Which condition allows an individual to qualify for benefits from a qualified long-term care policy?

Becoming cognitively impaired is a key condition that enables individuals to qualify for benefits from a qualified long-term care policy. Many long-term care insurance policies specifically include cognitive impairments, such as Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia, as triggers for benefits. This is because cognitive impairment can severely affect an individual’s ability to perform daily activities, necessitating assistance or supervision, which is the primary focus of long-term care.

In the context of long-term care policies, having a chronic illness may contribute to the need for care but does not automatically qualify an individual for benefits without the presence of functional limitations. Requiring physical therapy typically implies an interim, rehabilitative need rather than a long-term care necessity, and suffering a temporary injury usually does not meet the requirements for long-term care, as this suggests a need for short-term recovery rather than extended support. Therefore, cognitive impairment directly aligns with the conditions recognized by long-term care insurance to trigger benefit eligibility.