Long-Term Care

What Does Long-Term Care Mean?

Long-term care (LTC) refers to professional assistance with daily activities over an extended period, which can span months or years. This care may include help with essential tasks such as eating, bathing, and dressing.

Long-term care insurance is available on the insurance market for individuals who want coverage to help with the cost of receiving this type of care.

Insuranceopedia Explains Long-Term Care

The costs of long-term care can be very expensive, particularly since professional assistance may be needed for extended periods. Nursing homes are one of the more expensive settings for this type of care, and the statistics on nursing home residents give a sense of how many older adults eventually need this level of help.

Long-term care is generally not considered medical care but rather assistance with daily living activities. As a result, it is not typically covered by Medicare. Individuals with Medicare who wish to manage this risk must purchase their own long-term care insurance policies. Many people look at long-term care planning around the same time they shop for life insurance for seniors over 70, since both come into play later in life.