Long-term care includes a wide range of medical, personal and social services. Individuals may need this care if they have a long-term illness, disability or cognitive impairment. This care includes services provided by home health care agencies, adult day care centers, traditional nursing homes, and continuing care retirement communities. In addition, family members often provide long-term care.

Private insurance companies offer individual or group long-term care insurance policies that provide benefits for a range of services that are not covered by your regular health insurance, Medicare, or Medicare supplement insurance. Under Florida law, all insurance sold in Florida must be purchased through an insurance agent licensed by the Department of Financial Services (DFS). Long-term care policies may be distributed by an agent, by mail, or over the Internet. Some companies sell these policies through senior organizations, fraternal societies, and continuing care retirement communities. Some companies now offer these policies to their employees.

Seniors who do not have the financial resources to pay for their long-term care expenses are eligible for Medicaid. To qualify for Medicaid, your monthly income must be below the federal poverty level and your assets cannot exceed certain limits. Medicaid will only cover you in Medicaid-approved nursing homes that provide the level of care you need. Under certain circumstances, Medicaid will pay for home health care.