One in four Americans over the age of 65 receives long-term care each year, according to federal data. You could need care too, so it pays to prepare your finances and understand the options now.
Plan for long-term care
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Know your options.
Long-term care generally means help with daily living activities for longer than 90 days. These activities range from household tasks and paying bills to eating, dressing, and bathing.
Care can be provided at home by an in-home aide, in an assisted living community, in a nursing home, or through hospice. Level of care varies from a few hours a day to around-the-clock assistance.
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Calculate the cost.
Long-term care can be expensive and represents a meaningful share of U.S. health expenditures. For example, a private nursing room can cost several thousand dollars per month and assisted living apartments often cost in the low thousands monthly.
You usually can’t prepay a facility, but you can estimate how much you’ll need to save and plan to accumulate resources to cover future care.
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Create a financial plan.
Payment options include private long-term care insurance, public programs, using retirement accounts or life insurance proceeds, and relying on personal savings.
Medicare may cover short-term skilled care related to medical treatment, while Medicaid can cover long-term services for low-income people subject to state rules and eligibility.
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Start planning now.
It’s wise to begin planning in your late 40s or early 50s when you’re more likely to qualify for long-term care insurance and can incorporate it into retirement savings.
To compare policy options and understand alternatives, see Guaranteed-Issue and Long-Term Care.
For information focused on receiving care at home, see Long-Term Home Care Coverage.
If you are an insurance professional or want agent-specific resources, review Long Term Care Insurance for P&C Agents.
If you want personalized help comparing options, talk to an agent who can review your situation and next steps.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as long-term care?
Long-term care is help with daily living activities—such as bathing, dressing, eating, and managing medications—when those needs last beyond a short recovery period.
Does Medicare pay for long-term care?
Medicare generally covers short-term skilled care related to medical treatment but does not cover most long-term custodial care in the home or assisted living facilities.
When should I buy long-term care insurance?
Many advisors suggest considering policies in your late 40s to early 50s when you are more likely to qualify for coverage and premiums are typically lower than later in life.
What are common ways to pay for long-term care?
Common sources include private long-term care insurance, Medicaid for eligible low-income individuals, personal savings, retirement accounts, and sometimes life insurance conversions.