Rural Dispatch: November 2023

A Guide to Long-Term Care Insurance
By Jordan Rau Deciding when, or whether, to buy long-term care insurance can be complex. Here’s what to know.

Why Long-Term Care Insurance Falls Short for So Many 
By Jordan Rau and JoNel Aleccia The private insurance market has proved wildly inadequate in providing financial security for millions of older Americans, in part by underestimating how many policyholders would use their coverage.

What Long-Term Care Looks Like Around the World
By Jordan Rau Most countries spend more than the United States on care, but middle-class and affluent people still bear a substantial portion of the costs.

Adult Children Discuss the Trials of Caring for Their Aging Parents
By Reed Abelson, The New York Times and Jordan Rau The financial and emotional toll of providing and paying for long-term care is wreaking havoc on the lives of millions of Americans. Read about how a few families are navigating the challenges, in their own words.

Facing Financial Ruin as Costs Soar for Elder Care
By Reed Abelson, The New York Times and Jordan Rau The United States has no coherent system of long-term care, leading many to struggle to stay independent or rely on a patchwork of solutions.

Evolving Overdose Crisis Shakes Previously Effective Treatments
By Taylor Sisk The prevalence of synthetic drugs is undercutting a previously effective and widely embraced opioid use disorder treatment tactic. Now, the model pioneered in Vermont a decade ago and adopted at sites nationwide, especially in hard-to-reach rural areas, is being forced to evolve.

Extra Fees Drive Assisted Living Profits
By Jordan Rau The add-ons pile up: $93 for medications, $50 for cable TV. Prices soar as the industry leaves no service unbilled, out of reach for many families.

Most States Ban Shackling Pregnant Women in Custody, Yet Many Report Being Restrained
By Renuka Rayasam Illustration by Oona Zenda Advocates for pregnant people in police custody say repeated incidents show prohibitions on handcuffs and other restraints are little more than lip service.

As Transgender ‘Refugees’ Flock to New Mexico, Waitlists Grow
By Cecilia Nowell As many states have moved to restrict or ban gender-affirming care for trans people, a few states, including New Mexico, have codified protections. But those laws don’t always mean accessing care is simple or quick, as a surge in new patients in the state collides with limited doctors and clinics.

Medical School on Cherokee Reservation Will Soon Send Doctors to Tribal, Rural Areas
By Arielle Zionts Native Americans and rural residents are underrepresented in medical schools. But in this new program, 25% of students are Indigenous and half are from rural areas.