Long Term Care Insurance: Do You Want Home Health Care?

The desire to have home health care is on the rise. Most people feel that if they had a disability and/or needed help with personal needs at any age, they would rather have it done in their home with home health care than in a nursing facility or hospital. Unfortunately though, many don't plan ahead and depend on Medicaid or Medicare. Unknowingly they feel that Medicaid and/or Medicare will provide their home health care needs but often find out too late they should have looked for another source for home health care, such as LTC insurance.

Family Members and Home Health Care

Let's take a brief look at what home health care is and why most prefer it. Home health care is when one is able to have care for a disability or illness done at home as opposed to a nursing home facility or hospital stay. It has become a booming business for home health care agencies. Traditionally family members would care for their parents but times have changed and this practice is not as common. Although the elderly do still choose to go to nursing homes, many choose to have home health care services instead and many more would rather have home health care instead of a nursing home if they could afford it. It is obviously the preferred situation since one can stay in a familiar environment and still get the skilled care they need.

Don't Count on Medicaid and Medicare for Home Health Care

Most experts agree that when home health care is administered properly it costs less than a nursing care facility and lengthy hospital stays. Unfortunately though, it is often one of those areas of health care that is mismanaged and therefore the public has to pay. The public pays for this mismanagement by loosing home health care benefits through Medicare and Medicaid. Although most feel that Medicare and/or Medicaid will provide them a choice between home health care and a nursing home facility, this is usually not the case. Often times funds are limited for home health care through Medicaid and Medicare and when funds are available, it is just for part-time or temporary care and not usually for a long term illness.

Home Health Care Insurance

The best choice for one who would prefer to stay in their home during any long term illness at any age, is to purchase long term care insurance. Long term care insurance will not only provide home health care for medical needs but also for personal assistance needs and companionship. There are a variety of benefits that are included with long term care insurance that are not available with limited Medicaid and Medicare coverage. It is important though that when one chooses a long term care insurance policy they compare coverages for home health care since policies and LTC premiums can vary. If home health care is important to you, make sure to tell your long term care inssurance agent that you want a policy that provides the most benefits for home health care.