Long Term Care Insurance
What is “Long-Term Care” Insurance?
Long Term Care is something many of us will need at some point in our lives (see the below overview on what long term care services are). Costs associated with paying for long term care services can rapidly deplete savings/retirement funds. Long Term Care Insurance can help you deal with these expenses without sacrificing your retirement and quality of life.
Overview of Long Term Care Service
Because of old age, mental or physical illness, or injury, some people find themselves in need of help with eating, bathing, dressing, toileting or continence, and/or transferring (e.g., getting out of a chair or out of bed). These six actions are called Activities of Daily Living — sometimes referred to as ADLs. In general, if you can’t do two or more of these activities, or if you have a cognitive impairment, you are said to need “long-term care”.
Long-term care isn’t a very helpful name for this type of situation because, for one thing, it might not last for a long time. Some people who need ADL services might need them only for a few months or less. Many people think that long-term care is provided exclusively in a nursing home. It can be, but it can also be provided in an adult day care center, an assisted living facility, or at home. Assistance with ADLs, called “custodial care”, may be provided in the same place as (and therefore is sometimes confused with) “skilled care”. Skilled care means medical, nursing, or rehabilitative services, including help taking medicine, undergoing testing (e.g. blood pressure), or other similar services. This distinction is important because Medicare and most private health insurance pays only for skilled care–not custodial care.
Download the articles below to learn more about Long Term Care coverage.
Helpful PDFs, Download Now!
Will I Need Long-Term Care?Features of Long-Term CareHow Much Does it Cost?Investing vs Long-Term CareShould I Buy Long-Term Care?When to Buy Long-Term Care?
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