In fact, only about one-tenth of the increase is due to upticks in old-age pensions and health-care programs for seniors.

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Then there is Medifund, a safety-net program for the bottom 10 percent of income earners, and Eldershield, a private insurance program for long-term care for those with old age-related disabilities.

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He also recommends that single people, who may not have family who could care for them in old age, to seriously consider long-term care insurance as well.

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The biggest problems: It is voluntary, and it attempts to combine a new benefit for working people with disabilities with a true insurance program for those looking to hedge against the risk of long-term care in old age.

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But the premise of this agreement is measures to hold down ballooning old-age pension, medical, and nursing care costs.

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About 70 percent of seniors will eventually require long-term care services in old age, and 20 percent will need this assistance for five years or more.

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Washington subsidizes single parenthood while reorienting retirement and old age care away from a multi-generational continuity.

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Already, Alzheimer's and other diseases of old age account for some 70% of health-care reimbursements.

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Moreover aspects such as mutual care within traditional gender roles and bringing up children as a form of old-age insurance had huge practical importance and were much more important than romantic love.

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