Long-Term Care and Health Savings Accounts

Planning for long-term care isn’t something that most people like to think about, but failing to plan for the potential need for long-term care can lead to some difficult consequences. The fact is that, as life expectancy continues to grow in the United States, more and more people are going to need long-term care.

This type of care may be provided in a nursing home, a traditional hospital or at home, and it may last months, years or even longer. Even if you’re able to pay for initial fees, are you prepared to continue paying for care that may last for years or decades?

Does Insurance Cover Long-Term Care?

Private insurance may or may not cover long-term care depending on your policy and provider. Some insurance providers offer long-term care as an add-on benefit, but most do not provide this coverage as a core offering of most plans.

You may also think that Medicare provides coverage for long-term care since the program is designed for seniors, but Medicare does not have a long-term care benefit either. Original Medicare does provide hospital care under Medicare Part A, but this is limited to 90 days per benefit period unless you have lifetime reserve days to utilize.

Using a Health Savings Account

Because private insurance and programs like Medicare are limited in their approach to long-term care, you might consider turning to a health savings account (HSA) to pay for this type of care. Perhaps you’ve already looked into the best HSA for investing to grow your wealth, but you might want to also take a look at what long-term care facilities accept HSA payments for care in your area.

After all, the best HSA for investing isn’t necessarily the best HSA for handling things like long-term care needs. You’re encouraged to examine your existing plan now to ensure your contributions are working for you and not against you. While many long-term care facilities accept HSA payments, you will also want to make sure that utilizing an HSA for this type of care is in line with financial and healthcare regulations in your state.

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