What condition must typically be met for long-term care insurance benefits to be accessed?

Long-term care insurance is designed to provide benefits when individuals require assistance with everyday activities due to chronic illness, disability, or cognitive impairment. Typically, to qualify for benefits under a long-term care insurance policy, the insured must be unable to perform two or more activities of daily living (ADLs). These activities usually include tasks such as bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, transferring, and continence.

This criterion is critical because it establishes that the insured has a significant need for assistance, which the long-term care insurance is intended to address. The focus on functional impairment, rather than merely the presence of chronic health conditions, ensures that the insurance provides support to those who truly require care and assistance in their daily lives.

Thus, the requirement to be unable to perform two or more daily activities is a foundational aspect of most long-term care policies, designed to protect individuals and provide them with the necessary support for their health and well-being.