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Long-Term Care Planning Checklist

A checklist for starting to think through long-term care costs, coverage gaps in Medicare, and options like long-term care insurance before a need becomes urgent.

Supplemental Coverage4 min readReviewed 2026-09-22

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Short answer

Medicare covers only short-term, skilled care -- not ongoing custodial long-term care -- so planning ahead means understanding that real gap, roughly what extended care could cost, and whether long-term care insurance or other planning fits your situation.

Use this before you call.

Thinking about long-term care planning? Call GetFastRates.com to talk through your options.

Confirm what Medicare does and doesn't cover for extended care.

Research typical long-term care costs in your area for context.

Review whether long-term care insurance fits your health, age, and budget.

Talk with family about care preferences before a decision is urgent.

Call to compare specific coverage options once you have a rough picture.

Medicare's long-term care coverage is more limited than people expect

Medicare can cover short-term skilled nursing or rehabilitation care under specific conditions, but it generally doesn't cover ongoing custodial care -- help with daily living activities over an extended period.

Planning ahead of a health event matters

Long-term care insurance is generally medically underwritten, meaning it's easier to qualify for -- and often more affordable -- before a health condition develops, rather than after care is already needed.

Waiting until care is needed often means it's too late to buy this type of coverage at all
Family conversations about care preferences are worth having early, separate from the insurance question

Common questions about this topic

Does Medicaid cover long-term care instead?

Medicaid can cover long-term care in many cases, but generally requires meeting your state's income and asset limits first -- worth understanding those rules well before a need becomes urgent.

Is long-term care insurance the only option?

No -- other approaches include self-funding through savings, hybrid life insurance/long-term care policies, and Medicaid planning. What fits depends heavily on your specific finances and goals.

Tools that can help

I Need Health Insurance -- Help Me Figure Out My OptionsWork through what kind of coverage gap you're actually trying to close.Dental Care CheckSee whether a standalone dental plan fits your situation.ACA State Individual Mandate Penalty CalculatorCheck whether your state charges a penalty for going without coverage.

Trusted public sources

These links are provided for general public information. They do not replace a personal coverage review.

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