What Is the Long-Term Care Elimination Period (LTCE)?

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Written by True Tamplin, BSc, CEPF®

Reviewed by Subject Matter Experts

Updated on March 29, 2023

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What Is an Elimination Period?

An elimination period is the amount of time a person must wait after contracting an illness or injury before receiving their benefits under an insurance plan.

The waiting or qualifying period is the term for an elimination period. During this time, the policyholder is still responsible for all services provided.

What Is the Long-Term Care Elimination Period?

The Long Term Care Elimination Period (LTCE) is a program that provides financial assistance to policyholders who need long-term care.

It allows the policyholder to have time to prepare for the costs of long-term care.

The LTCE Program works by giving the policyholder a lump sum payment. This payment can be used to help pay for the costs of long-term care.

How Does It Work?

First, the policyholder must be receiving benefits from LTCE. At this point, they can find out if they qualify for the LTCE by asking their insurance company.

If they do not automatically qualify, then they will need to provide medical and financial information and documentation to prove that they need assistance.

Once the policyholder submits the documents, an insurance company will determine if they can receive assistance.

Who Qualifies for This Program?

This program is only available to those under the age of 75 and who have a long-term care insurance policy.

This means that it is not possible to qualify for this program if you do not currently have an LTCE policy.

Additionally, you must be able to prove that you are unable to take care of yourself and will need assistance for an extended amount of time.

Why Would Someone Want to Use the LTCE Program?

The LTCE program can provide a policyholder with peace of mind knowing that they have financial assistance if they need long-term care in the future.

Because the policyholder already has financial assistance, they do not need to worry about finding other ways to pay for long-term care.

This makes it possible for you to focus on your loved ones and get better instead of looking at expenses.

How Do I Apply for the LTCE Program?

First, you must have a current, active LTCE policy. Then you will need to collect all of your personal information, including details about your health and financial situation.

You must also provide documentation of both your health and financial status.

Following this step, an insurance company representative will contact you to discuss the next steps for your application.

The Bottom Line

The LTCE program is a great way for an individual to get prepared for the future and be financially secure if they need long-term care.

Knowing that you will be able to pay for this care can provide significant peace of mind.

Long Term Care Elimination Period (LTCE) FAQs

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About the Author

True Tamplin, BSc, CEPF®

True Tamplin is a published author, public speaker, CEO of UpDigital, and founder of Finance Strategists.

True is a Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF®), author of The Handy Financial Ratios Guide, a member of the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing, contributes to his financial education site, Finance Strategists, and has spoken to various financial communities such as the CFA Institute, as well as university students like his Alma mater, Biola University, where he received a bachelor of science in business and data analytics.

To learn more about True, visit his personal website or view his author profiles on Amazon, Nasdaq and Forbes.

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