Issue Brief – Employee Perspectives on Long-Term Care

Employee Benefit Research Institute’s Employee Long-Term Care (LTC) Survey, “Employee Perspectives on Long-Term Care”, examined employees’ awareness of, access to, and perspectives on LTC financing. The survey of 2,445 workers ages 20 through 74 uncovered emerging insights while reaffirming well-established LTC awareness and preparedness trends. A significant share of employees either said they expect to need long-term care or had caregiving experience, yet awareness, planning, and benefit take-up remained low. Many workers underestimated costs, were unsure how to access services, and mistakenly expected Medicare or Medicaid to cover future care. Employees’ perceptions of their LTC needs are strongly influenced by personal experience and socioeconomic status, highlighting an opportunity for employer-informed, public-private solutions paired with targeted education efforts.