Long-term care insurance is a type of insurance developed specifically to cover the costs of nursing homes, assisted living, home health care and other long-term care services. These services are usually not covered by traditional health insurance or Medicare.

The majority of policies sold today are comprehensive policies. They typically cover care and services in a variety of long-term care settings:

What Isn't Covered by Long-Term Care Insurance

Like all insurance, long-term care policies have exclusions. These exclusions often follow state regulations on what exclusions are allowed. Long-term care policies typically exclude:

  • Care provided by a family member
  • Care provided outside the United States of America. However, a growing number of policies have an international care benefit.
  • Care that results from war or act of war
  • Care that results from an attempt at suicide or an intentionally self-inflicted injury
  • Treatment for alcoholism or drug addiction
  • Treatment provided in a government facility
  • Services that are covered by Medicare or other government program (except Medicaid), or workers' compensation

To learn what exclusions apply to a policy that you are considering, check the Outline of Coverage you receive before you apply. If you already have a policy, you will still have an Outline of Coverage that lists any exclusions.

At what age should you buy long-term care insurance?


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