LTC refers to a range of personal, custodial, and social services provided to people who are unable to care for themselves. LTC is provided for chronic conditions and differs in several ways from acute care. The distinction is important because it determines how care is paid for and where it is available. Acute care requires the services of a physician, nurse, or other skilled medical personnel, often in a hospital. Its goal is recovery.
Acute care is covered by health insurance plans.
The goal of custodial or maintenance care, on the other hand, is to help physically or cognitively impaired people do everyday things, prevent injury to themselves and others, and sustain them over relatively long periods of time. Such care is not covered under health plans or by disability plans. But the program is meant for those who have little or no assets, and it requires people to deplete most of their assets before it pays their LTC bills. Most costs for LTC are paid by individuals who need LTC or by their families. Not everyone will require LTC or be faced with the expenses associated with it.