Texas Department of Insurance

Long-Term Care Resource Page

Partnership Program Policies | Consumer Information | Publications | Caregivers Needing Assistance | Other Resources | HICAP Benefits Counselor Materials

Long-term care is a type of personal care service you may need if you become unable to care for yourself because of a prolonged physical illness, a disability, or a cognitive impairment, such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Long-term care is different from traditional medical care that attempts to treat or cure illnesses. Long-term care helps you maintain your current lifestyle, but it may not improve or correct your medical problems. Care may be provided at home or in a hospice, adult day care center, nursing home, or assisted living facility.

Partnership Program Policies   

Texas created the Long-Term Care Partnership Program as an incentive for Texans to plan for their long-term care needs. The partnership is a joint effort between private insurers and the state. Insurers must follow state and federal guidelines to sell partnership policies. Partnership policies have an asset disregard benefit, inflation protection, and tax qualification benefits. Read more about the policies in the Shopper's Guide to Long-Term Care Insurance.

List of companies selling partnership program policies in Texas

Consumer Information   

If you are a consumer or caregiver in immediate need of long-term care services, call 2-1-1 or contact a HICAP benefits counselor in your area.

If your question is about a long-term care insurance policy you have or are buying, call our Consumer Help Line between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Central time, Monday-Friday, or visit our website

1-800-252-3439
463-6515 in Austin
www.tdi.state.tx.us

Publications   

• Shopper's Guide to Long-Term Care Insurance
• Long-Term Care Insurance Rate Guide (also view the Long-Term Care Insurance Company Rate Increase Histories page)
• Long-Term Care Insurance Suitability Worksheet
• Long-Term Care Insurance Policy Comparison Worksheet

Caregivers Needing Assistance   

Caring for a senior with long-term care needs can be challenging and stressful on the caregiver. The Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services estimates that providing support for family members can cost an employee $660,000 in lost income, pensions, wages, and Social Security throughout their career.

If you are caring for a senior age 60 or older, and you need assistance, call your Area Agency on Aging Caregiver Support Program at 1-800-252-9240. While Caregiver Programs vary and are tailored to meet the needs of seniors and caregivers in a particular area, these programs often can provide a variety of needed services to caregivers. Some of these services include "respite care." "Respite" is designed to give the caregiver a temporary break from providing care. Some of the programs also provide caregiver training and education. Through such programs, caregivers may learn coping skills, talk about the emotional and financial impacts of caring for a senior age 60 and older, and may find a needed support group in the caregiver´s area.

Other Resources   

Medicare (questions about Medicare coverage, long-term care planning tools, and nursing home finder comparison tool)

1-800-Medicare (1-800-633-4227)
www.medicare.gov

Medicare and TrailBlazer Health Enterprises (questions about Medicare Part A and Part B coverage or claims and requests for Medicare participating provider directory)

1-800-Medicare (1-800-633-4227)
www.trailblazerhealth.com/

“Own Your Future” Texas Long-Term Care Insurance Partnership Program (state initiative to increase awareness of the importance of long-term care planning)

www.ownyourfuturetexas.org

“Own Your Future” National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)

1-202-619-0724
www.longtermcare.gov/

Social Security Administration Toll-free Hot Line (questions about Medicare enrollment and eligibility and requests for the Medicare and You handbook)

1-800-772-1213
www.ssa.gov

Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services Information and Referral Hot Line (statewide services for seniors and locations of Area Agency on Aging offices)

1-800-252-9240
www.dads.state.tx.us/

Texas Department of State Health Services (questions about health facility compliance and licensure)

1-888-963-7111
www.dshs.state.tx.us

Texas Health and Human Services Commission’s Medicaid Hot Line (questions about Medicaid coverage)

1-800-252-8263
2-1-1 (free information about resources in your area)
www.hhsc.state.tx.us

Texas Medical Board’s Customer Service Hot Line (questions about licensing and certification of doctors and complaints about care provided in a doctor’s office)

1-800-248-4062
www.tmb.state.tx.us/

Texas Medical Foundation Health Quality Institute Beneficiary Help Line (questions or complaints about quality of care provided to Medicare beneficiaries and requests for publications)

1-800-725-8315
www.peoplewithmedicare.org/

HICAP Benefits Counselor Materials   

For more information contact: