Federal insurance plan provides long-term care

Many Americans prefer to remain in their own homes as they age, but that may mean preparing for long-term care.

The Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program provides options for ongoing assistance with basic activities of daily living-eating, bathing, dressing, etc. The need often stems from disability, chronic illness, or cognitive impairment (like Alzheimer’s disease) and is far more common than most think. And while many people believe that because they are currently healthy they won’t need long-term care, it’s a common misconception.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services nearly 70 percent of people over the age of 65 will at some point require long-term care, which no longer synonymous with nursing home care. There are far more options available today for long term care, but these services also cost more.

Based on the most recent John Hancock Cost of Care Survey, the average annual rate for Home Health Care is $28,080, Assisted Living is $50,724, and for a Nursing Home it’s $86,870. Over an extended period of time, these expenses can become insurmountable.

However, the numerous benefits offered through FLTCIP help relieve the impact. These benefits include, but are not limited to, services by formal and informal caregivers at home reimbursed up to 100 percent of the daily benefit amount; stay-at-home benefit allows for care planning visits, modifications to your home (e.g., a wheelchair ramp or bathtub handlebars), emergency medical response systems, durable medical equipment, caregiver training, and home safety checks. Also, premiums are based on your age at the time of enrollment and on the level of benefits chosen, not on heath information.

FLTCIP, an Office of Personnel Management sponsored program, is open to Federal and U.S. Postal Service employees eligible for the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (whether they are actually enrolled in FEHB), active members of the Uniformed Services who are on active duty or full-time National Guard duty for more than 30 days, active members of the Selected Reserve (excluding Individual Ready Reserve Soldiers), D.C. Government employees first employed by the D.C. Government on or before Oct. 1, 1987, D.C. Courts employees, and Navy Personnel Command (BUPERS) NAF employees.

In most cases, long term care expenses are not covered by traditional medical insurance plans such as the FEHB Program, TRICARE, TRICARE for Life, or by disability income insurance. And while these plans may cover some skilled medical services, it’s usually for a set period. Additionally, these plans typically do not cover ongoing chronic care such as an extended stay in an assisted living facility or a continuing need for a home health aide.

Medicare and Medicaid plans also have limited coverage for long term care. As for those covered by Veterans Affairs, there are several long term care options available.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, "The Department of Veterans Affairs pays for long-term care services for service-related disabilities and for certain other eligible veterans, and other health programs such as nursing home care and at-home care for aging veterans with long-term care needs." Furthermore, the VA has programs for those who have disabilities unrelated to their service, who use home and community based services or housebound, aide and attended services.

To further research available options visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information at www.longtermcare.gov. And to learn more about the FLTCIP, visit www.LTCFEDS.com, or call 1-800-LTC-FEDS (1-800-582-3337).

Editor’s note: Ally Rogers, Belvoir Eagle Photo Editor, contributed to this article.