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A - Z Browse

- Basic Needs   - Understanding Long-Term Care
  - What is Long-Term Care?
  - Long-Term Care Pathfinder
  - Who Needs Care?
  - How Much Care Will You Need?
  - Who Will Provide Your Care?
  - Where Can You Receive Care?
  - Finding Local Services
  - Who is in Charge? Radio PSAs
- Costs & Who Pays   - Overview
  - Who Pays for Long-Term Care?
  - Costs of Care
  - What is Covered by Health & Disability Insurance?
  - What is Long-Term Care Insurance?
  - Paying Privately
- Medicare, Medicaid & More   - Overview
  - Medicare
  - Medicaid
  - Veterans Affairs Benefits
  - Other State Programs
- Housing   - Where You Live Matters
  - Staying in Your Home
  - Living in a Facility
- Legal Steps   - How to Decide
  - Advance Care Plan Considerations
  - Will I Need a Lawyer?
  - Legal Steps for Medical Well-being
  - Legal Steps for Financial Well-being

Welcome to

LongTermCare.gov

            -  Home 
            -  LTC Home 
            -  Costs & Who Pays 
            -                   Who Pays for Long-Term Care?              

# Who Pays for Long-Term Care?

## Costs & Who Pays

                    -  Overview 
                    -  Who Pays for Long-Term Care?                        -   Using Life Insurance to Pay for Long-Term Care 
                      -  Buying Long-Term Care Insurance 
                    -  Costs of Care 
                    -  What is Covered by Health & Disability Insurance?                        -  Coverage Limits Chart 
                    -  What is Long-Term Care Insurance?                        -  What Long-term Care Insurance Covers 
                      -  Receiving Long-Term Care Insurance Benefits 
                      -  Where to Look for Long-term Care Insurance 
                      -  Long-term Care Insurance Costs 
                    -  Paying Privately                        -  Reverse Mortgages 
                      -  Annuities 
                      -  Trusts 

## The facts may surprise you.

Consumer surveys reveal common misunderstandings about which public programs pay for long-term care services. It is important to clearly understand what is and isn't covered.

## Medicare:

                  - Only pays for long-term care if you require skilled services or rehabilitative care:                      - In a nursing home for a maximum of 100 days, however, the average Medicare covered stay is much shorter (22 days).
                    - At home if you are also receiving skilled home health or other skilled in-home services. Generally, long-term care services are provided only for a short period of time. 
                  - Does not pay for non-skilled assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADL), which make up the majority of long-term care services
                  - You will have to pay for long-term care services that are not covered by a public or private insurance program

## Medicaid:

                  - Does pay for the largest share of long-term care services, but to qualify, your income must be below a certain level and you must meet minimum state eligibility requirements
                  - Such requirements are based on the amount of assistance you need with ADL
                  - Learn more about Medicaid coverage for long-term care
                  - Other federal programs such as the  Older Americans Act  and the  Department of Veterans Affairs  pay for long-term care services, but only for specific populations and in certain circumstances

## Good To Know

Like public programs, **private sources of payment have their own rules**, eligibility requirements, copayments, and premiums for the services they cover.

## Health Insurance:

                  - Most employer-sponsored or  private health insurance , including health insurance plans,  cover only the same kinds of limited services as Medicare
                  - If they do cover long-term care, it is typically only for skilled, short-term, medically necessary care

There are an increasing number of **private payment options** including:
                  - Long-term care insurance
                  - Reverse mortgages
                  - Life insurance options
                  - Annuities

*Last modified on 05/10/2022*

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