Women Face Greater Long-Term Care Burden in Retirement

CNBC reported Sunday that women not only live longer than men on average but also carry a disproportionately heavy long-term care burden in retirement — one that can leave them financially exposed at the most vulnerable stage of their lives.

The Women Long-Term Care Gap Is Wider Than Most Realize

Federal data from the Department of Health and Human Services shows roughly 26% of women will need long-term care for more than five years. That compares with about 17.5% of men. The average care duration for women runs to 3.6 years, a full year longer than the male average of 2.5 years.

Certified financial planner Laura Mattia told CNBC the sequencing makes the risk especially acute. In many couples, joint savings absorb the husband’s care costs first. By the time a widow enters her own highest-risk period, she often has fewer assets and no partner to share responsibilities.

What Long-Term Care Actually Costs

The price of care can vary enormously by setting. Non-medical in-home help ran a national median of $35 an hour in 2025, according to data from insurer Genworth Financial. A private-duty nurse cost $90 an hour. A semi-private nursing home room averaged roughly $315 a day — more than $114,000 annually. A private room pushed that figure to $355 a day, or around $129,575 per year.

Medicare generally does not cover long-term care. That leaves retirees relying on a mix of unpaid family caregiving, Medicaid for those with limited assets, personal savings, or long-term care insurance.

A Brief History of the Coverage Problem

Long-term care has sat in a policy blind spot for decades. Medicare was designed to cover acute medical treatment, not sustained personal assistance. Medicaid fills some gaps but requires individuals to deplete most assets first. Private long-term care insurance markets have also contracted sharply since the 2000s as insurers underestimated longevity and claims.

Planning Options Experts Recommend

Advisors stress that no single solution fits every situation. CFP Patti Black told CNBC the right approach depends on available income, total assets, and individual risk tolerance. One framing that resonated with financial planner Jeff Judge: long-term care insurance does not need to cover everything. It needs to bridge the gap between guaranteed retirement income and total projected care costs.

Women who delay this planning, advisors warn, risk facing premium increases or coverage denials if health deteriorates before a policy is secured.

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