Long Term Care Insurance 101

Long Term Care provides a variety of services to those unable to take care of themselves. Services can range from simple help with meal preparation, to assistance with dressing or bathing, to 24-hour monitored care.  Long Term Care is the extended personal care required when, because of chronic illness, injury, old age, or a cognitive impairment such as Alzheimer's, a person needs help with basic daily activities.  Many people think Long Term Care means "nursing home care," but it is much more than that.  Today, Long Term Care also includes home health care, adult day care, assisted living facility care, and more. Click here to view a video containing more detailed information. 

Long Term Care is not just for the elderly.  You may need Long Term Care at any age as a result of illness or injury.  In fact, 42% of people receiving Long Term Care services are under the age of 65.¹ Approximately 46 million Americans - or 22% of the population - are now providing unpaid care to an adult relative or friend.²  These caregivers often are call upon to provide significant levels of care but may have limited resources.  Click here for a video addressing the needs of caregivers and additional information about the National Family Caregivers Association, Kensington, MD, the nation's leading organization for all family caregivers.  Caregivers can visit their website www.thefamilycaregiver.org. 

The cost of obtaining Long Term Care services is very expensive.  A 2006 survey by CNA found that the weighted cost of a year of nursing home care in Minnesota is $57,000.  The website for the National Clearinghouse for Long Term Care information states "Even if you have a modest need for assistance at home with personal care, say a visit from a home health aide 3 times a week, based on 2008 average costs, you would have to pay about $18,000 a year for those services."  This website (www.longtermcare.gov) was developed by the US Department of Health and Human Services to provide information and resources to help you and your family plan for future Long Term Care needs.

Long Term Care Insurance  provides assistance for paying the high costs associated with Long Term Care.  Municipalities in Minnesota have the unique opportunity to offer The Municipal Pool Long Term Care Plan available exclusively through Ochs, Inc.  This plan, provided by CNA, provides a variety of plan options at affordable premiums and has been approved for the Minnesota Long Term Care Partnership Program.  To learn more, contact Ochs, Inc.