How does one find the best long term health care insurance in South Florida? People living in the state of Florida should be aware of the many long term health insurance options that they have. The reason for this is that long term care insurance is becoming very common through the state and in the entire United States, and for this reason it is important to know the various options given to you by an insurance company. You must also know the different types of care that you can receive after being diagnosed with a chronic illness or after you cannot perform two out of the many daily activities. In this article you will find out the long term care health plans in the “Sunshine State” and the many options you have.Types Of South Florida Long Term Care Health PlansIt is very important to understand that the variety or the extent of what a plan covers varies by company and can also vary by state. For this reason it is very difficult to describe the many plans offered by every single long term care insurance company operating in the state of Florida. We can help you with the two different types of policies that a customer can get when it comes to long term care insurance. Before this however, it is important to mention that you can get long term care insurance at any age and that in the United States people between the ages of 18 and 64 are covered.1. Non Tax Qualified: This type of long term care insurance is also called NTQ when abbreviated. It was once called “Traditional Long Term Care Insurance because it was the first form of long term care implemented. This type of policy has been in the industry for the past thirty years and it simply includes that for a person to get the benefits specified in the policy, they will need a “medical trigger”. This trigger can only be stated by your own medical doctor or a doctor from the insurance company itself, and from that point on if the trigger is effective you will receive the benefits in the policy. It is important to highlight that the status of the benefits under this plan have not been determined by the United States Treasury Department, which means that you might be at risk for facing a large bill for what the insurance paid.2. Tax Qualified: Also like the type of policy mentioned above, this policy is usually abbreviated at TQ. It does not need for the person to have a “medical trigger” which makes it much easier for a person to receive benefits. On the other hand the downsides of these plans are that the health plan will have a waiting period (ranging from 30 to 90 days) in which the insured will have to pay for their own medical care. In addition to that a doctor must provide a plan of care and the insured must be unable to perform two out of the many activities of daily living (include dressing, toileting, bathing, eating, transporting, etc). The benefits given to the person under this plan are not taxable!It is important to highlight that if you work for a place that offers a long term care policy, you must make sure about the company and the language specified in the policy. The reason for this is that many insurance companies that take part in group policies are not regulated by the state and therefore charge more and can raise premiums whenever they feel like it.Types Of Long Term Care Specified In South Florida Long Term Care Health PlansAs said before policies tend to change from company to company in the state of Florida, as well as in the entire country. It is important to read your policy fully before actually signing it, so that you know what is covered under it and what is not. Like in any other industry, the long term care insurance business offers the customer many different types of long term that can be best for them in the future. It is important to see that the policy covers the type that you want so that you don’t just have to settle for what they give you. The types of long term care found in South FL health care plans will be specified below.1. Home Care: This is perhaps the most common type of long term care insurance nowadays. This is simply because people don’t want to go around visiting various nursing homes or hospitals and instead they would much rather stay at home enjoying of their own space. Under this category the insurance company usually covers nurses that come to your home and help you out with daily activities. It is important to highlight that some health care plans cover home health aids of personal workers that help you around your home. The average rate in the state of Florida for Home Care is estimated to be between $10 and $16 an hour.2. Adult Care: This is a new type of long term care option that has emerged for individuals that want to get out of their home, but want to return to it in the same day. They provide senior citizens with programs of social interaction and they usually provide meals five days a week. Some may also have a means of transportation from the person’s home to the care center.3. Assisted Living: A person should consider this option if they are unable to live at home without help, but they want to remain as independent as possible. In these facilities senior citizens are only helped by staff to take medications on time, bathe, dress and provide any medical care that the person needs. They also have recreation time and provide a great environment for community interaction. In the state of Florida the cost of this type of care ranges from $2,000 to $5,000 a month.4. Nursing Homes: Perhaps the most expensive of any long term care type, these establishments provide the person with 24 hour nursing care when the person is recovering from an illness of disease. They can also accept patients in the end of their lives and help them out with any medical care that they need. In the state of Florida the cost for a nursing home on average is $206 per day (with Jacksonville at $190 per day, Miami at $236 per day, Orlando at $201 per day, and Tampa at $212 per day).Tips For Finding A Cheap South Florida Long Term Care Health PlanThere are many things you can do in order to lower your long term care policy quote. The thing that many people don’t understand is that this industry, just like any other insurance business has its ups and downs and that it gives customers a possibility of lowering their coverage. Below you will find three tips that may help you save money on a South Florida long term care health plan:
