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What are the triggers for long-term care insurance benefits?
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When you purchase long-term care insurance, you’re taking a step to plan for the additional cost of care that you may face later in life. And, that’s an important considering that long-term care services can be pricey.
But, just purchasing the policy isn’t enough. It’s important to understand exactly what you’re buying. Insurance policies typically have triggers that start benefits. For example, in an auto insurance policy, one of those triggers may be a car accident. So, when a car accident happens, your benefits kick in.
But, how do those triggers work when it comes to long-term care insurance benefits? And, how long will you have to wait after those triggers take place to receive your benefits? That’s what we will examine below.
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What are the triggers for long-term care insurance benefits?
“Triggers have become standardized now,” explains Keith Bercun, regional sales director for the financial services firm, OneAmerica Financial Partners. That means, for the most part, the triggers that lead to benefit coverage in long-term care policies are the same across the board. Here are the typical benefit triggers associated with long-term care insurance:
Activities of daily living
From a standardized standpoint, your benefits will be triggered when you’re “unable to complete two out of six activities of daily living for 90 days or longer,” says Bercun. Those six activities of daily living include:
- Bathing: This includes being able to get in and out of the bathtub or shower and being able to wash yourself while in the bathtub or shower without assistance.
- Continence: This involves being able to control your bladder or your bowels.
- Dressing: This involves more than simply putting clothes on. It also involves an ability to select appropriate clothing and maintain your appearance.
- Eating: This involves meal preparation as well as being able to feed yourself.
- Toileting: Toileting is inclusive of being able to sit onto or get off of the toilet on your own as well as properly using a toilet and being able to clean yourself.
- Transferring: This involves getting in and out of resting furniture, like a bed or chair.
Get a long-term care insurance policy to make sure you get care when you need it.
Cognitive impairment
Another trigger that’s standardized in the industry today is known as cognitive impairment. But, not all cognitive impairments will trigger long-term care coverage. You’ll qualify for your long-term care benefits if “you have a severe cognitive impairment such that you can be dangerous to yourself or others,” says Bercun.
For example, if your cognitive impairment means that you may walk out of your home and forget how to get back to safety, you will likely qualify to receive your long-term care insurance benefits.
Standby assistance
“Standby assistance will trigger a claim with some carriers, but not all,” explains Bercun. So, this is not a standardized trigger, but it’s important to look for as you shop for a policy. “Let’s say for example, in the beginning stages of Parkinson’s, you start losing balance and you need someone to stand by because you can hurt yourself.” In this case, you may qualify for coverage with some policies. So, if you’re shopping for long-term care insurance, it may be worthwhile to look for a policy with a standby assistance trigger.
How long does it take to receive benefits after a trigger?
It’s also important to note that your benefits may not be available as soon as you meet the triggers above. Instead, long-term care insurance triggers typically start an elimination period – or period of time that you’re expected to cover your cost of care before benefits begin.
“All carriers have different elimination periods, but the one that seems to be the most standardized is 90 days,” explains Bercun. “Several carriers have waivers of elimination periods that you can buy as an additional rider. Many carriers offer a waiver of the elimination period for free built in if you start off at home.”
It’s also important to consider how those elimination periods are calculated.
“Some of them are calendar days and some of them are service days,” says Bercun. “A service day means an elimination period day is only satisfied on a day when somebody is actually providing long-term care services. So, elimination periods can be tricky. You have to really look and see how the policy is structured on that.”
So, if you’re shopping for long-term care insurance now, be sure to consider elimination periods and how they’re built.
The bottom line
There are multiple events that can trigger long-term care insurance benefits. An inability to complete two of the six activities of daily living for 90 days or longer or a cognitive impairment will typically act as triggers. Also, depending on your policy, the need for standby assistance may be a benefit trigger. But, keep in mind that benefits don’t always start as soon as they’re triggered. You may have an elimination period to consider. Chat with a long-term care insurance agent about your coverage and elimination period options now.
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How to watch the Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears NFL game today: Livestream options, more
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The Minnesota Vikings will take on the Chicago Bears today. The Vikings are currently 8-2, an impressive run so far this season, and will be looking to add a fourth win to their current streak after last Sunday’s 23-13 win against the Tennessee Titans. The Bears, on the other hand, are entering this game on the heels of a four-game losing streak after a tough 20-19 loss against the Green Bay Packers last Sunday.
