Research Report Later-Life Household Wealth before and after Disability Onset
Richard W. Johnson
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The effectiveness of policies to encourage people to prefund future expenses for long-term services and supports (LTSS), such as creating dedicated savings accounts or contributory LTSS financing programs, depends on how many financial resources older adults with LTSS needs have earlier in life. This study finds that older adults who develop serious disabilities before age 80 and those with extended nursing home stays have substantially less wealth than other older adults years before they develop disabilities. These findings suggest that policies to prefund LTSS expenses may have limited impact because they must exclude those with the highest expenses.

Research Areas Health and health care Wealth and financial well-being Aging and retirement Disability equity policy
Tags Economic well-being Asset and debts Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program  Disability and long-term care Long-term services and support Retirement Retirement policy
Policy Centers Income and Benefits Policy Center