Military Retirees

The military retiree has tremendous advantages in the area of senior care, including long term care. As you slip into retirement age (67 as of this writing), you automatically go on Medicare, but with whatever form of Tricare you've selected as a back-up to Medicare. Health care costs for the webmaster, for example (retired USAF), are limited to $150/year for one person and $300/year for a couple. Although not having experienced this situation yet, it is understood that in-home care (preferred by most) is also well covered by this combination of benefits.

Veterans Administration HealthCare

See our webpage at http://rv-vfp156.org/Enlist.html#Discharges for some discussion of becoming eligible for VA health care.

Medicare

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) administers Medicare, the nation's largest health insurance program, which covers nearly 40 million Americans. Medicare is a Health Insurance Program for people age 65 or older, some disabled people under age 65, and people of all ages with End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent kidney failure treated with dialysis or a transplant). Contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 for your Medicare enrollment and eligibility. The governmant website is at http://www.medicare.gov/. You can also download an information booklet, Medicare & You, at http://www.medicare.gov/Library/PDFNavigation/PDFInterim.asp?Language=English&Type=Pub&PubID=10050.
For long-term care: http://www.medicare.gov/longtermcare/static/typesoverview.asp

Medicaid

Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that helps pay medical costs for some people with limited incomes and resources. Medicaid also offers benefits not normally covered by Medicare, like help with personal care and rides to doctor appointments. If you qualify for Medicaid in your state, you automatically qualify to get Extra Help paying for Medicare prescription drug coverage.
Extra Help: If you meet certain income and resource limits, you may qualify for Extra Help from Medicare to pay the costs of Medicare prescription drug coverage. People who qualify for the most Extra Help pay nothing for their Medicare drug plan premium and deductible, and only $2.50 generic/$6.30 brand-name for their covered drugs. Other people pay only a portion of their Medicare drug plan premiums and deductibles based on their income level.
An intro to Medicaid can be found on the Medicare website at http://www.medicare.gov/navigation/medicare-basics/medical-and-drug-costs.aspx.
You can find the appropriate State office at http://www.medicare.gov/contacts/organization-search-criteria.aspx.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

SSI is another government program that could help cover the cost of a nursing home. SSI is intended for disabled people over the age of 65 who have little or no income. While SSI can help to offset the cost of housing or nursing home care, it is nowhere near enough to pay for it completely. Some facilities charge special rates for those receiving SSI, though if long-term nursing assistance is required, anyone qualifying for SSI also qualifies for Medicaid, and so it is the Medicaid that covers the cost of care, while SSI allows the resident to retain a small monthly income for incidental expenses. See the government website at http://www.ssa.gov/ssi/.

Non-Service Connected Pension

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has a little known tax free pension available to help qualified veterans, spouses and their surviving spouses pay for home health care, assistance living or nursing home care.
This Non-Service Connected pension was established in 1952 under Title 38 USC and has two components, Aid & Attendance & Housebound benefits. With 60% of the seniors in the United States being veterans or spouses of veterans this pension can be a life line to allow aging with dignity and peace of mind while being able to afford the care they need.
2009 Maximum Monthly Benefit Amounts:

Aid and Attendance: Two Veterans/Spouses - $2,440; Married Veteran -$1,949; Single Veteran -$1,664; Surviving Spouse - $1,056.

Housebound Care: Two Veterans/Spouses - $2,582; Married Veteran -$1,510; Single Veteran -$1,204; Surviving Spouse - $808.