Long term care (LTC) insurance is a type of insurance developed specifically to cover the costs of long-term care services and support, including personal and custodial care in a variety of settings such as your home, a community organization, or other facility. Most LTC services are not covered by traditional health insurance or Medicare.
LTC insurance policies reimburse policyholders a daily amount (up to a preselected limit) for services to assist with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, or eating. You can select a range of care options and benefits that allow you to get the services you need, where you need them.
The Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) is available to eligible federal and U.S. Postal Service employees and annuitants, active and retired uniformed service members, and certain qualified relatives, including spouses, domestic partners, adult children, and parents, parents-in-law, and stepparents of living eligible employees.
The cost of your LTC policy is based on:
- How old you are when you buy the policy
- The maximum amount that a policy will reimburse per day
- The maximum number of days (years) that a policy will pay
- Optional benefits you choose that increase with inflation
You should consider a number of things before purchasing LTC insurance:
- Don’t buy more insurance than you think you may need. You may have enough income to pay a portion of your care costs and may only need a small policy for the remainder.
- Don’t buy too little insurance. While you can usually decrease your coverage, it is more difficult to increase coverage after you register, especially if your health has declined.
- If you choose a policy that only pays for room and board in a facility, plan for other expenses, such as supplies, medications, linens, and other items and services that your LTC policy may not cover.
- It costs less to buy coverage when you are younger.
Federal employees interested in Long Term Care insurance can visit the Office of Personnel Management’s Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) website for more information.
Your Employee Assistance Program is here to help
If you want expert guidance on LTC insurance or other caregiving needs, your Component Employee Assistance Program (EAP) can help. Your EAP offers practical financial information and financial planning tools. Designed to provide you with what you need to reach your financial goals, the EAP’s financial services program offers objective, targeted information on a wide range of topics.
For more information, contact your Component EAP or send an email to worklife@hq.dhs.gov.