.png&w=256&q=75){kind=small}
When Does Long-Term Care Insurance Start Paying for Assisted Living?
Date Updated: July 26, 2024
Written by:
With over a decade of dedicated experience, Andrea Miller boasts an extensive background in healthcare writing and editing. Her expertise spans various facets of the healthcare industry, with a particular focus on nursing, senior care, Alzheimer’s disease, and public health. Andrea has also contributed her editorial talents to reputable publishers in the Philadelphia region, complementing her extensive freelance work.
Reviewed by:
Kristi Bickmann, a licensed Long-Term Care Specialist, represents top-rated "Traditional" & "Hybrid" LTC companies. Serving associations such as the American Nurses Association, she's a licensed insurance agent in 27 states. Specializing in insurance products for seniors, Kristi helps hundreds of families every year protect assets, retirement, and loved ones. She understands aging concerns firsthand, having assisted her own parents. Kristi ensures accuracy on topics about senior long-term care and its consequences.
How long is the elimination period for long-term care insurance?
Who pays for assisted living during the elimination period?
The policyholder pays for assisted living during the elimination period. Long-term care insurance benefits don’t start until after the waiting period ends. If you have a 60-day elimination period, you’re responsible for 2 months of assisted living care at a median cost of $4,500 per month.
Some policies don’t pay your claim unless you receive the required assisted living services while you’re waiting for coverage to start. After long-term care coverage begins, it continues until you meet your policy’s maximum benefit amount. The insurance company pays for assisted living up to a specified daily limit during the policy period. Usually, you pay the assisted living community directly, and your long-term care policy provider reimburses you for the covered amount.