Protect your savings, your home, and your independence

Plan ahead for care Medicare won't cover

As people age or become ill, they sometimes need help with daily tasks like getting dressed, bathing, and more. Long-term care (LTC) provides those services — but it's expensive, and most people are surprised by how little of it traditional insurance pays for.

Long-term care is the assistance someone receives, either at home or in a facility, when they need help with activities of daily living due to an accident, an illness, or advancing age. Rising life expectancy means the potential need for long-term care grows with every passing year of your life. The likelihood is real that you or a family member will need long-term assistance at some point — whether from a prolonged illness, a disability, or the gradual changes that come with aging.

Why you can't rely on Medicare or Medicaid alone

Most long-term care expenses are not covered by Social Security, Medicare, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), or private health insurance. Medicaid pays for nearly half of all nursing home care — but only after you meet federal poverty guidelines and "spend down" most of your assets on care first. A long-term care plan helps protect your savings, your home, and your independence, so a future health event doesn't unravel everything you've built.