Insurance and long-term care

Insurance and long-term care
3 min read

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with glaucoma, it's important to prepare and start planning for the future as soon as possible. Two key issues to consider are long-term care that meets your or your loved one's housing and medical needs and how to afford it, whether through insurance or other resources.

Health Insurance Options

Because glaucoma is an eye disease, treatment for this condition is generally covered by major medical health insurance plans, but not by vision health insurance plans. Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA, also known as Obamacare), all qualified health plans must cover eye diseases such as glaucoma.

Options for private aircraft health insurance may include:

managed care health insurance

Many people get their health insurance plans through their employers. In addition, they can purchase individual or family aircraft at their own expense. Both personal and employee-provided aircraft may be classified in the following classes:

  • Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) generally pay for care only within their network. You choose a primary care doctor who coordinates most of your health care.
  • Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) generally cover more costs if you receive care within their network. But they still pay part of the cost if you get care outside of their network.
  • Point-of-service (POS) plans allow you to choose between an HMO or PPO each time you need medical care.

supplemental health insurance

Medigap is Medicare supplement insurance, which is health insurance that is sold by private companies to help pay for or fill "gaps" in Medicare coverage. Medigap covers costs such as:

  • copays
  • Coinsurance (additional insurance company)
  • deductibles
  • Medigap insurance policies generally do not cover:
  • long term care
  • Vision or dental care
  • Headphones or glasses
  • Private duty nursing care

Long-term health care insurance

Long-term care insurance helps pay for costs that Medicare and many private insurance policies don't cover, it can include:

  • geriatric centers
  • assisted living centers
  • home health care

Because different long-term care insurance plans may or may not cover the costs associated with glaucoma, it's best to have an active policy before diagnosis. Learn more about long-term care insurance coverage at the US Department of Health and Human Services website: LongTermCare.gov.

Loans and personal savings

Although long-term health care and other senior facilities can cost thousands of dollars a month, many families pay for these costs through private funds. Some options for privately financed long-term care may include:

  • Life insurance policies: There are several ways to borrow from these policies that do not have to be paid back until the date of death.
  • Mortgages: A reverse mortgage allows homeowners to borrow money against the equity in their home.
  • Personal Property – Options include:
  • Income from stocks and bonds
  • Sale of a property
  • Savings and retirement accounts

Long-term housing for older adults with low vision

Older adults with low vision, especially if they have other health problems, should consider making long-term living arrangements that offer assistance. Some issues to consider may include:

  • When planning for the future, consider the possibility that vision loss may deteriorate.
  • Consider current and future levels of care that you or your loved one may need, as well as site location and budget limitations.
  • Carefully and fully assess the financial situation to determine the resources available. Although the cost will fluctuate depending on real estate market trends, location, and the level of services and amenities, long-term care is expensive.

 

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