Long Term Care Insurance - How Do You Qualify?

You might be wondering how you can qualify forlast for as long as you need the insurance.
long-term care insurance. Perhaps all you've everWhat long term care insurance does is to cover the
heard about are some general information about howcost of assisted living costs, or costs associated with
this program is a must-have for any one approachingnursing homes, at-home care, hospice care, among
retirement, but that you've never come acrossothers. Physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational
specifics.therapy, and home health aides and visiting nurses
In real-life situations, you can begin to reap theare also covered.
benefits of long-term care if a doctor certifies thatThere are three levels of care in long-term care:
you are a so-called "chronically ill individual". To be- Skilled care or 24-hour care by nurses under the
certified as such requires the following:supervision of a doctor.
- You need to be supervised to protect yourself- Intermediate care or occasional nursing, therapy and
from threats to your safety and health because ofcare by medical personnel.
severe cognitive impairment or the loss of ability to- Custodial care assistance in daily living like dressing
process information.and eating.
- You are not able to perform two out of six ADLsBefore you can be paid your long-term care benefits,
or Activities of Daily Living, namely: transferring,there is a waiting period or elimination period which
continence, bathing, toileting, eating and dressing.varies depending on the insurance provider, although
The insurance company will begin to pay the benefitsa 90-day waiting period is commonplace. During the
when you are already certified. And it will continue towaiting period, the insured person pays for all the
pay your benefits for pre-set period of time - someexpenses associated with long-term care.
policies have a cap of five years, while others can