Some people mistakenly assume that most people receive long-term care services in nursing homes. In actuality, a number of people in need of long-term care services receive them at an assisted living facility or in one’s own home.The risk that needs mentioning, of course, is that your need may arise before you’ve saved enough, or that you'll have to tap into your savings for another purpose beforehand.

Considering potential costs now may also help to ensure that you have options available later. For example, would you want to receive care at home, if the need arose? Purchasing a policy with Home Care coverage can help make that choice possible.

Who Pays for Long-Term Care Services?

You're NOT going to like the answer to this one.  YOU.  Presently, Long-term care insurance is the only insurance designed to help cover the costs of long-term care services.  Without it, chances are very good that YOU will be responsible for paying most, if not all, of the costs out of your own pocket.

Long-term care services simply aren’t fully covered by any other type of insurance.

• Even the best medical, HMO or PPO plan won’t adequately cover it because their focus is "acute" health care.

• Disability income insurance is generally about replacing lost income and provides no long-term care insurance benefits.

• Although Medicare covers some care in nursing homes (up to 100 days) and even at home (rarely), it does so only for a limited time...and as you can imagine... subject to restrictions.

• This isn't pleasant news either.  What Medicare doesn’t pay, your Medicare Supplement won’t pay either. Where Can I Receive Care? Long-Term Care Insurance from AARP, MetLife, GE, or Genworth Financial can help you preserve the savings and assets you’ve worked a lifetime to build.  AFLAC and PrudentialWith a wide range of benefits, you can help ensure that you will be able to get the type of care you need, where you want it.

Depending on the coverage chosen, including services you require and other considerations, your options may include:

• Home Care – for most people, the option to receive care in the comfort of their home is the choice they prefer most. Long-Term Care Insurance from MetLife offers coverage for care generally provided by a licensed nurse, or a licensed physical, occupational, speech or respiratory therapist. You can also receive care or services from a certified private aide, home health aide, homemaker, or from a care advisor from a care management organization.

• Adult Day Care Center – offers care, health support and rehabilitative services for adults during the day.  There ARE some, but our disabled and elderly need many, many more.

• Assisted Living Facility – for many, these licensed (where required) facilities, provide a great way to receive skilled nursing or custodial care in an environment that helps maintains independence and an active lifestyle.

• Nursing Home – your Long-Term Care Insurance policy from MetLife will provide coverage for all levels of care, from skilled to custodial, in a Nursing Home.

• Informal Care - Many people would prefer to have a friend or loved one provide the care they need at their home. Care you receive at home from friends, neighbors, or relatives who are not health-care professionals. Some programs allow a benefit that provides some compensation to cover this care.
• Why it Pays to Apply Now?
  It's usually less expensive if you buy long-term care insurance when you’re younger. In fact, with most plans, the longer you wait the more it will cost you for the exact same coverage.

When you purchase coverage at your current age:

• You’ll pay a lower premium.
• You’ll avoid the risk that you won’t qualify later for health reasons.
  

It’s wise to apply when you’re younger and in better health.