Pensioners could have to pay out £150,000 on long-term care before the government will step in, according to the Labour party.
The Telegraph reports the sum is more than double the £72,000 cap ministers have promised to introduce to limit the cost of care in old age.
The report said in some parts of the country older people with assets of more than £23,000 would have to shell out as much as half a million pounds over ten years before the cap would apply.
This due to the fact that "hotel and accommodation" costs are do not count towards the cap. Cost of living expenses such as food and utility bills are also not covered by the cap.
The Telegraph said the figures, based on Freedom of Information requests, from the Labour Party had led to warnings that tens of thousands of pensioners will die before the government gives any financial help when it comes to long-term care.
Labour said the typical care home resident in England would be spending £610 a weeks on care but only £292 would count towards the cap limit. It said that person would end up spending £150,786 over almost five years before seeing their costs limited.
