The elderly's private insurance coverage of nursing home care.

About 40 per cent of Medicare beneficiaries had private insurance coverage of skilled nursing facilities (SNF) in 1977. Data from the 1977 National Medical Care Expenditure Survey show that among such persons, about 85 per cent had full coverage of Medicare's Part A copayments for days 21-100 but only 15.7 per cent had maximum coverage of at least 365 days of care or a benefit of $100,000 or more. The most comprehensive benefits are found among persons with middle or high incomes; more generous first-dollar coverage is found in the North Central and South regions, and more generous maximums in the West.