Long-term care insurance is a type of insurance developed specifically to cover the costs of nursing homes, assisted living, home health care and other long-term care services. These services are usually not covered by traditional health insurance or Medicare.

The majority of policies available are comprehensive policies. They typically cover care and services in a variety of long-term care settings:

• Your home, including skilled nursing care, occupational, speech, physical and rehabilitation therapy, as well as help with personal care, such as bathing and dressing
• Many policies also cover some homemaker services, such as meal preparation or housekeeping
• Adult day health care centers
• Hospice care
• Respite care
• Assisted living facilities (also called residential care facilities)
• Alzheimer’s special care facilities
• Nursing homes