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Paying for Care 6 min read
Long-Term Care Insurance: The Basics
Understanding what your policy covers and how to file a claim for home-care services.
The Care Alternatives Team October 8, 2026
If you or a loved one purchased long-term care (LTC) insurance years ago, the policy may cover a significant share of in-home care today. The hardest part is usually finding the policy and reading it — many families are pleasantly surprised by what's there.
What to look for in the policy
The daily or monthly benefit amount, and the lifetime maximum. The elimination period — a waiting period (often 30, 60, or 90 days) before benefits start paying. Whether home care is included (most modern policies do, but older ones may not). Whether the benefit amount inflates over time.
How benefits get triggered
Triggering benefits usually requires documentation that the policyholder needs help with two or more activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, continence, eating), or has a cognitive impairment such as dementia.
A physician's statement and a plan of care are almost always part of the paperwork. Many policies also require ongoing caregiver activity logs.
How we help families file
Care Alternatives regularly assists families with the documentation needed to file LTC claims — including caregiver activity logs, plans of care, and coordinating with the insurer's case manager. Ask us; we've done it many times, and we're glad to walk you through it.
The takeaway
Don't assume you remember the policy — pull it out and read it. If you'd like a hand making sense of it, that's something we do all the time.
Have questions about care for your family?
Speak with a Care Alternatives coordinator today. We'll listen, answer your questions, and help you take the next step — without pressure.