Elder Law

One of the main ways that people have utilized in the past to address the cost of nursing home is through a long-term care insurance policy.  A long-term care insurance policy is designed to help pay for the costs of certain healthcare services, whether in the home or in a custodial setting.  The type of care contemplated for these policies are generally for services related to your “ADL’s” or acts of daily living.  These include assistance getting around, eating, drinking, dressing and bathing.  

Typically, these types of plans will pay a daily amount for care, up to the policy limit for a limited amount of time.  The benefits available vary depending on the company you choose, plan you select, and a variety of other factors including your health and age.  In some cases, you may not be able to obtain long-term care insurance due to medical issues or other factors.

The rising cost of long-term care insurance

One of the problems that has crept up in the past few years is the cost of these plans.  Overall, we have seen the premiums on these policies go up dramatically due, in part, to the rising costs of nursing home care.  For many clients, obtaining or keeping these policies has become cost prohibitive.  As such, other options may need to be explored to ensure that you and your loved ones will be able to obtain needed care without going broke.

If you are concerned about the costs of a nursing home or have questions about a long-term insurance policy let us know!  We will be glad to review your circumstances and advise you about the options available to you.