What is long-term care financing?
Long-term care (LTC) financing details the public-private mix of expenditure through which care for older adults with care needs is funded. On the public side, this includes the organisation of public financing (i.e. how the system is financed, often through taxation, social insurance or private insurance), direct subsidies to care providers, as well as LTC benefits afforded to LTC users, determined by the breadth (i.e. eligibility), scope (i.e. what LTC needs are financed), and depth (i.e. what share of costs is publicly financed) of public coverage. On the private expenditure side, this includes out-of-pocket payments required of LTC users, often determined by needs, user’s income and/or assets, or a combination of the two.
Why is financing of long-term care important?
Higher demand for formal LTC services due to demographic ageing and the high cost of LTC services have raised concerns about the financial sustainability and accessibility of LTC. The financing of LTC is thus also closely linked with inequalities in use of care and unmet needs. As most LTC is provided on a voluntary and unpaid basis by families and communities, it is becoming more important to ensure care services and benefits that support informal care.
What we offer:
Researchers at the European Centre are well-versed in analysing the financing of LTC in Europe. We study and assess policies pertaining to LTC financing, with a particular focus on the organisation of financing and the equity implications on LTC users.
Specifically, we:
