How to Pay for Home Care Services in Minnesota with Long-Term Care Insurance

Paying for non-medical home care services, such as those offered by Joyful Companions, can cause stress for your loved one and family. If you don’t know about the resources available, you may end up paying out of pocket for these services. 

Long-term care insurance (LTCI) can be a valuable resource for covering home care services in Minnesota, helping seniors and individuals with disabilities receive the assistance they need while remaining in their homes. This helps promote aging in place and can make life transitions easier for your loved one. 

Here, Joyful Companions explains long-term care insurance in Minnesota and how to use it to benefit your loved one. 

What Is Long-Term Care Insurance?

Aging seniors and those with disabilities sometimes need assistance with daily activities such as laundry, light cleaning, or cooking. In addition, they may live alone, and having a companion can help ease loneliness and promote cognitive health. 

Long-term care insurance is a type of insurance that provides coverage for these in-home care services. 

LTCI is supplemental, which means it covers things that private insurance or Medicare won’t cover or can help pay for organizations that don’t accept Medicare or private insurance.

Does Long-Term Care Insurance Cover Home Care Services?

The answer is yes. LTCI covers home and non-medical care services so long as specific conditions are met. 

Joyful Companions works with long-term care insurance providers so our clients can receive companionship and 24/7 non-medical home care services. This allows seniors to keep living at home while receiving friendly support.

What Does Long-Term Care Insurance Cover in Minnesota?

The state of Minnesota has a few requirements for every long-term care insurance policy. 

These are consumer protections and include: 

• A minimum of one year of nursing home or home health care coverage. It cannot be limited to “skilled care” only. 

• Coverage for Alzheimer’s disease

• Cannot require prior hospitalization

• An inflation protection option

• Protects individuals from being singled out for rate increases

• All policies must be “guaranteed renewable.” Failure to pay the premium is the only reason a policy can be canceled.

How Much Does Long-Term Care Insurance Cost in Minnesota?

The cost of long-term care insurance in Minnesota depends on several factors, including the policyholder’s age and the type of coverage. Some examples include: 

• A 55-year-old single female may pay around $1,500 annually

• A 65-year-old single male may pay around $1,700 annually

• A 65-year-old single female may pay around $2,700 annually

The types of coverage are important to consider as well. When choosing elderly care, non-medical in-home care is less expensive than nursing homes or assisted living facilities.

In 2024, the average annual cost for a private room in assisted living in Minnesota was $64,507. 

Understand Your Long-Term Care Insurance Policy

When you choose a LTCI policy, make sure you review it thoroughly. 

The factors to review include: 

• Eligibility requirements: Most policies require a physician to certify that you need help with at least two activities of daily living or have a cognitive impairment.

• Covered services: Policies typically cover skilled nursing, personal care assistance, homemaker services, and therapy. 

• Daily & lifetime benefit limits: Policies often have a daily or monthly payout limit and a total lifetime cap. 

• Elimination period: Many policies have a waiting period (60-90 days) before benefits begin. 

Contact Joyful Companions for Non-Medical In-Home Care

Long-term care insurance can make Joyful Companions’ services more affordable in Minnesota. Consider consulting a local insurance agent or elder care specialist for more guidance. Long-term care insurance helps cover medical, personal, and social services for people with disabilities or prolonged illnesses. We are happy to accept long-term care insurance for our non- medical in-home care services. Our team of social workers can play a role in long-term care insurance by assessing needs, helping to determine eligibility for benefits, and signing off on a personalized care plan. Our trained and trusted companions can provide your loved one with verbal reminders and cues through their activities of daily living. We offer assistance to help your loved one maintain a consistent schedule.

For more information about our services, contact us online or give us a call at 763-544-0401.