Long Term Care (LTC)
What is LTC Insurance?
Long term care insurance with the Club is like a helping hand in times of need.
The plan is set up to help city employees preserve their assets, optimize their independence,
and protect their family from the drain of long-term care.
Why should I consider Long Term Care coverage?
You’ve worked hard for all you have. But long-term medical costs could wipe out everything,
including the comfortable future you hoped to enjoy. Long term care insurance protects your
savings, investments and property, and can even help you keep your independence and quality
of life through home-based care. It also protects your family from the financial and emotional
burden of caring for you.
Why can’t I rely on medical insurance, Medicare or Medi-Cal?
Most medical insurance plans and HMO’s don’t cover nursing home care.
Medicare covers only skilled or acute nursing care, not long term care – and only if you’re 65 or older.
What’s more, coverage ends in 100 days. Medicaid and Medi-Cal cover long term nursing care, but only after
other assets are virtually wiped out.
What’s the difference between LTD and Long Term Care?
Long Term Disability protects income. Long Term Care protects assets. LACEA’s Long Term Disability insurance restores
60% to 70% of your monthly income so you can pay monthly bills. Benefits extend to age 65 sometimes beyond. Employees
under 50 especially like the benefits of LTD. But the premiums increase with age, so coverage late in your career gets
more expensive. Long Term Care insurance pays for the high costs of long term care, protecting your savings, home and
assets. Benefits go on – regardless of your age – for 4 or 10 years, depending on the plan. Senior employees appreciate
that – and like the fact that premiums don’t increase with age. Some mid-career employees choose to carry both
disability and long term care insurance.
Can I insure my spouse, parents, in-laws, or grandparents?
They’re all eligible for Long Term Care coverage at LACEA’s low group rates. You may want to consider pooling resources
with your brothers and sisters to cover your parents and grandparents. Their savings, home and belongings could be at
stake…and so could your inheritance.
Why are LACEA's Long Term Care rates so low?
LACEA is a not-for-profit employee's association. Our counselors are on salary, not commission, and we process most applications and
claims ourselves. Our low expenses and nonprofit status allows us to offer you low premiums.
What’s different about UNUM’s Long Term Care Plan?
Benefits start when you can’t perform any two of six Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s):
- Bathing
- Dressing
- Toileting
- Transferring (walking)
- Continence
- Feeding
You’re covered for care at home or in a nursing home, and payments start the moment your 90 or 180 day
waiting period is over. Alzheimer’s disease, senility, Parkinson’s disease and even AIDS are covered,
if they’re not pre-existing.
Premiums are based on the age at which coverage is purchased, and stay at that level. Employees and spouses
pay through payroll deduction; other relatives pay by mail.
You can opt for $1,000 to $5,000 a month in nursing home benefits, which includes a professional home care
benefit at 50% of the nursing home benefit. Once care is verified, you can receive your benefits without
having to submit monthly bills - a major UNUM plus.
What’s included in the Base Plan? Can I add options?
The Base Plan covers care in a long term facility, or professional care at home.
You can add two options:
- Total Home Care pays a 50% benefit for home care by family or friends. Since family and friends handle most long term care, we strongly recommend this option unless you don’t have potential caregivers nearby.
- A Simple Inflation Option raises your coverage 5% a year while premiums remain level. For an elderly parent, this may not be worthwhile. For someone age 45, it’s well worth considering; you’re essentially buying inflation coverage for later years when premiums are higher.
Will I ever be too old to apply?
You are eligible to apply through age 84. But don’t wait for someone’s health to slip, because it could mean
the application will be denied. If you can’t currently perform one of the Activities of Daily Living, have
lost mental alertness, or having medical problems, you could be denied coverage. Besides, the younger you are
when you lock in your premiums, the lower they’ll be.
How much coverage should I buy?
Skilled nursing homes average about $3,500 a month in Los Angeles today. Custodial or convalescent nursing
homes average $3,000; the better ones can cost much more. Check out a few, then decide how much coverage you
need. Professional home care (skilled nurses, physical therapy, custodial care and other in-home needs)
costs about $1,500 a month. It’s the care you’ll probably need the longest. Make sure you’re fully covered
through insurance, your own funds, or both.
When should I buy?
The need may be urgent, even if you’re completely healthy. Perhaps your family has a history of early heart
problems or chronic illnesses. Are you smoking, overeating or taking other chances? Maybe your work involves
risk or high stress.
Even your age can throw you into a higher risk category. Consider all these factors before deciding to wait.
Waiting could be more costly than insurance.
Additional Information
Definition
Long Term Care:
Ongoing nursing home or at-home care after a sudden illness. Such as a stroke or heart attack,
a disabling injury, or chronic sickness such as AIDS or Alzheimer’s disease.
Professional Home Care:
Intermediate or custodial care professional nurses at home.
Informal Home Care:
Care by family, friends, or hired caretakers at home.
Nursing Home Care:
A licensed facility with professional care under doctor’s orders, providing:
- Skilled acute care for patients getting steadily better or worse.
- Intermediate occasional skilled nursing care.
- Custodial care for the elderly or others whose health changes slowly, if at all.
How Do I Apply?
APPLY TODAY!
Call to have an application mailed to you at 1-800-464-0452 or email us at info@cityemployeesclub.com.
Please indicate what department you currently work for so our counselors can respond back to your immediately.
Who's My Counselor?
Got more questions? Not sure what to do now? Contact our Member Service Department and one of our counselors
can help answer all your questions. All of our counselors are licensed and qualified to help you.
Who's your department counselor?
