Short-Term Care Insurance: An Alternative to the Long-Term Care Variety

cost of long term care from elder law attorney medicaid lawyer in jacksonville, floridaA little-known insurance option can be an answer for some people who might need care but are unable to buy long-term care insurance. Short-term care insurance provides coverage for nursing home or home care for one year or less.

As long-term care premiums rise, short-term care insurance is gaining in popularity. This type of insurance is generally cheaper than its long-term care counterpart because it covers less time. Purchasers can choose the length of coverage they want, up to one year. According to the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance a typical premium for a 65-year-old is $105 a month.

People who can’t qualify for long-term care insurance because of health reasons may be able to qualify for short-term care coverage. This kind of insurance doesn’t usually require a medical exam and sometimes only has a few medical questions on the application. Another benefit of short-term care insurance is that there usually is not a deductible. The policies begin paying immediately, without the waiting period usually found in long-term care policies.

Short-term care policies are not the answer for everyone. They may not cover all the levels of care that a long-term care policy would cover. As with any insurance product, buyers need to make sure that they understand what coverage they are purchasing.  And these policies are not regulated to the same extent that long-term care insurance policies are, so there are fewer consumer protections.

Short-term care policies may be beneficial for individuals who waited too long to purchase long-term care insurance (short-term care can typically be purchased up to age 89). They can also help fill gaps in Medicare coverage or cover the deductible period before long-term care insurance begins paying. The policies may also be appealing to single women because there is no price difference for women and men, as there is for long-term care insurance.

Finally, the short-term care policy may be part of the answer to the waiting period that impacts many Floridians seeking Medicaid coverage under one of the waiver programs.

For more information about these policies from Forbes, click here.

For more information about planning for long-term care and obtain eligibility for Medicaid benefits to pay for long-term care, give our office a call to schedule a consultation.  With nursing home costs exceeding $8,000 per month in most Florida locations, Medicaid may ultimately be the only possible way to provide for long term care.  We can help.