*Please note: This information is provided for educational purposes only. The availability of each program is determined by that government agency and the individual’s situation. Please consult directly with your insurance company or the government program.

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If you have come to the point in your life where you need help performing daily tasks, and you aren't sure what you ought to do, you've come to the right place. This article will help you find out your options for paying for long-term care. We have summarized and provided a brief description of the many resources that families facing this same question utilize. Each option is varied, so Avamere recommends that you seek consultation from an insurance or financial adviser as well as referring to the resources below.

Oregon Long-Term Care Insurance

People will often plan in advance and buy long term care insurance when it's affordable. The health insurance for senior citizens policies is more complex than the regular policies, such as life, auto, and homeowners insurance. When looking into long-term care coverage, you'll want to make sure you know what physical and medical condition a senior will need to be in before insurance will kick in.

For further information go to: www.longtermcare.gov

Oregon Reverse Mortgage

An Oregon reverse mortgage is a fairly new plan that some senior citizens over the age of 62 participate in. The strategy means seniors are able to convert part of the equity in their homes into tax-free cash without having to sell, give up their title, or take on a new monthly mortgage payment. In an Oregon reverse mortgage the payment stream is "reversed," so instead of making monthly payments to a lender, a lender makes payments to the senior. This allows them to remain in their home, or move into a long-term care facility.

For further information go to: www.reversemortgage.org

Oregon Medicare Helps with Short-Term Care Costs

Oregon Medicare is a federal health-insurance program that covers most Americans over the age of 65. It helps pay for short-term medical expenses, such as hospitalization, doctor bills, x-rays, radiation, and a variety of other tests and therapies. A co-payment for a part of the expenses may be required. However, Medicare does not pay for nonmedical care, such as long-term care and assistance with daily living activities, except in a few situations as the following outlines:

Hospitalization:

To qualify for Oregon Medicare, a senior citizen must have spent three nights in the hospital and must enter the nursing home within thirty days for rehab therapy for the same condition that was treated in the hospital.

If conditions are met, Medicare covers fully the first twenty days of long-term care and partially up to the next eighty days.

Days	What Medicare Pays	What You Pay
1-20	Full cost	Nothing
21-100	All but a daily copayment	A daily copayment
Beyond 100	Nothing	Full cost

Other Considerations:

Oregon Medicare payments will continue as long as a senior is in a skilled rehabilitation program that is producing results, such as improved health, strength, coordination and flexibility. Once skilled rehabilitation is no longer effective in improving a senior's condition, Medicare will stop paying - even if it's still within 100 days.

Families need to be strong advocates at the hospital for getting a senior into a nursing home if the family is unable to care for them at home.

Oregon Medicaid Helps with Paying for Long-Term Care

If your loved one enters a nursing home or long-term care facility, they may qualify for Oregon Medicaid once their assets have been depleted.

For those over the age of 65, Oregon Medicaid helps pay for nursing home costs once the individual has exhausted all, or almost all, of their own means. Oregon Medicaid generally pays for care in a certified nursing home. Since regulations vary from state to state, check this government site and select "Medicaid/Medicare" for the rules in your state.

Once a senior qualifies, they will have to pay any remaining monthly income, such as social security or pension checks, to the nursing home. Oregon Medicaid only pays the difference between the senior's remaining income and the nursing home's monthly charge.

Find out more about the cost of long-term health care by contacting a financial or insurance consultant.