Long-Term Care Insurance
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 generally Medicare and most private health insurance pays only for skilled care–not custodial care.
Equipping you with the facts you need about Long-Term Care and Long-Term Care Insurance.
Please take a moment to look at our LTCi Shoppers Guide brochure. In the table of contents you will see the questions this Guide answers. In the booklet “Terms” in bold are defined starting on pg. 31 of the glossary.
The choice to buy long-term care insurance is an important financial decision. Take your time and please contact Theresa, our licensed LTCi Specialist to discuss your options in more detail. Theresa_klewsaat@ajg.com D: 719-219-2644