Long Term Care (LTC)

>  Sometimes you'll find Long Term Care (LTC) questions on the life test.  So yes, there's sometimes health questions on the life test.  Here's some basic ideas in case you get a few.

So why is it on the life test?  Among the many ways to buy LTC, it can be bought as a rider on a life insurance policy.

1.  How can Long Term Care be purchased?
a.  As an individual policy
b.  As a group plan
c.  As a life insurance policy rider
d.  All of the above



>  Like auto insurance, you have a few choices to make when you buy it, and those choices determine how much coverage you get and what it costs.

2.  What do you call the period of time that begins with the commencement of nursing home care, and ends when the insurer begins paying benefits?
a.  The grace period
b.  The accumulation period
c.  The elimination period
d.  The eligibility period

Those number of days must be eliminated before the insurance company begins paying benefits.  They pay for longer stays, not short visits.  Insurance is for the big stuff.


>  LTC provides a variety of "services",  not just the traditional nursing home.  Here are some potential services, and one "never".

Yes:
Custodial care
Hospice care (terminal)
Adult day care
Respite care (temp relief to the family caregiver taking care
         of the patient "in-home")

Never:
Hospital acute care (medical care)

3.  What level of care is not provided by a long term care policy?
a.  Hospice care
b.  Hospital acute care
c.  Respite care
d.  Adult day care


>  "Mom Helps Dad Try to Eat"

Death is easy to determine for life insurance, but how sick or elderly is enough to qualify for LTC benefits?

One qualifies for payment by "triggering" of their ADL's.  Often impairment in 2 of the 5 is enough.

They might use other phrases, but here are the "Activities of Daily Living" I teach in class.

Mobility  (walking, ambulating)
Hygiene  (bathing, toileting, continence)
Dressing 
Transferring  (getting in and out of bed)
Eating  (includes food preparation)

Things like hearing, seeing, speaking, and sleeping are more senses than ADL's.

4.  Which of the following pairs are ADL's?
a.  Dressing and seeing
b.  Sleeping and eating
c.  Bathing and dressing
d.  Walking and hearing

Three of the answers included one good examples, but only one had 2 good answers so it's better.  You always answer the best answer if you can argue more than one answer.  No question's perfect.