1. Bundle Insurances: Perhaps this might not be the best option for you, but is can sure save a person a lot of money. Most people that have long term care insurance have some sort of health plan and most Americans have an automobile insurance policy. If you are with a company that offers all three of them do not hesitate to change and put all your insurance needs under a single company. If you do this the company usually rewards you for being a “preferred” customer and you can save up to 10%.2. Shop Around: The more you shop around and do your homework the easier is going to be to save some money. If you are doing the shopping online, be sure to visit many insurance companies or maybe an insurance comparison website. If on the other hand you are shopping in person make sure you visit three of four companies and get quotes from each them. Shopping around leads to cheaper policies!3. Look at your Waiting Period: Sometimes you can save a lot of money by expanding your waiting period; however you must only do this if you can afford it. By making your waiting period larger you are taking costs off the insurance company and placing them in your pocket. They will reward you with a good premium.South Florida Long Term Care Health Plans Vary From Company to CompanyAs you can assume from the article that you just read, no plan is the same and you should definitely go to insurance companies personally and ask them for their services. If you shop around and are patient however, you can be assured that the best long term care plan for you will be in front of you at no time!

For many caregivers and families who are searching to find out more information on how they can care for their elders and loved ones, it can seem like a daunting task. One of the most important distinctions that have to be made on your information gathering quest is to know the difference between Medicare covered Home Care vs. all other forms of home care. In this article, we will explain what Medicare Home Care is and how to find out if you or your loved one qualifies.What is Medicare Home Health Care?Home Health Care is skilled nursing care and certain other health care services that you get in your home for the treatment of an illness or injury.One of the services offered to senior citizens by Medicare is Home Health Services. Medicare recipients must qualify for services, and they must be recommended by the individual’s primary care physician or specialty care physician.Medicare beneficiaries who feel they may need Medicare home care should always look into whether they can actually qualify for Medicare home health services. It is not a general personal care or chore-worker service. Rather, Medicare home care covers limited, specifically defined at-home care related to diagnosed medical conditions, and sometimes includes personal care services.These Medicare home care services must be prescribed by a physician, and provided through a licensed home health agency. The beneficiary must have a medical condition, or combination of conditions, that require periodic services from a skilled nurse or therapist. A plan of care will be developed that describes the specific services covered. Eligibility and coverage are evaluated strictly so the beneficiary’s conditions and care needs must be aired fully.Medicare Home Care QualificationsIt is common for an elderly person to need assistance upon discharge from a hospital or in-patient rehabilitation stay. That individual’s physician, sometimes in concert with family members and the patient him/herself, would determine the in-home health care need and complete paperwork that refers the patient to home health care.Other common situations include the slow physical decline elderly people experience; when that decline includes inability to care for oneself on a daily basis-but nursing home care is not yet required-the physician may recommend home health care for just those tasks the senior is unable to perform.These four conditions must be met before homecare services can be prescribed and covered by Medicare:1. Your doctor must decide that you need medical care in your home, and make a plan for your care at home; and2. You must need at least one of the following: intermittent (and not full time) skilled nursing care, or physical therapy or speech-language pathology services or continue to need occupational therapy; and3. You must be home bound or normally unable to leave home & leaving home takes a considerable and taxing effort. A person may leave home for medical treatment or short, infrequent absences for non-medical reasons; and4. The home health agency caring for you must be approved (“certified”) by the Medicare program.You can always find more information about your benefits and rights at Medicare’s website.