| As people begin to live longer, long-term care | | | | important to remember that in the United States, |
| insurance becomes more important. Care | | | | Medicaid generally does not cover care provided in |
| insurance helps provide for the cost of long-term | | | | a home setting, and, in most cases, Medicaid will |
| care which can be incredibly expensive. It is used | | | | not cover or pay for assisted living. Because |
| to cover those issues that are generally not | | | | there is this void in coverage, having long care |
| covered by health insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid. | | | | insurance can play a huge part in what the |
| There is often some confusion about what this | | | | individual can have in terms of care related |
| type of insurance is used for and the people who | | | | services. |
| use it. Consumers should understand that | | | | With this protection, care insurance can pay for |
| individuals who require long care are generally not | | | | home care, often from the first day it is needed. |
| sick in the way we usually think of that word. | | | | It can help pay for a live-in caregiver, companion, |
| Many of these individuals are healthy but they | | | | housekeeper, therapist or private duty nurse up |
| cannot perform the basic activities of daily living | | | | to 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Assisted living |
| such as preparing food, eating, dressing | | | | is paid for by long care insurance. The same is |
| themselves, bathing, and the like. They may need | | | | true for adult daycare, respite care, hospice care, |
| assistance with their medications, as some will | | | | and more. |
| often forget to take them. | | | | Very important to some consumers is that this |
| Another issue that may confuse some people is | | | | type of care insurance can also assist with the |
| that this type of care does not have to be long | | | | payments for caring for a person with Alzheimer's |
| term. An individual may need care for only a few | | | | disease or other forms of dementia. |
| months to recover from surgery or illness, or | | | | One of the very best reasons for purchasing care |
| they may need care for years. | | | | insurance is that it helps to protect the savings of |
| It is generally assumed that as a person becomes | | | | the person or persons who will be responsible for |
| older there will be some need for care. In | | | | paying the bills. Long-term care without insurance |
| America, Medicare will not cover the expenses of | | | | can wipe out a lifetime of savings in no time at all. |
| long-term care, but Medicaid will for those who | | | | It can also force individuals to liquidate many, if |
| can not afford to pay. | | | | not all, of their assets including homes. |
| Another issue that is confusing is that long-term | | | | Modern technology is allowing us to live longer but |
| care is not restricted to the elderly. Age is not | | | | we all need to be prepared for the days when |
| always a factor with long-term care. Younger | | | | we can no longer make it through the day |
| people who are not able to care for themselves | | | | without some help. Care insurance can be a very |
| have these needs as well. | | | | useful and effective way to solve that problem. |
| When thinking of buying this type of insurance it is | | | | |