What is the minimum number of Activities of Daily Living (ADL) an insured must be unable to perform to qualify for long term care benefits?

To qualify for long-term care benefits, it is typically required that an insured must be unable to perform a minimum of two Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). ADLs include essential self-care tasks such as bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, transferring, and continence. The rationale behind the two ADL requirement is to ensure that the individual needs a significant level of assistance to manage their daily life, thereby justifying the need for long-term care coverage.

If an insured could still perform one ADL, they might be considered capable of some level of independent living, which would not meet the criteria for needing long-term care. Establishing the necessity of assistance with two or more ADLs ensures that only individuals requiring substantial care support can access the benefits, which helps insurance companies manage risk while providing necessary support to those who need it most.