COVERAGE OF ADULT DAY SERVICES IN LONG-TERM-CARE INSURANCE POLICIES

Private long term care insurance is growing in availability with 3.4 m illion policies sold by the end of 1993. This article examines nine po licies with particular emphasis on how coverage of adult day services relates to actual beneficiaries' needs and current practices among day center providers. Review of eligibility requirements for beneficiarie s and for adult day centers showed variability among policies. Some re quirements were counterproductive to beneficiaries' needs whereas othe rs did not encourage the most cost effective care. Based on lessons le arned from two Robert Wood Johnson Foundation national programs, recom mendations are offered that are intended to make such policies more us eful to beneficiaries.