Here’s how and when you can watch the Vikings vs. Bears game today, whether or not you have cable.
How and when to watch the Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears
The Vikings vs. Bears game will be played on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. PT). The game will air on Fox and stream on Fubo and the platforms featured below.
How and when to watch the Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears game without cable
You can watch this week’s NFL game on Fox via several streaming services. All you need is an internet connection and one of the top options outlined below.
Fubo offers you an easy, user-friendly way to watch NFL games on CBS, Fox, NBC, ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network, plus NCAA football channels. The Pro tier includes 200+ channels and unlimited DVR, while the Elite with Sports Plus tier adds NFL RedZone and 4K resolution. New subscribers get a seven-day free trial and all plans allow streaming on up to 10 screens simultaneously.
You can watch today’s game with a subscription to Sling’s Orange + Blue tier, which includes ESPN, ABC, NBC, and Fox. The plan offers 46 channels with local NFL games, nationally broadcast games and 50 hours of DVR storage. For complete NFL coverage, add Paramount+ to get CBS games, or upgrade with the Sports Extra add-on for additional sports channels like Golf Channel, NBA TV and NFL RedZone.
Watching NFL games, including Fox broadcasts, is simple with Hulu + Live TV, which includes 90 channels, unlimited DVR storage, and access to NFL preseason games, live regular season games and studio shows. The service includes ESPN+ and Disney+ in the subscription.
Want to watch today’s game live on your smartphone? If so, NFL+ streaming service is the solution you’re looking for. It lets you watch NFL Network and out-of-market games on mobile devices, with an upgrade option to NFL+ Premium that includes NFL RedZone for watching up to eight games simultaneously. Note that NFL+ only works on phones and tablets, not TVs.
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How to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts NFL game today: Livestream options, more
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The Detroit Lions will face off against the Indianapolis Colts today. The Lions enter this game as top contenders with a near-perfect record of 9-1 so far this season. The Colts, who are 5-6 this season, could have a tough game on their hands against the Lions but will be looking to rack up another win after prevailing over the New York Jets in a tight game last Sunday.
Here’s how and when you can watch the Colts vs. Lions game today, whether or not you have cable.
Here’s how and when to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts
The Lions vs. Colts game will be played on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. PT). The game will air on Fox and stream on Fubo and the platforms featured below.
How and when to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts game without cable
You can watch this week’s NFL game on Fox via several streaming services. All you need is an internet connection and one of the top options outlined below.
Experience NFL action like never before with Fubo’s comprehensive sports streaming platform. From Sunday showdowns to primetime matchups, catch every NFL game across major networks including CBS, Fox, NBC, ABC, ESPN and NFL Network. Choose the Pro package to unlock 200+ channels and limitless DVR storage, or elevate your game-day experience with the Elite with Sports Plus package, featuring NFL RedZone’s commercial-free scoring highlights and stunning 4K quality.
Test drive the service with a no-commitment seven-day free trial, and share the excitement with family and friends — Fubo supports simultaneous streaming on up to 10 devices, so everyone can watch their favorite teams.
You can watch today’s game with a subscription to Sling’s Orange + Blue tier, which includes ESPN, ABC, NBC, and Fox. The plan offers 46 channels with local NFL games, nationally broadcast games, and 50 hours of DVR storage. For complete NFL coverage, add Paramount+ to get CBS games, or upgrade with the Sports Extra add-on for additional sports channels like Golf Channel, NBA TV and NFL RedZone.
Watching NFL games, including Fox broadcasts, is simple with Hulu + Live TV, which includes 90 channels, unlimited DVR storage, and access to NFL preseason games, live regular season games and studio shows. The service includes ESPN+ and Disney+ in the subscription.
Want to watch today’s game live on your smartphone? If so, NFL+ streaming service is the solution you’re looking for. It lets you watch NFL Network and out-of-market games on mobile devices, with an upgrade option to NFL+ Premium that includes NFL RedZone for watching up to eight games simultaneously. Note that NFL+ only works on phones and tablets, not TVs.