• Long term care insurance offers one of many ways to ensure a person's medical needs are met when retirement age approaches. As individual long term care needs can vary, some people may benefit from alternative solutions for long term care coverage. Alternative coverage plans are designed to provide the needed level of care based on a person's overall health condition.
  
  

Social Managed Care Plan

• Social managed care plans are comparable to Medicare-sponsored managed care plans, which offer medical services related to long term care needs. According to Medicare.gov, social managed care plans provide an array of additional services not covered by Medicare-sponsored plans. Some of these services include personal care services, respite care, short term nursing home coverage and prescription drug benefits. Social managed care plans can vary depending on the type of plan offered within a particular area. These plans exist in areas where insurance providers have partnered with state Medicare insurance programs. For most plans, a person must be 65 years or older and currently have Medicare Part A and B coverage.
  
  

PACE Plans

• The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly or PACE is a Medicare and Medicaid-sponsored long term care solution. According to Medicare.gov, PACE plans provide coverage for senior citizens eligible for nursing home care based on their particular state's requirements. Benefit coverages include a full range of medical and social services administered within different settings, some of which include inpatient facilities, home care and adult day health centers. PACE plans are only offered by states that incorporate it within their Medicaid insurance programs. To be eligible, individuals must be 55 years old or older and undergo a medical screening process to determine whether their physical condition meets their state's requirement for nursing home care.
  
  

Home-Based Care

• As an alternative solution to long term care, home-based care is more suited for individuals who don't require nursing home care though still require a certain degree of help with managing a household. According to Medicare.gov, these programs are available in most areas and may fall under Medicare or Medicaid coverage benefits depending on the type of coverage a person has. Services provided with home-based care include adult day care programs, short-term respite care, Meals on Wheels programs and shopper services. Continuing Care Retirement Communities or CCRCs offer another alternative to nursing home care for individuals who can still carry out certain daily living activities. Communities consist of independent living quarters or apartments where skilled nursing and doctors' services are available. A person's needed level of care determines the amount of supervision provided. CCRCs typically don't fall under Medicare or Medicaid benefit coverages so much of the cost is out-of-pocket.