Long-Term Care Information

The National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information website was developed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to provide information and resources to help you and your family plan for future long-term care (LTC) needs. HHS wants to help you understand what long-term care is, how and where you can get information and services you need - now or in the future, and how to pay for services. 

Long-term care (LTC) is a range of services and supports you may need to meet your health or personal needs over a long period of time. This is an especially helpful resource because many people think Medicare pays for LTC, but Medicare and most health insurance plans, including Medicare Supplement Insurance policies, do not pay for this type of care—also called custodial care. Medicare only pays for medically-necessary skilled nursing facility care or home health care if you meet certain conditions.  So planning for how you might pay for long-term care becomes important.