Don’t depend on Dilnot

Andrew Dilnot, the author of recent proposals to reform the long-term care sector, has warned that his ideas may not be implemented until the next government.

Whilst he remains confident that the government will eventually implement his proposals, the timing of this implementation now looks likely to be delayed.

In order to put the Dilnot proposals in place, the government will need to secure the support of insurers. This will enable a pre-funded long term care market to develop, as one does not currently exist due to the risks associated with increased life expectancy.

If and when the Dilnot proposals are fully implemented, care fees will remain an expensive item of expenditure in later life.

Recent comments from Partnership, a provider of care fees products, warned that people are underestimating the cost of long-term care which is outside of the proposed £35,000 cap on fees proposed by Dilnot.

Based on the Dilnot model, a self-funded care home resident would still pay 90% of care costs, according to Partnership.

Another care provider, Bupa, has previously said that only 10% of care home residents would benefit financially from the Dilnot proposals.

The next step in this long and drawn out political programme of long-term care reform is a White Paper from the coalition government. This is expected to be published in the first half of next year.

When it comes to long-term care, the political agenda always seems to move very slowly.

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