Long-term care is a type of personal care service you may need if you become unable to care for yourself because of a prolonged physical illness, a disability, or a cognitive impairment, such as Alzheimer's disease.
Long-term care is different from traditional medical care that attempts to treat or cure illnesses. Long-term care helps you maintain your current lifestyle, but it may not improve or correct your medical problems. Care may be provided at home or in a hospice, adult day care center, nursing home, or assisted living facility.
Partnership Program Policies
Texas created the Long-Term Care Partnership Program as an incentive for Texans to plan for their long-term care needs. The partnership is a joint effort between private insurers and the state. Insurers must follow state and federal guidelines to sell partnership policies. Partnership policies have an asset disregard benefit, inflation protection, and tax qualification benefits. Read more about the policies in the Shopper's Guide to Long-Term Care Insurance. Also read the list of companies selling partnership program policies in Texas.
Consumer Information
If you are a consumer or caregiver in immediate need of long-term care services, call 2-1-1 or contact a HICAP benefits counselor in your area.
If your question is about a long-term care insurance policy you have or are buying, call our Consumer Help Line at 1-800-252-3439 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Central time, Monday-Friday, or visit our website.
Publications and Pages
- Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage (Medicare Part D)
- Shopper's Guide to Long-Term Care Insurance
- Long-Term Care Insurance Suitability Worksheet
- Long-Term Care Insurance Policy Comparison Worksheet
Caregivers Needing Assistance
If you are caring for a senior age 60 or older, and you need assistance, call your Area Agency on Aging Caregiver Support Program at 1-800-252-9240. While Caregiver Programs vary and are tailored to meet the needs of seniors and caregivers in a particular area, these programs often can provide a variety of needed services to caregivers. Some of these services include "respite care." "Respite" is designed to give the caregiver a temporary break from providing care. Some of the programs also provide caregiver training and education. Through such programs, caregivers may learn coping skills, talk about the emotional and financial impacts of caring for a senior age 60 and older, and may find a needed support group in the caregiver´s area.
Other Resources
Benefits.gov (helps determine whether you qualify for various federal government benefits, including help with your long-term care needs)
Medicare (questions about Medicare coverage, long-term care planning tools, and nursing home finder comparison tool)
1-800-Medicare (1-800-633-4227)
medicare.gov
Medicare's Home Health Compare (compare information on the past performance of Medicare and Medicaid certified home health services providers)
www.medicare.gov/homehealthcompare/search.html
Medicare's Nursing Home Compare (detailed information on various aspects of performance and includes data on nursing homes)
www.medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare/search.html
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) (helps people age 55 and older and those on Medicare connect to prescription assistance programs)
Novitas Solutions (questions about Medicare Part A and Part B coverage or claims and requests for Medicare participating provider directory)
1-800-Medicare (1-800-633-4227)
novitas-solutions.com
"Own Your Future" Texas Long-Term Care Insurance Partnership Program (state initiative to increase awareness of the importance of long-term care planning)
"Own Your Future" National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)
1-202-619-0724
longtermcare.acl.gov
Social Security Administration Toll-free Hot Line (questions about Medicare enrollment and eligibility and requests for the Medicare and You handbook)
1-800-772-1213
ssa.gov
Texas Health and Human Services Commission (services for seniors and locations of Area Agency on Aging offices)
1-800-252-9240
hhs.texas.gov/Long Term Care
hhs.texas.gov/services/aging/long-term-careNursing Facilities Provider Resources
www.dads.state.tx.us/providers/NF/index.cfm
Texas Department of State Health Services (questions about health facility compliance and licensure)
1-888-963-7111
dshs.state.tx.us
Texas Health and Human Services Commission's Medicaid Hot Line (questions about Medicaid coverage)
1-800-252-8263
2-1-1 (free information about resources in your area)
hhs.texas.gov/
Texas Medical Board's Customer Service Hot Line (questions about licensing and certification of doctors and complaints about care provided in a doctor's office)
1-800-248-4062
tmb.state.tx.us/
Texas Medical Foundation Health Quality Institute Beneficiary Help Line (questions or complaints about quality of care provided to Medicare beneficiaries and requests for publications)
1-800-725-8315
www.tmfqin.org/Patient-Family