A Long-Term Care Plan That Offers More Than Just Hope

January 31, 2022

Many families do not plan for long-term care until a family member need it right away. While emergency long-term care planning is feasible, the optimum time to consider long-term care is before you (or a loved one) require it. When you plan ahead for a prospective need, you’ll have more time to learn about the many services available and their prices. It also gives you the power to make major health-care decisions while you’re still alive, rather than having someone else make those decisions for you.

What Is Long-Term Care and How Does It Work?

Long-term care refers to a wide range of services and supports that are required to meet an individual’s personal care needs. The care entails the day-to-day assistance that persons with long-term diseases require. Chronic diseases, physical infirmities, and cognitive disabilities all reduce an individual’s ability to care for oneself.

Long-Term Insurance Expenses Funding

Medicare

Long-term care is often misunderstood as something that Medicare will eventually cover. Some individuals believe that Medicare will cover the costs of long-term care for Medicare enrollees. While Medicare may pay for certain short-term care expenditures, it does not cover non-skilled nursing home care. This implies that non-skilled assistance with ADLs, which account for the vast majority of long-term care services, is not covered by Medicare.

Medicaid

Long-term care services may be covered by Medicaid (TennCare in Tennessee), although eligibility is determined by the individual’s financial and medical circumstances. The applicant’s capacity to execute ADLs determines his or her medical eligibility. Each state has its own scoring system. TennCare may be able to fund nursing care services for qualifying applicants in Tennessee. TennCare may also cover home and community-based services for persons who would otherwise have to go to a nursing facility if they didn’t get home care. Finally, if eligibility is established, TennCare may fund services that may assist the applicant in remaining in his or her home.

Assistance from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

Similarly, for some veterans or surviving spouses who are currently receiving a pension, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) may give aid with long-term care expenditures. Housebound benefits and help and attendance are the two forms of “special monthly pensions.” When the VA judges that a claimant who has already been diagnosed with a disability is now permanently housebound, they are given housebound payments. A claimant receiving a pension may be eligible for help and attendance if the VA deems that the claimant need the assistance of another person.

Insurance for Long-Term Care

Long-term care insurance is a type of insurance that pays for long-term care costs. For a set period of time, the policyholder may be required to pay for long-term care services out of pocket. Long-term care insurance can be obtained via your employment or as a standalone policy. The majority of individuals can get this insurance, however persons with specific health issues may not be able to get it. A individual with persistent neurological issues, for example, may not be eligible.

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