How to take advantage of long-term care insurance benefits

When the time comes to benefit from the policy you purchased, it can be difficult to know what steps to take. Take these steps to make sure you take advantage of your benefits.

1. To understand what your policy covers and pays for, be sure to read the entire policy before beginning the claim process.

If you don’t have a physical copy of the policy, contact your carrier and ask for one. It’s often beneficial to have another person read the policy and request help if they need assistance with comprehending the details. Assistance from an insurance agent, financial planner, elder care attorney, or family members may be of use.

2. Before filing a claim and beginning the official process, ask questions.

Make sure you comprehend what your policies include and do not cover so that there is a better chance of an approved claim instead of one being rejected.

3. Be sure to pick your care provider wisely.

If you opt for a home health service or another care facility that isn’t familiar with how to bill long-term care insurance companies, collecting payments may be difficult. Make sure to ask potential care providers about their experience and if they are willing to provide you with the necessary paperwork to submit claims. Even though providers that ordinarily don’t handle this paperwork may be willing to help, they may not have the necessary knowledge to assist conveniently and competently.

4. Track your policy limits and monitor reimbursements.

Once your policy is approved and you are getting reimbursed, it is important to monitor your remaining benefits, as many policies have a finite amount of benefits, and reimbursement can run out before a need is ending. It is important to monitor and assess usage with your team of trusted advisors to ensure your benefits are being maximized strategically.

The Nest and Care Silver Spring Home Health Care team has extensive experience assisting families in getting the maximum benefit from their long-term care insurance policies. We would happily show you how to use your plan so that you can receive all of your due coverage.