The Basics of Long Term Care Insurance
Let’s define and examine each category separately.
Home Health Care (HHC)
Home Health Care is primary care administered in the home by family
members or loved ones, assisted by professional caregivers.
Many people are under the misconception that Home Health Care (HHC)
is designed to provide 24 hour, around the clock care. In reality,
it is only designed to assist someone who is acting as a primary caregiver.
For example, a husband taking care of his wife would act as primary
caregiver and the HHC provisions of the policy would pay to have professional
and informal caregivers assist in the home.
Home Health Care Providers offer two types of services:
Custodial and Professional.
- Custodial Caregivers include Home Health Aides, Personal Care Attendants and Certified Nursing Assistants. Their help would consist of services like preparing meals, light housecleaning, doing laundry and assisting with baths and personal hygiene. They generally spend 4 to 8 hours daily with the patient.
- Professional Caregivers include Registered Nurses and Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists. These are licensed & trained individuals who come in and provide a specific service. Once they have completed their task, they leave. Usually their stay will not be much longer than an hour.
Home Health Care Costs
Companion and homemaker services range from $12 to $27 per hour usually with a 4-hour minimum. The costs of licensed professional care ranges between $80 to $150 per visit and most visits usually last about an hour.The average cost per hour for Home Health Care in Tennessee is $15 and $20 per hour in Kentucky.
SOURCE: MetLife Mature Market Institute 2-2002
Assisted Living Facilities (ALF)
Assisted Living Facilities provide apartment or condominium-like settings and 24-hour assistance with personal and custodial needs for individuals that have lost the ability to perform 1 or more of the Activities of Daily Living.Assisted Living Facilities are fast becoming the top choice for long-term care. They allow people to remain as independent as their infirmity or illness will permit.
Assisted Living Costs
- Assisted Living Facilities costs range from $1500 to $6000 per month depending on services and geographic location.
- The current national average for a top rated facility runs about $3,000 - $4,000 per month.
SOURCE: MetLife Mature Market Institute 2-2002
Nursing Homes (NH)
Nursing Homes provide daily 24 hour skilled, intermediate and custodial
care.
Nursing Homes are the highest level of care you can receive. The level
of care one needs at this point is greater than what can be provided
at home or in an Assisted Living Facility.
Nursing Home Costs
- Nursing home costs range from $80 to $400 per day depending on your geographic area. Rural areas are typically less expensive than metropolitan areas.
- The current national average for care is $153 per day. In Tennessee
the average cost per day is $130 and $134 in Kentucky