North Carolina
The U.S. Census Bureau reports that older adults 65 years of age and above made up 13.8% of North Carolina’s population in 2012. This percentage was 0.1% higher than the average for the whole country at that time.
According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, around 13,000 state residents ages 35 and above died of complications from smoking each year between 2005 and 2009. Approximately 26% of adults ages 45 to 54, the age when individuals usually begin enrolling for long-term care coverage, reported smoking habitually in 2012.
Smokers risk developing cardiovascular disease. In North Carolina, cardiovascular disease ranks 2nd place in the top causes of death for both male and female residents. Statistics show that 224 per 100,000 people died of this ailment in 2012.
Furthermore, the state had 700 fatalities from medication overdose in 2010. Residents, especially those who take prescribed drugs, should pay attention to polypharmacy, or taking different medications that result in harmful side effects. North Carolina’s Center for Personal Assistance Services estimates that as many as 292,000 adults will need custodial care in 2015, and 433,000 adults for 2030.
Cost of Care
Below are the average daily cost* of long-term care services in North Carolina.
| City | Nursing Facility1 | Assisted Living1 | Adult Day Care2 | Home Health Aide3 |
| Asheville | $225 | $107 | $47 | $126 |
| Charlotte | $241 | $136 | $48 | $108 |
| Durham | $242 | $88 | $65 | $120 |
| Greensboro | $225 | $110 | $64 | $108 |
| Raleigh | $230 | $132 | $50 | $114 |
| Winston-Salem | $227 | $116 | $50 | $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
In North Carolina, Transamerica started accepting policyholders for a newer long-term care insurance product called TransCare III on September 10, 2013. Mostly an individual LTCI policy, TransCare III offers riders and a higher daily benefit amount.
MutualCare Solutions, an insurance policy for long-term care coverage by Mutual of Omaha, received North Carolina’s approval for LTCI Partnership status on October 15, 2013. The state’s policyholders have four main options for compound inflation protection that vary according to duration. Clients ages 66 to 75 can choose from 1% to 5% compound inflation protection that spans 10 years.
Along with Mutual of Omaha, North Carolina residents who desire LTCI coverage can buy Partnership policies from Bankers Life, Genworth, Northwestern, State Farm, and Transamerica.
State Long-Term Care Programs
Medicare provides skilled nursing facility care, home health services, prescribed drugs, and other medical supplies to its beneficiaries, like senior citizens, who require LTC. The North Carolina Senior Medicare Patrol Program helps these seniors avoid insurance fraud and elder financial abuse.
On the other hand, the Medicare Aid program gives financial assistance for premiums and other payments. Although benefitting Medicare clients, it is actually managed by Medicaid.
Medicaid also covers nursing facility services, custodial care, home health care, and other medical needs. North Carolina and several states opted out of the initiative to extend Medicaid coverage to more low-income individuals. A January 2014 study indicates that if the state accepted Medicaid expansion, nearly 15,000 persons would not spend money for treating a serious medical condition.
More Resources
To get more specific information regarding long-term care services and insurance options in North Carolina, please check the following websites:
Friends of Residents in Long-Term Care
Provides LTC introduction and resources, and offers tips in looking for a care provider.
Guiding Lights Caregiver Support Program
Helps caregivers through guides, articles, program information, and other resources.
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