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Long Term Care

By Kelly Montgomery, About.com

Updated: April 18, 2007

About.com Health's Disease and Condition content is reviewed by our Medical Review Board

You may have heard about long term care insurance, but wondered whether it was worth looking into. What exactly is it? What does it cover? Do I need to buy it? Read on for more information about this type of insurance, and for tips on how to decide whether it is right for you.

What is long term care insurance?

Long term care refers to the services and support that ill, injured, and/or disabled persons need to perform regular everyday activities, such as walking, eating, bathing, or using the bathroom. Long term care insurance is designed to protect you financially if you should need long term care.

In some cases, long term care may only be needed for a few weeks or months. This can happen if the patient is expected to fully recover from a major operation, illness, or injury, but needs help during the healing process.

In other cases, long term care may last for many months or years. If the patient has a chronic medical condition or a permanent mental or physical disability, she may need long term care for the rest of her life.

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