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Frequently Used Long-Term Care Terms
To help you understand long-term care and long-term care insurance, we have provided below a general explanation of some frequently used terms. Note that the exact definitions of these terms can vary from company to company, from state to state, and from policy form to policy form, even between forms of the same company. Always consult the actual policy for the meaning of the terms applicable to your situation.
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
Everyday functions and activities people usually are able to do
without help. Includes bathing, continence, dressing, eating,
toileting and transferring (moving in or out of a bed, chair or
wheelchair).
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Adult Day Care
Care provided during the day for adults, usually outside of the
home in a group setting.
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Assisted Living Facility
A residential living arrangement that can provide individualized
care and health services for residents who need assistance with
Activities of Daily Living. May also be called Custodial Care,
Domiciliary Care, Intermediate Care, Personal Care, Residential
Health Care, Sheltered Care or Supported Care Facilities.
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At-Home Care
Services and supplies provided when living in one's home, such
as Home Health Care, Adult Day Care, Hospice Care and Respite
Care.
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Caregiver Training
An instructional program for the training of an informal
caregiver (Husband, wife, adult child or other relative or friend)
whose caregiving will allow a patient to remain at home instead of
entering a long term care facility. This type of training is
typically provided by home health care agencies or other Qualified
Home Health Care Providers, nursing homes, hospitals or other
health care agencies or professionals.
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Cognitive Impairment
A deficiency in a person's memory; orientation as to person,
place or time; deductive or abstract reasoning; or judgement as it
relates to safety awareness.
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Custodial Care(Also called Personal Care)
Care to help people perform Activities of Daily Living that can
be provided by someone without professional medical training.
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Elimination Period
The length of time for which a long term care insurance policy
will not pay benefits for services covered by a policy. The longer
the elimination period, the lower the premium.
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Exclusions
The types of expenses that are not covered by a policy.
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Functional Incapacity
A person's inability to perform a number of those Activities of
Daily Living specified in a Long Term Care insurance policy.
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Guaranteed Renewable
Means that an insurance policy cannot be cancelled, terminated,
changed or reduced if all renewal premiums are paid on time, except
rates may be revised by Bankers on a class basis.
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Home Health Aide
A licensed or certified home care worker, other than a doctor,
nurse or therapist, who assists patients in performing the
Activities of Daily Living.
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Home Health Care
A variety of services and supplies provided in the home, such as
visits by nurses, Home Health Aides and physical, occupational,
speech and inhalation therapists, Homemaker Services, drugs,
medicines, medical supplies and lab services as well as durable
portable therapeutic equipment.
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Home Health Care Provider
A person or organization licensed or certified to provide Home
Health Care services.
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Homemaker Services
Includes domestic, laundry and cleaning services; food shopping
and errands; meal preparation and cleanup and transportation
assistance to and from medical appointments.
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Hospice Care
Care provided for pain and symptom management associated with a
terminal illness and any related conditions. Normally provided by
an agency that specializes in providing pain relief, symptom
management and support services to dying persons and their
families.
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Intermediate Care
Occasional nursing and rehabilitative care performed by, or
under the supervision of, skilled medical personnel.
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Inflation Protection
An insurance policy option that calls for regular increases in
benefit limits to help offset the future increases in long term
care expenses.
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Married Couple or Married Person Discount
A reduction in the insurance policy premium when both spouses
have Long Term Care coverage.
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Medically Necessary Care
Services and supplies which are provided in accordance with
accepted medical practice; and as are required by the patient's
condition. It doesn't include care that exceeds the scope, duration
or intensity needed to provide safe, adequate and appropriate care;
nor does it include treatment provided solely for someone's
convenience.
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Paid-up Survivorship
An insurance policy option that will waive the surviving
spouse's future premiums upon the death of the other spouse. A
minimum duration of continuous coverage under the policy by both
spouses may be required in order for the benefit to be
applicable.
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Respite Care
Professional care provided on a short-term basis for the purpose
of temporarily relieving unpaid caregivers, such as family members
or friends.
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Restoration of Benefits
An insurance policy feature that will bring a policy's maximum
benefit amounts back to the level that would apply if policy
benefits hadn't been paid.
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Skilled Nursing Care
Daily nursing and rehabilitative care that can be performed only
by, or under the supervision of, skilled medical personnel.
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Tax-Qualified Long Term Care Insurance Policy
A policy that conforms to certain standards in federal law
offering federal income tax advantages.
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Third Party Notice (Authorized Designee)
An insurance policy feature that lets the policyholder name
someone who the insurance company would notify if the policy is
about to lapse because the premium hasn't been paid on time.
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Waiver of Premium
An insurance policy feature that suspends the premium payment
requirement while policy benefits are being paid.
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