When does long-term care insurance begin?

Long-term care insurance benefits start to kick-in when you're no longer able to do two out of the six Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). These are eating, walking, bathing, toileting, dressing, and continence. Also, depending on your policy's elimination period (waiting period, you'll need to first pay for your own long-term care expenses. After the waiting period's over, the insurance company steps in and starts paying for your care services. The elimination period could be from 1-180 days.

ANSWER:

Long term care insurance will start paying for your care expenses once you meet your benefits triggers and elimination period. Different policies have different sets of conditions, usually, tax qualified policies requires that you are unable to do 2 or 3 of the ADL or if you have cognitive impairment. You will then be assessed if you meet the benefit triggers. Check your benefit triggers before making a claim.