What is an elimination period in long-term care insurance?

The elimination period is the waiting period before your LTC insurance benefits begin — similar to a deductible measured in days. Common elimination periods are 30, 60, or 90 days. During the elimination period, the policyholder pays out of pocket. A 90-day elimination period means you pay approximately $12,000–$15,000 before benefits kick in at a $4,500/month community.

How do I know if my parent's LTC insurance policy covers their specific community?

Contact the insurance company directly and ask them to confirm whether the specific facility holds an active license in that state and qualifies under the policy's 'licensed facility' definition. Get confirmation in writing. Also confirm the daily or monthly benefit amount, the benefit period (how many years), and whether the policy has inflation protection.

Paying for Care

Does Long-Term Care Insurance Cover Assisted Living?

How LTC insurance works for assisted living and memory care: elimination periods, daily benefits, licensed facility requirements, and how to file a claim.

6 min readUpdated 2026-03-15

If your parent purchased long-term care insurance years ago, it may cover a significant portion of assisted living or memory care — but policies vary widely. Understanding the fine print before a crisis saves thousands.

What Most LTC Policies Cover

Assisted living in state-licensed facilities
Memory care and Alzheimer's care
Home health and adult day care (some policies)
Daily or monthly benefit up to policy limits

How to File a Claim

Contact the insurer for a benefits summary and elimination period requirements. A physician must typically certify inability to perform 2+ ADLs. Keep all invoices and care assessments. Processing takes 2–8 weeks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does long-term care insurance cover assisted living?: Most long-term care insurance policies purchased since the 1990s do cover licensed assisted living facilities, in addition to nursing homes and home care. Check your policy's benefit triggers — typically inability to perform 2 or more activities of daily living (ADLs) — and confirm the community you're considering is a licensed facility. Some older policies only cover skilled nursing; review the exact policy language.
What is an elimination period in long-term care insurance?: The elimination period is the waiting period before your LTC insurance benefits begin — similar to a deductible measured in days. Common elimination periods are 30, 60, or 90 days. During the elimination period, the policyholder pays out of pocket. A 90-day elimination period means you pay approximately $12,000–$15,000 before benefits kick in at a $4,500/month community.
How do I know if my parent's LTC insurance policy covers their specific community?: Contact the insurance company directly and ask them to confirm whether the specific facility holds an active license in that state and qualifies under the policy's 'licensed facility' definition. Get confirmation in writing. Also confirm the daily or monthly benefit amount, the benefit period (how many years), and whether the policy has inflation protection.

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