How to Avoid Paying Nursing Home Costs for Spouses

The cost of caring for a spouse in a nursing home can be tremendous even for the couple that has saved and planned for such an event. These costs can easily go into the tens of thousands of dollars a month and deplete any savings that you and your spouse may have. If you want to avoid paying nursing home costs for your spouse, you will need to get long-term care insurance. The good thing is, whereas years ago it was limited, today this type of insurance is readily available.

Things You'll Need

• Computer
• Internet access

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Instructions

• 1

  Research long-term care insurance coverage. Depending on what type of policy you have, long-term care insurance covers assisted living, at-home care and nursing home care. To research this type of insurance coverage, turn to the Internet as well as your own insurance agent. Use the Internet to search for and examine what different long-term care insurance providers offer. You can also ask your current life insurance provider if it offers long-term care insurance. If it does, get the details on what a policy would entail.

• 2

  Choose a an insurance provider to carry you and your spouse's long-term care insurance. Make sure it covers all costs associated with being in a nursing home. Some policies only cover a portion of the cost so be fully aware of what's covered when you make your choice.

• 3

  Obtain an insurance policy from the company you have chosen. Some companies allow you to get your policy online and others require that you get the policy set up with an agent. Either way, don't delay once you have made your decision as insurance policies sometimes have time constrictions.

• 4

  Pay your premiums on time in order to avoid a lapse or period when you are not covered. You don't want a situation to happen with your spouse that warrants a visit to a nursing home and the costs not being covered because of a lapsed policy. As long as you have chosen a policy with full coverage and pay the premiums on time, you will be able to avoid paying nursing home costs for your spouse.