Long Term Care Insurance

Long-Term Care includes a wide range of medical and support services for people with a degenerative condition (say Parkinson's; or those that occur after a stroke), a prolonged illness (cancer) or a cognitive disorder (Alzheimer's).

If these make you think of conditions that affect older individuals, you are right. Most people need long-term care in their later years (typically their 80s).

But, younger people need long-term care as a result of accidents (falling off roofs and motorcycle accidents especially for men) or illnesses that tend to inflict younger people like Multiple Sclerosis.

Long-Term Care is not necessarily medical care but rather "custodial care." Custodial care involves providing individual assistance with activities of daily living or the supervision of someone who is cognitively impaired.

To better understand Long-Term Care, think of the activities that you performed when you woke up this morning. You probably stepped out of your bed … walked to the bathroom … used the toilet … took a shower … got dressed … ate breakfast.

When you are healthy it is easy to take for granted these Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). However, when you or a loved one is stricken with a degenerative condition such as a stroke or Alzheimer's, performing these ADLs becomes impossible without the assistance of another person. As we age, performing these simple functions becomes difficult; often impossible.

This type of care is what Long-Term Care means. It is the same type of care that a parent must provide for their new baby. This type of care is chronic (full-time) and thus becomes very expensive. Long-Term Care can be provided in many settings including nursing homes, your own home, assisted living facilities and adult day care.

New long-term care options include - Life coverage with built in long term care rider. By combining life insurance with long term care you have purchased protection for long term care needs and if you do not need long-term care you will receive the benefit of your payments back in the form of death benefit. Many of these Life/LTC policies also include a return of premium benefit.

For information on using long term care to protect your assets visit the Texas Long-Term Care partnership at https://www.ownyourfuturetexas.org/

Call Angela at 713-498-6800 for more information.