Did you know long-term care is not covered by most medical insurance?
While it’s great news that medical advances mean people are living longer, it does increase the chances of needing long-term care. This can be a costly service and is usually not covered by typical medical insurance.
What does long-term care insurance cover?
The potential expenses of long-term care are wide-ranging and long-lasting, covering nursing home bills, day care services, home modification, and assisted living facilities, among others. Long-term care insurance will pay out to cover these costs (and give you peace of mind before those costs arise). Usually, there’s a limit on the number of years during which the long-term care insurance policy pays out, or on the total amount that can be paid.
Payment schedules may vary from policy to policy.
Check the payment schedule carefully. Some policies will only pay up to a specific amount for each specific type of long-term care or associated cost. Others, usually described as “pooled benefits,” will pay out a total amount that you can split as required to cover your particular long-term care needs.
Important coverage details to consider.
You’ll also need to check details including whether the long-term care insurance policy is restricted to approved or specified long-term care facilities, and exactly what medical examinations and assessments are needed to trigger payouts. Remember that, as with medical insurance, pre-existing conditions–and the associated care costs–may not be covered for a set period after you take out the policy.
Does your policy allow for inflation?
Finally, check if and how your policy allows for inflation. It could be years before you need to take out the benefits, and the long-term care could last for many years after that. Coverage limits that seem adequate today may not be so when you come to need them.
Contact us to explore long-term care insurance coverage and if it may be a good fit for you and your family.
