Long Term Care plan was developed specifically to cover the cost of long term care services. These services are provided in the form of home health care as well as care in variety of facilities and community settings.
When time comes that a person lost the capacity to take care of himself for a long period of time due to chronic illness or suffering from disability; long term care plan is needed. This offers a variety of services both medical and non-medical needs which will help those disabled people to cope financially over a period of time.
There are lot of options available that allow you choose the services and benefits that you need in the setting that suits you best. And with all the options available in the market, selecting a particular Long Term Care insurance plan service can be overwhelming.
In planning, set aside time to think and try to consider the following:
• Budget. This is very important. Know the details of prices, services and fees. Understand what care you need and how to get it. By knowing these, you will have an idea on how much you need and compare it with how much you can afford so to avoid financial risk.
• Level of service that you need. Determine the specific care needed so you can decide on what kind of facilities to consider.
• Personal Preferences. These are the things and/or services that you prefer to have when time comes that you will take advantage of the care plan. This may include location, arrangement, amenities that you need and others.
• Types of Care needed. There are several types of Long Term Care insurance plan. Commonly known types are skilled nursing care, intermediate nursing care and custodial nursing care. Skilled nursing care is being ordered by a physician and a patient should recover from disabilities or injuries. This plan is provided in a daily basis. Another one is called intermediate nursing care which is also ordered by a physician but compared to the skilled nursing care; this is not required or provided every day. And the last one is the custodial nursing care plan, which is the full coverage plan of LTC insurance. This plan requires daily nursing care and assistance that can range from a few hours per week to even 24 hours daily. Custodial care can either be an in home care plan, assisted living facilities care plan or a nursing home plan.
• Age is not a determining factor in needing of long term care. Long Term Care plan is not limited only for senior citizens; people of any ages may be in need of this as well. Individuals who require long term care are generally not sick in the usual sense, but are those who don't have the capacity to perform the basic activities of daily living such as walking, eating, bathing, dressing, transferring and using the bathroom.
