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