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What is Long Term Care?

Long term care may include necessary services on a continuous basis to help a person maintain his or her level of functioning following an illness or injury. Some of these necessary services may include:

– Assistance with Daily Living Activities

– Home Health Care

– Adult Day Care

– Respite Care

– Nursing Home Care

Will Medicare, an HMO or a Medicare Supplement Pay for Long Term Care Expenses?

Long term care expenses are generally not paid for by Medicare, a supplement or HMOs. Medicare is a health insurance program run by the federal government to pay for hospital or other medical services (physician visits, hospice, etc.) for aged and disabled persons. Medicare will cover some of the cost of skilled care in approved nursing homes or, home health care for a brief period after an acute care stay in a hospital. A Medicare supplement generally pays co-payments, deductibles, and services partially covered by Medicare.

Medicaid will pay for most long term care costs.

Should I Consider Buying Long Term Care Insurance?

Yes. If you are medically approved and can afford a long term care policy it can:

– Provide more choices in how and where you will be cared for.

– Preserve assets for a spouse or child’s inheritance.

– Empower you to maintain your dignity and independence.

– Shift the risk of payment from you to the insurance company.

Please be sure to carefully research your options. You can do this by contacting the National Association of Insurance Commissioners at 816-842-3600 or go to www.naic.org for a copy of the publication “A Shopper’s Guide to Long Term Care Insurance.” (http://www.naic.org/documents/prod_serv_consumer_ltc_lp.pdf )

Do I Have To Become Impoverished To Be Eligible For Medicaid or SSI?

Without planning, it may be necessary to spend down your or your spouses resources to the maximum level allowed by law in order to qualify for certain benefits. We counsel clients on how to legally preserve the maximum amount of all assets and qualify for government benefits when private health insurance, Medicare/HMOs or long term care insurance no longer provide coverage.

How Do I Find An Appropriate Facility For My Loved One?

The Agency for Health Care Administration publishes health care data and statistics to assist consumers in evaluating the quality of nursing home care in Florida. You can contact them at 1-888-419-3456 or www.floridahealthfinder.gov

Katina Pantazis is an accredited attorney for the preparation, presentation,
and prosecution of claims for Veteran’s benefits before
the Department of Veteran Affairs.

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Katina Pantazis, P.A.
13710 N US HWY 441 – Suite 500
The Villages, FL 32159
Phone: 352-600-2987 or 352-750-9566