Long-Term Care Insurance

The purpose of long-term care insurance is to compensate, at least in part, for the costs incurred for care and the need for assistance from a third party to perform essential daily tasks: assistance and care in the areas of personal hygiene, toileting, nutrition, dressing and mobility.

Long-term care insurance is a Social Security risk in the same way as health insurance and operates according to the same principles: everyone pays a compulsory contribution and when an insured person becomes dependent, they are entitled to insurance benefits, regardless of their age and resources.

The main purpose of long-term care insurance is to cover the costs of assistance and care for dependent persons living at home or in a care facility, through:

• benefits in kind;
• technical aids and home adaptations.

For dependent persons living at home, coverage may, under certain conditions, include cash benefits in lieu of benefits in kind.

The National Health Fund (CNS)

The National Health Fund (CNS) is the body responsible for managing long-term care insurance.

The person concerned sends their application for benefits to the CNS, which checks their membership and verifies that the application is complete. The CNS makes decisions, on the advice of the AEC, and is responsible for paying benefits.

The Long-Term Care Insurance Assessment and Control Authority (AEC) is responsible for assessing the applicant's state of dependency and determining the benefits to which the dependent person is entitled. It is also responsible for providing information and advice, as well as monitoring the quality of the services provided. The AEC is an administrative body under the Ministry of Health and Social Security.