Long Term Care Insurance
About Women
In
the United States there are more women (age 65 and above) than there are men,
and the proportion of the female population keeps increasing with age.
Today, almost 35 million Americans, or one in eight, are age 65 or older,
and three out of five are women. Women live an average six years longer
than men.
"Not only do women have a longer average life expectancy than men,
they tend to marry men older than themselves. Seven out of 10 "baby
boomer" women - those born between 1946 and 1964 - are expected to
outlive their husbands. Thus, many can expect to be widows for 15 to
20 years."
"America is growing older, and most older Americans are women.
Because women are living longer than men, the health, economic, and
social challenges which face older Americans are most often the challenges
faced by women. The following facts about older women require attention
as we prepare to comprehensively address the diverse needs of an aging
society." (1).
While women are increasingly outpacing men in college degrees today, there are still some stark realities that women face in America.
Some Facts:
--Most women today will live out their lives as widows, 80 percent of older women live alone. Most women are more likely to be unemployed or work part time in industries that do not offer health insurance benefits.
--The primary source of income for women over the age of 65 will be Social Security.
--Women spend more years and a larger percentage of their lifetimes disabled, they are at a much higher risk of chronic illness and disabling conditions as they age, which will require them to need costly long-term care.
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--Women make up about 70 percent of all elderly persons with incomes below poverty level, what is even more significant is that more than half of the widows that are now living in poverty were not even poor before the deaths of their husbands. The chance that women will live at or below poverty increases with age.
-
- --Women
represent 7 out of 10 unpaid caregivers.
As you can see these are frightening facts concerning women. There are ways that you can address some of these issues so that you do not become one of these statistics. It is especially important for women to plan ahead for future long-term care needs. (1.)
Sources:
1. http://www.aoa.gov/naic/may2000/factsheets/olderwomen.html
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