Previous research demonstrates that lack of planning for the potential need for long-term services and supports (LTSS) is associated with lack of knowledge about these services. People who do not have a firm understanding of their longevity risks, probability of needing and using LTSS, and the associated costs for services may be less likely to plan for their future LTSS needs. With the rapid aging of the American population, the demand for LTSS is expected to increase. Americans are not well informed about how the LTSS system works and their risks within it. Without adequate preparation on the part of individuals, many Americans will receive LTSS that do not align with their preferences.
This Issue Brief exams LTSS knowledge using the data from the 2014 Survey of Long-Term Care Planning and Awareness. It was authored by Galina Khatutsky, Joshua M. Wiener, Nga Thach and Angela M. Greene from RTI International. The authors gratefully acknowledge contributions of William Marton and Samuel Shipley of ASPE/HHS. They also wish to thank Genworth Financial for conducting special data analyses of its cost of LTC survey and making the results available. The views expressed in this brief are those of the authors and do not express the views of HHS or RTI International.