What does long-term care insurance cover?

Long-term care insurance is one other way you may pay for long-term care. 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 skilled nursing facility, or care in an assisted living facility.

Why should you consider buying long-term care insurance?

The need for long-term care may begin gradually as you find that you need more and more help with activities of daily living, such as bathing and dressing or independent activities of daily living such as household chores, meal preparation, or managing money. Or you may suddenly need long-term care after a major illness, such as a stroke or a heart attack. If you do need care, you may need a skilled nursing facility or home health care for only a short time. Or, you may need these services for many months, years or the rest of your life. People pay in a variety of ways. These include: using the resources of individuals and their families, long-term care insurance, and some assistance from Medicaid, for those who qualify. Medicare, Medicare supplemental insurance, and private health insurance usually will not pay for long-term care.