Kentucky
Females made up 51% of Kentucky’s 4,315,000 residents in 2012, according to statistics from the Kaiser Family Foundation. Due to longer life expectancy, women necessitate personal care and other long-term care services more than men do. While 13% of the state population at that time consisted of senior citizens, adults aged 19 to 64 totaled 62% of the number of residents.
America’s Health Rankings for 2013 indicated the low prevalence of binge drinking among adults in Kentucky, which also scored high in minimizing infectious diseases that can affect care recipients. With over 28% of adults who smoked tobacco habitually, Kentucky ranked 50th in least incidence of smoking. Moreover, the state got the 50th place for fewest cases of cancer-related fatalities. This ailment accounted a state-wide average of 226.9 fatalities per 100,000 individuals.
Southeastern counties in Kentucky reported the highest prevalence of cancer, which affected as much as 649.6 per 100,000 people in a county as based on a map by the Kentucky Cancer Registry.
The Kaiser Family Foundation adds that 1.7% of the total nursing facility residents in the U.S. in 2011 hailed from Kentucky.
Cost of Care
Below are the average daily cost* of long-term care services in Kentucky.
| City | Nursing Facility1 | Assisted Living1 | Adult Day Care2 | Home Health Aide3 |
| Frankfort | $211 | $112 | $72 | $102 |
| Lexington | $215 | $126 | $89 | $108 |
Notes:
*Costs are rounded to the nearest whole dollar.
1Daily average for a private room.
2Based on five days of care per week.
3Based on six hours of care per day, five days per week.
Insurance Options
On September 10, 2013, Transamerica started offering its newer long-term care insurance policy called TransCare III to residents of Kentucky. Individuals and some associations may purchase TransCare III. The LTCI product has an increased maximum daily benefit period and a higher couples discount, along with several riders that can help policyholders.
The preferred health and marital discounts of FlexCare, an LTCI product by MedAmerica, went through revisions that took effect in Kentucky and eight other states on October 28, 2013. MedAmerica also removed its option to pay FlexCare through credit cards.
Kentucky citizens who wish to get LTCI can buy policies from Bankers Life, Country Life, Genworth, John Hancock, LifeSecure, Mutual of Omaha, New York Life, Northwestern, and State Farm.
State Long-Term Care Programs
Medicare covers the expenses of some long-term care services, such as skilled nursing facility care or therapy. The program’s clients who undergo financial constraints can seek assistance from the state’s Medicare Savings Program. Meanwhile, those who experienced Medicare fraud or abuse can forward their concerns to the Kentucky Senior Medicare Patrol.
Another government program that provides some long-term care coverage is Medicaid. Kentucky will be running a state-based Marketplace called kynect: Kentucky’s Health Insurance Connection. Along with other states, Kentucky is implementing Medicaid expansion for its citizens in 2014.
Medicaid providers in Kentucky can quickly access beneficiary information, inquiry and submission of claims, and a remittance advice (RA) viewer through KyHealth Net. Another useful program by Kentucky’s Medicaid is the Kentucky Transitions, which promotes community-based care.
The Homecare Program has a similar purpose, enabling older adults who require skilled care to stay in their own homes and receive the necessary support.
More Resources
To get more specific information regarding long-term care services and insurance options in Kentucky, please check the following websites:
Informs through a comprehensive guide about LTCI and an overview of long-term care.
Kentucky Care Planning Council
Offers guides to LTC services, caregiving resources, and eldercare articles and books.
Department for Aging and Independent Living
Provides a list of assisted living centers, in addition to their addresses, per county.
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