Why When You Start Home Care Matters — Even With Long-Term Care Insurance

Long-term care insurance (LTCI) is a powerful tool for helping families afford care — but it doesn’t always work the way people expect.

One common feature of many policies is the elimination period. This is the waiting period before insurance benefits begin. During this time, care costs are typically paid out-of-pocket. And in many cases, it’s not measured in dollars — but in calendar days of care received.

So what does that mean?

Let’s say your LTCI policy has a 90-day elimination period — which is quite common. That means the insurance company won’t reimburse for care during the first 90 days. The catch? Those days usually only count if care is actually being provided.

That’s why the timing of when care begins matters — a lot.

Two Families, Same Policy, Very Different Outcomes

We created a simple side-by-side example to show how this can play out in real life.

Family A starts care early, with just a few hours a week. They satisfy the elimination period over 90 days while their loved one still has lower support needs. By the time more intensive care is needed, the insurance is ready to help.

Family B waits until needs are more urgent — and now they’re paying out-of-pocket for high-level care during the full 90-day waiting period. Same policy. Very different result.

So What Can You Do?

• Know your policy. Not all LTCI plans are the same. Some allow informal caregivers, some don’t. Some count hospitalization days, others require consistent in-home services. Read the fine print — or have someone help you interpret it.

• Start before a crisis. Light-touch care now could mean less financial strain later. You don’t need to wait until things get overwhelming to take action.

• Ask questions. That’s what we’re here for. At Take Care, we help families not just provide great care — but understand how to use their benefits well.

Need help navigating your options?

We’re happy to walk you through what home care might look like — and how it could align with your policy. Even if you’re not ready for care yet, planning early makes a difference.