,150
Mississippi 16,342
Missouri 37,329
Montana 4,729
Nebraska 12,227
Nevada 4,732
New Hampshire 6,892
New Jersey 45,443
New Mexico 5,447
New York 107,480
North Carolina 37,399
North Dakota 5,737
Ohio 77,702
Oklahoma 19,694
Oregon 6,982
Pennsylvania 80,310
Rhode Island 8,076
South Carolina 17,143
South Dakota 6,448
Tennessee 29,910
Texas 92,359
Utah 3,855
Vermont 2,848
Virginia 28,168
Washington 17,597
West Virginia 7,155
Wisconsin 29,467
Wyoming 2,395