Long Term Care
Long Term Care insurance provides coverage for the assistance required due to a disabling illness, injury or mental retardation. Care may be provided in a nursing home, assisted living facility, adult day-care facility or in the home. Services focus on support designed to minimize, rehabilitate or compensate for loss of function in the daily activities of living. This most includes health, social and personal care that may be required over a long period.
Medicare pays for all approved amounts of skilled nursing facility care subject to a copayment of $109.50 per day in 2004. Coverage is limited to the first 100 days of confinement and only after a hospital stay of at least 3 days. Medical plans limit coverage for skilled nursing facility charges in dollar amount or days.
- Over seven million people over age 65 will need long term care in 2004. That number is expected to increase to nine million in 2005. (National Center for Health Statistics, Health, United States, 1999)
- It costs nearly $1,000 per month to have an aide in the home just three times per week to assist with activities of daily living: bathing, dressing, etc. (National Center for Health Statistics, Health, United States, 1999)
- The average cost of a year's care in a nursing home in the United States is estimated to be $50,000. (Health Insurance Association of America, Guide to Long Term Care Insurance, 2002)
- It is estimated that nursing home care may reach as much as $190,000 a year by 2030. (Hospital Statistics 2001 Edition, Health Forum: American Hospital Association Company)
- At age 65 or older, the lifetime risk of entering a nursing home is at least 40%.
(U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
A Long Term Care Plan may provide assistance with the following:
- Nursing Home and Home Health Care
- Assisted Living Facility
- Bed Reservation
- Adult Day Care, Hospice and Respite Care
- Alternate Plan of Care
- Caregiver Training
- Home Modifications
- Ambulance Services
- Prescription Drugs
For a quotation or to apply for individual medical coverage, please visit the page "Contact Us".