Overview of Long-Term Care Insurance

Long-term care insurance helps with covering expenses related to nursing home care, home care, respite care, hospice care or adult day care. This type of care can be provided in your own home, assisted living facility, nursing home, or in a hospice facility.

These policies usually pay a fixed amount per day or per visit to facilities or to caregivers that are licensed by the state and/or participate in Medicaid and Medicare.

What is Long-Term Care?

Long-term care is a general term that includes a wide range of services that address the health, medical, personal care, and social needs of people with chronic or prolonged illnesses, disabilities, and cognitive disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease. These services are typically required by the elderly, but may also be used by disabled people of any age. Types of long-term care include:

• Personal care or custodial care for people who only need help with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as eating, bathing, dressing or taking medication.
• Skilled care that is generally provided in a nursing home by licensed medical personnel under physician’s orders, but may also be provided at home with help from visiting nurses or therapists.

To Learn More:

• 10 Things You Should Know About Long-Term Care Insurance
• Questions about Premium Increases and Reduced Benefit Options or “RBOs”
• List of Long-Term Care Insurance Companies

Additional Links:

A Shopper’s Guide to Long-Term Care Insurance from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

Contact Info:

Phone: (302) 674-7300
Email: consumer@delaware.gov