Long Term Care Benefits for the Uniformed Services
Richard Hartley, CDR USCG (Ret), FedPoint | Defense Agencies Account Manager, April 19,
2021 —
A long term care event can happen at any age, and the potential financial and emotional strain
that comes with it can have an impact on you, your family, and your loved ones.
Did you know millions of Americans require long term care during their lifetime
1
, which
includes the need for either cognitive or physical assistance with simple tasks like bathing,
eating, and dressing—trivial things most of us do every day without a second thought?
Unfortunately, traditional health insurance—including TRICARE or TRICARE For Life—does
not pay for the chronic, ongoing assistance with daily living that is most often associated with
long term care.
As a member of the uniformed services, you are entitled to apply for benefits provided by the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), though several factors come into play when determining
eligibility. For this reason—and to ensure you are prepared for any situation—it is important to
understand how VA benefits work so you are able to form a clear understanding of your
traditional health care benefits, as well as what a long term care event might mean for your
retirement planning.
Health insurance and VA eligibility
The VA health program does provide coverage for long term care, but you have to qualify for
entry into the program. The VA determines the number of veterans who can be enrolled in the
program based on congressional funding allocated each year. Due to the limited availability of
enrollments, the VA has established eight separate priority groups
2
to categorize enrollees and
determine the level of benefits they are entitled to—and possibly whether the enrollee is eligible
for enrollment at all.
Eligibility to receive long term care benefits will depend on many factors, including service-
connected disability status (70% or greater
3
), current income levels, and even your ability to
contribute to the cost of care. Members of the uniformed services seeking long term care benefits
may find they are unable to meet the agency’s criteria.
The Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP)
Long term care can be expensive, and uniformed service members often rely on the VA to cover
the associated costs. Depending on your eligibility status in the VA program, the level of
coverage available to you may not be enough. For this reason, you may want to consider
applying for standalone long term care insurance like the plan offered through the FLTCIP.
With benefits designed specifically for the federal family, the FLTCIP offers a good way to help
protect your savings and assets should you or your loved ones need long term care services
someday.
Since its launch in 2002, the FLTCIP has offered active and retired members of the uniformed
services the opportunity to help take control of their future long term care needs. Designed to
provide solutions for a range of financial situations, this employer-sponsored program has grown
to be the most successful and utilized program of its kind, providing comprehensive coverage for
more than 270,000 enrollees.
Many members of the federal family are eligible to apply for coverage under the FLTCIP,
including active and retired members of the uniformed services. Certain family members, or
qualified relatives, are also eligible to apply even if you do not. Qualified relatives include your
spouse, domestic partner, parents and parents-in-law, and adult children.
To learn more about the FLTCIP’s comprehensive benefits and features or to find the average
long term care costs in your area, visit LTCFEDS.com/military.
For personalized assistance, call 1-800-LTC-FEDS (1-800-582-3337) TTY 1-800-843-3557 to
speak with a program consultant. They are available to answer any questions you may have and
can walk you step-by-step through the plan design and application process.
Note: Certain medical conditions, or combinations of conditions, will prevent some people from
being approved for coverage. You need to apply to find out if you qualify for coverage under the
FLTCIP.
The Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program is sponsored by the U.S. Office of Personnel
Management, insured by John Hancock Life & Health Insurance Company, under a group long
term care insurance policy, and administered by Long Term Care Partners, LLC.
Resources:
1
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “The Basics,” https://acl.gov/ltc/basic-
needs (accessed January 2021).
2
Military.com. “VA Health Care Eligibility,” www.military.com/benefits/veterans-health-
care/va-health-care-eligibility.html (accessed January 2021).
3
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. “Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, and
Survivors,” www.va.gov/opa/publications/benefits_book/benefits_chap02.asp (accessed January
2021).
