According to Helpguide, one out of every two people will need long-term care at some point in their life time. And over 70% of those age 65 and up will require long-term care. For San Diego caregivers, it’s important to understand the benefits of long-term care insurance before it’s needed for you or for those you care for.

In general, long-term care consists of a variety of services – medical or non-medical - for those in need of assistance with activities of daily living (dressing, bathing, etc.) and can be provided in a variety of settings such as a private residence, in the community, assisted living facilities or in nursing homes.

And although most people think that long-term care is only for the elderly, the reality is that one may need long-term care at any age.

Long-term care insurance covers the costs of long-term care services, most of which are not covered by traditional healthcare insurance or Medicare. The key to long-term care insurance is to obtain the insurance policy before you actually need the care or before a crisis happens.

Purchasing long-term care insurance is an important decision and should not be taken lightly, as premiums can be costly and it could be years before needing the coverage. Find out if long-term care insurance is right for you or for those you care for.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has created a free ”A Long-Term Care Planning Kit” providing important information on understanding, planning, and paying for long-term care insurance. In addition, the website has excellent resources on how to plan for future healthcare needs.

In San Diego, call 211 for resources and information about long-term care planning including the Long-Term Care Insurance Ombudsman Program.