08/13/2025
Don’t Leave Long-Term Care Benefits Unused: Activate Your Policy Before It’s Too Late
Many families pay LTC insurance premiums for years, then wait too long to file—only to miss benefits when a health crisis strikes. Most policies don’t pay until benefit triggers are met (help needed with at least two Activities of Daily Living or a qualifying cognitive impairment), so it’s crucial to start the claim as soon as eligibility is likely.
Next, satisfy the elimination period. This is the waiting period (often ~90 days) before payments begin—and you typically pay out of pocket during it. Starting covered home care quickly helps you reach that threshold sooner. Check whether your policy counts calendar days or only service days; with service-day policies, only days you receive paid covered care count.
Protect access: name a health care surrogate/POA and complete HIPAA/insurer authorization forms now, so a trusted family member can speak with the carrier and coordinate care if you’re incapacitated. Have a family member pre-approved with the insurer to discuss claims and benefits before a crisis occurs.
Finally, remember that traditional LTC policies typically don’t return unused benefits at death. Only specific options—like return-of-premium riders or hybrid life/LTC contracts—may provide a death benefit to heirs. Review your policy so you don’t leave value on the table.
How we help (South Florida): Affordable Senior Care can start qualified in-home services that count toward elimination periods, organize documentation, and work directly with your insurer so benefits activate faster—before crises escalate.
Call (954) 990-8031 or visit AffordableSeniorCare.com to schedule a free benefits review and get your policy working for you now.
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