Even the U.S. Congress recognizes the importance of making people aware of the risks and costs associated with long-term care.

This topic needs to be taken seriously because it can impact you and your loved ones.

Some things you need to know about long-term care:

v Gone are the days when long-term care meant you had to go to a nursing home. Most long-term care insurance policies will cover people in all care settings including the home. In fact, the majority of people who need long-term care remain in their own home. That is a significant benefit.

v Choose not to burden family and friends. It’s comforting to know you have loved ones who care for you. But you may not realize the burden being a caregiver can place on a spouse, child, friend or neighbor.

v You’re probably not covered. Many people mistakenly believe they are covered for long-term care, but this assistance is not typically covered by your health or long-term disability insurance.

v Government programs aren’t designed to pay for all your long-term care needs. Medicare only pays for a limited amount of skilled care. While Medicaid only covers the very poor – those whose assets are at or below state-required levels. These programs often don’t cover care provided in your own home.

v Your age and health make a big difference in what protection costs. Many people put off looking into long-term care insurance protection. Waiting to plan can be a costly mistake because the cost of insurance is based on your age. Your health is also a most important factor. Waiting to plan can be a costly mistake because a change in your health can make you ineligible for this protection (no matter how much you are willing to pay).

v At younger ages you can lock in good health special savings. Your good health today can help you “lock-in” preferred health discounts that won’t change even if your health does. If you currently have a health condition it’s especially important to find out if you can health-qualify before it may get worse.

There’s an old saying: Failure to Plan is a Plan for Failure

Make Long-Term Care Awareness Month the time you start planning.

Sharon Millham is a local Life/Health Agent with Valley-Leavitt Insurance and may be reached at 702-346-5779 or 702–238-5270.