What is the benefit amount and time period of coverage?
What is the maximum daily dollar amount the policy will pay? For how long a period of time? Some policies offer lifetime coverage; others are for a limited period of years. • What is the elimination period? The deductible in long-term care is measured by days, not dollars, and is called the elimination period. This means the number of days you must pay for your own long-term care during a particular illness before your insurance will pay—normally between 20 and 100 days. In general, the shorter the elimination period, the higher the premium. You should also find out the details about what is considered a “separate spell of illness.” Will the waiting period start over if you experience a temporary improvement of condition? • What is covered? Though a few policies cover nursing facility stays exclusively, most long-term care policies today are comprehensive, covering not only nursing facility care, but also home care services, such as nurse or home health aide visits. Many also cover ass
