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It doesn’t pay to get old — nursing home costs are through the roof

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The sick cost of falling ill

“A nursing home or assisted living without personal resources is a challenge,” says doctor and administrator for 17 years at NY metropolitan area hospitals Robert G. Lahita, MD, PhD, FACP, MACR, FRCP, director of St. Joseph’s Institute for Autoimmune and Rheumatic Diseases, professor of medicine, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine.

“Acute care beds can cost $600 or more daily. A hospital stay can rack up a seven-figure bill. You, the taxpayer, are responsible for that tab — now more difficult with federal cutbacks that hospitals depend on.”

Elderly people who need to move from a hospital to a nursing home get stuck.

“People with no assets depend on the state and city,” Lahita says. “Federal backstop Medicaid covers long-term nursing, if you meet the medical need and financial eligibility requirements.

“New Jersey nursing homes charge $10,000 to $18,000 per month, depending on private or semi-private room and the level of care required. NYC is roughly........

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