The underlying problem may not be that the public thinks incorrectly that Medicare covers LTC, but rather that the public doesn’t think about who pays for LTC at all, because Medicaid does. Since Medicaid has anesthetized the public to LTC risk and cost, no warning in the Social Security Administration letter nor any other education or tax incentives will wake the public up about long-term care.

That won’t happen until Congress gives Medicaid back to people truly in need by eliminating or radically reducing wide-open eligibility loopholes and asset exemptions. When government does that and enforces liens and estate recovery as well, taxpayers will get relief; the poor will get better care from Medicaid because it will have fewer recipients to serve; and the non-poor will finally see the need to save, invest and insure for long-term care.