The Affordable Care Act (ACA), that dream that President Obama brought to fruition despite warnings from mindless Republicans that it should be flushed down the toilet, is going to make the Kochs and their like a lot richer. The GOP mindset is a wonderment. "I want what's mine and I'll take yours too." The ACA offers endless opportunities for its adversaries to rake in hundreds of millions of dollars when the Care Giving industry begins booming...and it will.
There are several levels and options available when extended care becomes necessary. Most are or will become acquainted with this industry while in recovery from an accident, illness or existing condition. Long term care is essential but prohibitively expensive and, while some private insurance or Medicare may cover a large portion of the costs, they do not cover all of the costs.. Those not covered are the responsibility of the patient in the form of co-pays, which are high. The most typical agencies are those that offer extended patient care in skilled nursing facilities that provide 24/7 care for as long as necessary to meet "safe discharge" criteria. Most of those are nationwide and carry familiar names. These serve primarily those of us who do not have long-term care insurance. Strict State standards for these facilities are in place.
A second type of facility is the privately owned, usually in a home environment with private rooms or two person occupancy. These are selected by families whose relative has a condition, such as Alzheimer or Dementia, and demands constant supervision as well as care. They are extraordinarily expensive and may be paid for by private insurance.
The third and the one with which some of us may become familiar are those that care in the client's home. The length of in-home care is determined by the client and can crange from 2 hours to 24/7. In-home care is traditionally paid for by the patient with 24/7 costing from $275 to $450 per day. But that is not the entire cost. The client is also required to provide to the care giver 3 meals per day and to purchase all supplies necessary. Who wouldn't be interested in investing in a business with ridiculously low overhead?
As more people sign up for the ACA, the more need there will be for extended care facilities. This cannot be anything less than America's next booming industry. The likelihood of a "boomerang" diminishes with the musical sound of each "k aching."