Long term care is a variety of services that includes medical and non-medical care for people who have a chronic illness or disability. Long-term care helps meet health and personal care needs. Most long-term care is to assist people with support services such as activities of daily living like dressing, bathing, and using the bathroom. This care can be provided at four levels. They are:

• At home, (Least expensive and usually contained at $0 cost in your MAPD
  
  
• In the community, (Program of All inclusive care for the Elderly)
  
  
• In assisted living, (Retirement Homes) or,
  
  
• In nursing homes (The most expensive). 

It is important to remember that you may need long-term care at any age. Nursing Home care can exceed $500 per day! This year, about nine million men and women over the age of 65 will need long-term care. By 2020, 12 million older Americans will need long-term care. There are three ways to pay for long term care. They are:

• Medicaid – if your income and assets meet minimum guidelines,
  
  
• Personal Savings – this high cost would wife your retirement income, or,
  
  
• Long Term care insurance – a specific insurance contract which will pay your daily costs.

A study by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says that people who reach age 65 will likely have a 40 percent chance of entering a nursing home. About 10 percent of the people who enter a nursing home will stay there five years or more.

Special Note:  Some life insurance policies can provide Long Term Care provisions.  

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