|
Medicare Supplement Plans - Medigap & Part D |
|
Long Term Care
Long-term care is the care people need when they can’t perform the tasks of ordinary living independently. It isn’t a subject that most of us care to dwell on. However, the failure to discuss or plan for the high cost of long-term care is causing American families to be unprepared. The federal government has recognized these challenges and passed legislation standardizing long-term care insurance and offering tax-incentives on tax-qualified policies. Due to advances in our medical technology, our society has been blessed with an increasing average life span. Today, we are living almost twice as long as our ancestors did only 100 years ago. Unfortunately, along with this comes the drawback that the longer we live, the more likely we may need long-term care before we die. There are many reasons why people buy long-term care insurance. Do any of these apply to you?
Long-term care is the personal care and other related services provided on an extended basis to people who need help with activities of daily living or who need supervision due to a severe cognitive impairment. This type of care is considered skilled care, non-skilled care, or custodial care. It is NOT acute or rehabilitative care, which is known as skilled care. When you need long-term care you usually need help with your activities of daily living. These are items such as bathing, dressing, toileting, continence, eating, and transferring. Or, you may be able to do all of your activities of daily living but still need care and supervision due to a severe cognitive impairment (memory loss, dementia, etc.). You may be able to dress yourself, but you may not remember to take your medications. |
