Someone with a prolonged physical illness, a disability, or a cognitive impairment (such as Alzheimer's disease) often needs long-term care. Many different services help people with chronic conditions overcome limitations that keep them from being independent. Long-term care is different from traditional medical care. Long-term care helps one live as he or she is now; it may not help to improve or correct medical problems. Long-term care services may include help with activities of daily living, home health care, respite care, hospice care, adult day care, care in a nursing management services, which will evaluate your needs and coordinate and monitor the delivery of long-term care services.
Personal care, sometimes called custodial care, helps one with activities of daily living (ADLs). These activities include bathing, eating, dressing, toileting, continence, and transferring. Personal care is less involved than skilled care, and it may be given in many settings.
Long-term care insurance is one other way you may pay for long-term care. This type of policy will pay for some or all of your long-term care. It was introduced in the 1980's as nursing home insurance but has changed a lot and now covers much more than nursing home care. You should know that a federal law, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, or HIPAA, gives some federal income tax advantages to people who by certain long-term care policies. These policies are called Tax-Qualified Long-Term Care Contracts, or simply Qualified Contracts. *
There are many comparable long-term care products available and not all products are equal. Before you buy a long-term care policy be sure you have carefully considered what your needs are and what you want out of a long-term care insurance product. Then, make sure the policy you select will provide the benefits you need. Above all, make sure you work with a financial consultant and insurance company that you trust and that understands long-term care insurance.
It is very important to consider a company's financial strength ratings and rate increases history when selecting a carrier for a long-term care policy. A long-term care policy is a long-term investment and buyers should be confident that their carrier will be there in the future if they need them. We hope that you will never need long-term care, but if you do, please contact us to discuss plans and options that best suit your needs.
Women and Long-Term Care
Medicare and Medicare Supplement Insurance | 
