Ensuring financial sustainability in long-term care

Overview

Financial sustainability in long-term care (LTC) requires policies that ensure equitable access to needed services, balance revenues and expenditures over time as the demand increases, and consider the broader economy-wide impacts of LTC investments.

Countries with mature LTC systems project revenue targets or the global budgets necessary to provide needed services, and some develop special funds to meet local funding gaps.

Countries have broadened the revenue base for LTC by implementing intergenerational funding and diversifying revenue sources. Countries with LTC insurance programmes funded by payroll contributions focus on policies to strengthen the labour market.