Be prepared with long-term care insurance

Long-term care provides assistance with routine activities of daily living — such as eating, bathing and dressing — for an extended period of time. The need for long-term care can occur at any time or at any age due to an unexpected accident or serious illness.

Medical insurance and HMOs cover traditional medical services, such as hospital care, doctor visits and medications. Disability insurance is designed solely to replace a portion of lost wages for those unable to work. Medicare provides only limited coverage for long-term care services, and members may have to be a certain age to qualify. Medicaid generally won’t provide assistance for long-term care until most of a person’s assets and income have been used to pay for the cost of care.

That’s why UUP bargaining unit members considering a long-term care policy are encouraged to examine the MetLife long-term care insurance plan endorsed by NYSUT Benefit Trust.

Members are also encouraged to consider applying immediately, because rates are based on the applicant’s age as of the date MetLife receives the enrollment form. (This is in contrast to other carriers that generally base the rate on age as of the effective date of coverage.) By delaying application, premiums may be higher and chances are greater that a medical condition will develop that could preclude coverage.

In addition to members, spouses or domestic partners, parents, parents-in-law, grandparents and grandparents-in-law are eligible to apply. Applicants can customize the plan to meet their specific needs.

For more information on this NYSUT-endorsed plan, call MetLife’s long-term care insurance experts at (800) 638-0133.