Long-term care is a variety of services that include medical and non-medical care to people who need assistance due to a chronic illness or disability. Long-term care helps meet health or personal needs. Most long-term care is to assist people with the activities of daily living such as dressing, bathing, toileting, and transferring. Long-term care services can be provided at home, in the community, in assisted living or in nursing homes. 

Long-term care insurance is designed to cover long-term care costs if you need assistance or supervision due to impairment in your physical or mental abilities. Long-term care costs may include services rendered in your home, a nursing home, assisted living facility or adult day care. Deciding on whether to buy long-term care insurance may depend on your health, financial situation or long term goals for retirement. The links below will provide you with information on long-term care insurance including the names of insurance companies authorized to sell it and premium comparisons.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Long Term Care Insurance Task Force: The passage of AB 567 (Calderon) established the Long Term Care Insurance Task Force (Task Force) in the California Department of Insurance to explore the feasibility of developing and implementing a culturally competent statewide insurance program for long-term care services and supports.

The Department of Health Care Services offers a list of Fast Facts concerning what you need to know about long-term care.

CHOICES AND TYPES OF CARE:

There are different options of long-term care, such as home and community-based service options.

Planning ahead after 65, a guide provided by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

PACE centers provide all-inclusive preventative, primary, acute, and long-term care service for those individuals otherwise eligible for nursing home care.  

Information on the types of care available, including in-home care services, and continuing care retirement communities, can be found on the Department of Social Services website.

COST INFORMATION and LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE:

California Health Advocates explains the options for financing long-term care.

The Department of Insurance provides a Long-Term Care Insurance Rate and History Guide annually.

For 2023, the Department of Insurance has also issued a Premium Comparison tool for Long-Term Care insurance, to help consumers compare the differences in annual premium amounts from different insurers.

The California Partnership for Long-Term Care, a consumer education program of the Department of Health Services, is dedicated to making sure you are ready for the costs and challenges of long-term care.

Download "Taking Care of Tomorrow: A Consumer's Guide to Long-Term Care" provided by the Department of Aging, which assists Californians who are thinking of purchasing long-term care insurance.