Frequently Asked Questions

To become a LifeChoices® at Bethany member, you must meet the following requirements:

Must be at least 50 years old
Must be reasonably healthy and living independently at time of enrollment
Must have financial resources for a one-time investment based on age to become a member, plus a monthly fee

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  Other membership benefits include:

• Membership fees are discounted for two people of the same household
• Membership fees may be tax-deductible as a prepaid medical expense
• Membership options are available to individuals with an existing long-term care insurance policy
• If members decide to move, their services may go with them anywhere in the continental United States

We often get asked if this is a form of long-term care insurance and in general terms the concept of protecting your assets can be considered insurance. We like to think of ourselves as assurance because the LifeChoices® at Bethany Program is more comprehensive than insurance. Our program focuses not only on preserving assets, but also providing and managing services for our members for the rest of their lives. This is one of the many reasons LifeChoices® at Bethany is very unique compared to long-term insurance.

The Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) is similar to LifeChoices® at Bethany. It is a life care model except that it generally includes moving out of your home into a congregate living environment. LifeChoices® at Bethany is committed to providing life care within a membership model to those who want to remain in their home for life. The CCRC model generally has a much larger entry fee which is necessary to cover the cost of housing.

If you consider any type of financial protection we purchase in our lifetime, such as life, homeowners, automobile or disability, the focus is on preserving your assets from being depleted due to some unforeseen event. Nobody ever wants to be in a situation where they need to utilize the insurance they carry however, most of us understand the importance of having the proper financial protection for our families and ourselves. The reality is that most of us will need some form of long-term care as we age. At LifeChoices®, we want to ensure that you that you use your membership in order to maintain your independence. 

LifeChoices® at Bethany is designed to have membership entry fees deplete at 1.5% per month for up to sixty-six months. If you were to pass during this period of time your estate would be reimbursed the prorated balance of the entry fee.

A major misconception regarding long-term care is that traditional health insurance will cover those expenses. In reality, when an individual is in need of custodial long-term care, most of the costs are paid for privately, not covered by Medicare or supplemental insurance (Medicare and/or supplemental insurance may cover some of the initial costs when it is an extension of a hospital stay.) Currently, Medicaid would only become available when a person has reduced their financial assets down to $2,000.00 or less (it would be considered welfare at that point).

The member fee is individualized for each person. Each member is entitled to his or her own separate care and service, which is why the pricing is per person even if they are joining as a couple. With that being said, we do offer a discount on the membership fee for individuals who live in the same home and live in the program together. 

It is impossible to guarantee or predict what will happen in the future but LifeChoices® at Bethany is a LLC and subsidiary of Bethany Life and has its full support and backing. Bethany Life has been in existence for over 100 years and is a financially strong organization with extremely high standards and reputation.

Your membership fee is 100% tax deductible under prepaid medical. A portion of the monthly dues (roughly 63%-67%) are deductible. This number fluctuates based on the medical versus non medical services that are being used. It is your responsibility to consult with your tax advisor to take advantage of this potential tax savings.