Coronavirus: Long Term Symptoms Equal Future Disability Expenses?

The long term symptoms related to COVID-19 have been well researched: ranging from brain fog to lung problems. Could we face a future where these long term symptoms result in much higher health expenses in the future?

Scientific American (July 6) addresses a concern that millions of Americans could face permanent disability:

In addition to the personal suffering, long-term disability comes with a staggering price tag—including increased health care costs; reduction or loss of employment; and economic strain on worker’s compensation and disability support programs. It’s been estimated that as much as 30 percent of the COVID health burden could arise from COVID-induced disability. As physician and University of Massachusetts medical professor Steven Martin recently told NPR, “If we end up with a million people with ongoing symptoms that are debilitating, that is a tremendous burden for each of these individuals, but also for our health care system and our society.”

The article states that we need to consider the following:

1. We must research disability due to long COVID.

2. We need clinics to deal with those suffering from long COVID.

3. We need to look into worker's compensation programs.

4. Federal disability programs.

In terms of worker's compensation, here in California we have SDI (State Disability Insurance). The 2021 SDI rate is 1.2% up to a wage of $128,298. Per Wikipedia, since 2002, the SDI rate has increased from 0.9% to 1.2% while eligible wages have increased from $46,327 to $128,298. As one can see, it just goes up and up and up -- both on a tax and income level. Both those numbers are likely to continue to increase if long COVID-19 becomes a serious problem for the state. (As a side note, I use 2002, because Wikipedia mentions that this is when the Paid Family Leave program was put in place to cover individuals who take time off work to care for seriously ill family members or to bond with a child. Considering how much both the tax rate and eligible wages have increased, it does make one think that there is some abuse going on here.)

Also, if the worst case scenario plays out, might an investor want to invest in retirement / nursing care REITS (I do own some investments -- to be transparent)?