The Medicare Playbook

Curriculum

8 Sections
23 Lessons
Lifetime

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MODULE 1: Medicare Foundations & Why It Matters
3
MODULE 2: Medicare Enrollment — Timing Is Everything
7
MODULE 3: Medicare Costs — What You Actually Pay
3
MODULE 4: What Medicare Covers — and What It Doesn’t
2
- 4.1
  Lesson 4.1 — What Original Medicare Covers
- 4.2
  Lesson 4.2 – What Original Medicare Does Not Cover
MODULE 5: Medigap vs Medicare Advantage
3
MODULE 6: Planning for Rising Health Care Costs
2
- 6.1
  Lesson 6.1 — Why Health Care Costs Increase in Retirement
- 6.2
  Lesson 6.2 — Estimating Retirement Health Care Expenses
MODULE 7: Long-Term Care Planning
2
- 7.1
  Lesson 7.1 — What Long-Term Care Really Is
- 7.2
  Lesson 7.2 — The Likelihood and Cost of Long-Term Care
MODULE 8: Final Reminders & Next Steps
1
- 8.1
  Lesson 8.1 — Putting It All Together: Three Key Takeaways

Lesson 7.1 — What Long-Term Care Really Is

Long-Term Care (LTC) refers to assistance with activities of daily living rather than medical treatment. This includes help with bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, transferring, and continence.

Because this care is custodial rather than medical, it is not covered by Medicare. Many people misunderstand this distinction until they or a loved one needs help. There are many ways to obtain coverage for this type of care such as a stand-alone LTC policy, Life Insurance with a LTC rider, investments with LTC enhancements, etc.

Understanding what Long-Term Care is — and is not — is essential to proper planning.

Three Key Points