October 9, 2015

Whether you have just purchased it for yourself or for an aging parent, it’s important to understand the factors involved in a long-term care insurance policy and when it will pay out. Long-term care insurance is a solid option to support or to stand in line with a general healthcare plan.

The term “trigger” refers to an event that activates the need for long-term care, such as difficulty with an activity of daily living or a cognitive impairment. The elimination period refers to the time that a patient must wait before benefits officially kick in. This usually means self-payment for care if some kind of care is absolutely necessary.

Make sure you understand the elimination period so that you or a loved one are not counting on insurance picking up the tab only to learn that self-pay is necessary in the interim. You can learn more about long-term care insurance and other options for planing ahead by consulting with an elder law attorney.