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Most of us would agree that when we are healthy and independent it is almost impossible to imagine a time in our lives when our health status could change and we would require specialized and ongoing care from someone else. And even making it more difficult to imagine is the fact that we do not have to be elderly and in need for care in a nursing home, but our circumstances could change while we are still young requiring long-term care for many years to come. Remember – people of all ages can be affected by an unexpected debilitating illness or an accident that would result in the need for around-the-clock care!
It is not uncommon for Canadians to believe that full-time care in a long-term care facility will be paid for by their provincial health care programs – nothing could be further from the truth! Government plans could possibly pay for a very small portion of the costs of nursing homes or specialized care facilities, but most often the majority of costs for long-term care will be paid personally or by family.
According to the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association (CLHIA), depending on your province of residence:
Long-Term Care Insurance protects you with a “financial security blanket” by providing you with the necessary funding should you become unable to care for yourself and become dependent on another person for constant care because of a:
Long-Term Care Insurance generally covers home care, assisted living, adult daycare, respite care, hospice care, nursing home and Alzheimer facilities. If home care is purchased, Long-Term Care Insurance can pay for home care often from the first day it is needed. It will pay for a visiting or live-in-care giver, companion, housekeeper, therapist or private nurse up to 7 days a week, 24 hours a day depending on the policy benefit maximum.
There are two types of Long-Term Care Insurance plans:
It is important to note that terms for approval of benefits can vary from policy to policy. Typically, and based on the contract that you purchase, benefits are payable when you can no longer perform a number of essential activities of daily living without substantial assistance. Most plans usually stipulate that at least two or more of the following conditions cannot be performed: bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, continence, eating and walking.
A representative from the Insurance Company would assess your ability perform these activities to determine your eligibility for benefits. It may be that experts such as occupational Therapists or Nurses may visit you at home or call you to ask questions to evaluate your eligibility.
You may also qualify for benefits if it has been determined that you require substantial supervision due to a cognitive impairment due to conditions that cause dementia such as Alzheimer’s.
Once you have considered your Long-Term Care Insurance options and are ready to purchase your very valuable protection, the Insurance Company that you have selected to provide your policy will take into account a number of factors on which the premium amount you pay will be based. These factors will include:
At Health Risk we believe that Long-Term Care Insurance could be one of the most valuable insurance policies you will ever own as it is built to protect YOU when you need it – a Living Benefit! These plans are not designed to replace your Life Insurance, Disability Insurance, or Critical Illness Insurance, but rather, are designed to complement and enhance your current insurance portfolio. Long-Term Care Insurance benefits can give you the flexibility and control of your finances to avoid financial devastation.
Many Canadian Insurers provide Long-Term Care Insurance but each insurer develops their own type of contractual provisions and options. Because there are so many choices it can be a long and difficult challenge to sort thru the various plans and their options in order to determine what plan suits you! At Health Risk, we have many years of experience in working with Long-Term Care Insurance and assisting our clients to choose the programs that they desire. We would be very happy to provide you with more information to help you decide whether Long-Term Care Insurance is right for you!
We respectfully acknowledge that we are located on the traditional territories of many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples who have cared for this land for generations. We honour their histories, languages, cultures, and ongoing contributions to our shared communities.