| Virginia Long-Term Care Insurance is a fairly recent | | | | example, The Virginia Long-Term Care (LTC) |
| phenomenon, due in part to the rapidly aging yet | | | | Partnership ( is designed to reward Virginians who |
| longer-living population, retirement planning of the | | | | plan ahead for future long-term care needs. With the |
| "baby boomers", and quickly escalating long-term | | | | Partnership's Dollar-For-Dollar Asset Protection, |
| health and medical costs that aren't typically covered | | | | Virginians can protect personal assets if there is a |
| by traditional health insurance or Medicare. This type | | | | need to apply for Medicaid. This innovative alliance |
| of insurance is especially helpful for those who | | | | between private insurance companies and the state |
| develop disabilities or chronic (long-lasting) illnesses | | | | government protects Virginians from depleting all of |
| later in life. Long-term care services range from | | | | their savings and assets to pay for long-term care, |
| home- and community-based services to services | | | | while still enabling qualification for Medicaid Coverage. |
| provided in an assisted living, retirement or nursing | | | | Medicaid usually only pays for long-term care only |
| facility. All services are typically designed and intended | | | | after existing savings or assets are exhausted. |
| to improve or maintain an individual's health in the | | | | Long-term care insurance policies have a benefit |
| least restrictive setting that ensures their physical and | | | | period or lifetime benefit maximum, which is the total |
| mental health, safety, and welfare. As well, services | | | | amount of time or total amount of dollars up to |
| facilitated by long-term care insurance providers | | | | which benefits will be paid. Common benefit periods |
| include help with daily living activities among the wide | | | | for long-term care policies are two to five years, and |
| variety of home, facility and community settings. | | | | lifetime or unlimited coverage. Other options between |
| Northern Virginia in particular is an area experiencing a | | | | five years and lifetime/unlimited coverage are also |
| very rapid growth in the need for this sort of | | | | available; most policies translate these time periods |
| insurance, especially in the fast-growing and | | | | into dollar amounts with particular limits, and do not |
| highly-transient Metropolitan Washington DC | | | | actually limit the number of days for which they will |
| populations in the counties of Arlington, Fairfax and | | | | pay for care. |
| Loudoun. Insurance for long-term care is one of the | | | | Long-term care insurance typically covers the cost of: |
| fastest-growing types of health-related coverage in | | | | - Assisted living services that are provided in a special |
| terms of policy-holders, due to the very high regional | | | | residential setting other than your own home. These |
| costs of living and medical care, the lack of | | | | services may include meals, health monitoring, and |
| reasonable public transportation options, and the large | | | | help with daily activities for both body and mental |
| numbers of Federal and Military retirees remaining | | | | health purposes. |
| after service in the area. | | | | - Certified, visiting nurses and home healthcare |
| Additionally, the rapid growth of planned | | | | professionals. |
| developments (such as the Dulles South communities | | | | - Help in your home with daily activities like bathing, |
| of South Riding or Brambleton, in Loudoun County) | | | | dressing, eating and cleaning. |
| and infill property over the past ten years, without | | | | - Community programs, such as adult day care and |
| consistent regional or community planning for | | | | associated transportation. |
| retirement facilities, is beginning to squeeze the | | | | - Care in a nursing home or other assisted living |
| capacity of existing facilities. Regional volunteer and | | | | facility. |
| community services are being leveraged at | | | | - Hospice and End-of-Life Services. |
| consistently high rates, such as the Northern Virginia | | | | - Private Duty Nursing |
| Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program in Fairfax, VA. | | | | - Respite Care |
| This program was established in 1985 to advocate | | | | Many people don't think about long-term care until |
| for persons receiving long-term care services to | | | | they get into their 70s and 80s, and/or when their |
| ensure the highest quality of life and care. It serves | | | | health begins to fail. At these ages, insurers are less |
| the city of Alexandria and the counties of Arlington, | | | | likely to provide coverage due to their risk profile |
| Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William through their Area | | | | calculations, or if one does actually qualify, the |
| Agencies on Aging. | | | | premiums can be extremely high. Many long-term |
| There is a great deal of choice and flexibility in | | | | care policies have restrictions on age and health |
| long-term care insurance policies. Most persons can | | | | status. |
| select a range of care options and benefits that allow | | | | The best time to buy long-term care insurance is |
| them to get the services they need in the most | | | | when you can afford it and before it's needed, |
| suitable settings. The cost of long-term care | | | | between 40 and 55 years of age, and generally at |
| insurance policies are based on the type and amount | | | | the time one has the highest likelihood of being |
| of services covered, the age when the policy is | | | | eligible for a policy with the most reasonable premium |
| purchased, and any optional benefits such as Inflation | | | | costs. Long-term care insurance can be very |
| Protection. Some applicants who may already be in | | | | expensive. An individual who's 65 years old and in |
| poor health or receiving long-term care services may | | | | good health can expect to pay at least between |
| not qualify for long-term care insurance. | | | | $2,000 and $3,000 a year for a policy that covers |
| In Virginia, there are several very unique and | | | | nursing home care and home care, with premiums |
| worthwhile supplemental programs to assist with | | | | adjusted for inflation. |
| Long-Term Care Insurance needs and situations. For | | | | |