Discover How Home Care Plans Work
We’ve compiled some frequently asked questions to help you better understand how our in-home care plans work.
What is the history of American Senior Services Inc. (ASSI)?
ASSI has been successfully in business since February of 2008 and the principals have been involved in the senior arena since 1986. They have earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and have the highest endorsement from Dun & Bradstreet.
Explain who will buy this product?
Plans are primarily for seniors whose desire is to stay in their home as they age but have waited too long to purchase traditional long term care/home care insurance and no longer qualify because of health underwriting or financial limitations. These Plans give individuals an opportunity to purchase a specific plan that will “bank” access to between 1,500 & 10,000 home care service hours to utilize in the event of future illnesses, injury or challenges during the aging process when assistance becomes essential.
How can I tell if my parents need home care?
Your parents or other loved ones may benefit from in-home care if they exhibit any of these signs: decline in personal hygiene, loss of interest in cooking, diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, forgets to pay bills, forgets to take medications, needs help getting up and down from chairs or sofas, falls frequently, has limited mobility, diminished driving skills, has a chronic disease like arthritis that makes tasks like opening jars or buttoning a shirt difficult.
Is there medical underwriting?
No, but there is a Suitability Standard that every individual must meet, which states that the individual currently does not need or is receiving any assistance (including from family members) with activities such as bathing, dressing, transferring. The individual must be able to live independently at this time. There is no “policy” to deliver, instead a copy of the completed enrollment form/terms & conditions page is the client’s Field Issued Contract. The client will also receive a Welcome Letter with an ID card within 2 to 4 weeks from the receipt of enrollment.
Membership
Is there age limits for individuals wanting to enroll into a Care Plan?
No.
Is there gender pricing?
No.
Does the rate differ from state to state?
No, rates are the same in all states.
After year one, does the client need to enroll again?
No. An individual just continues paying their membership fee.
What would happen if a member made an annual payment, and they suddenly passed away?
In the event of death, the member's estate will be refunded on a prorated basis providing the service hours of their plan have not been utilized.
Can a member utilize the services if they are out of state?
Yes. Service is available in all 50 States.
Waiting Period
Exactly how does the Waiting Period work when a client enrolls in a True Freedom Plan?
The 90-day Waiting Period begins the day an individual enrolls into a Plan. Full access to the initial hours of a chosen plan are available following this one-time 90-day period.
Benefits
How are the hours in a Plan scheduled?
To schedule service, members simply call the toll-free customer service number found on their membership card, on their field issue contract or in the brochure provided after enrollment. Membership cards are mailed out to clients once all enrollment paperwork has been received and processed by ASSI.
Do service hours need to be used consecutively?
No. Hours can be alternated daily, weekly or monthly. The ANYTIME Hours (provided by a chosen friend or neighbor) can be scheduled any day of the week and during any/all hours including as overnight 24/7 live-in home care. The AGENCY Hours (provided by a home care agency in the members city) can be scheduled between Monday thru Friday, 9am to 5pm for up to 5 hours a day/5 days a week. (Both AGENCY Hours & ANYTIME Hours cannot be utilized on the same day.)
What are some example of the companies in the Plan network of agencies that provide non-medical in-home care?
The top 10 largest home care corporate entities in the country representing thousands of locations are part of our network, in addition to hundreds of independent providers. They include Always Best Care, ResCare, Visiting Angels, Comfort Keepers, Griswold, Brightstar Care, Home Instead, Home Helpers, Bayada, Interim and many more.
Can members use a Plan if they are in assisted living?
Yes, if they are residing in the independent section of an assisted living facility.
Friends & Neighbors
Can a family member take care of a member and be paid as part of the anytime hours?
No.
Do the ANYTIME Hours service providers sign a timesheet?
Yes. They complete a worksheet, then email, fax, or mail it to the company.
How does a member select a friend or neighbor for the ANYTIME Hours of their Plan?
The member contacts American Senior Services, Inc (ASSI) benefits department and works with their experienced care coordinators to develop a plan that best addresses their needs. The member identifies the friend or neighbor (not someone already living in the same household). ASSI must approve anyone selected to provide ANYTIME Services.
Renewals & Rates
Can there be a rate increase?
Yes. American Senior Services Inc. reserves the right to increase membership fees. True Freedom Plans have been available since 2008, with no increase in membership fees in the company's history. If a future rate increase were deemed necessary, our initial strategy would be to raise fees on new enrollments, not existing ones.
If a client purchases the plan and moves from one state to another, is the plan transferable?
Yes.
Can a third party purchase this plan for a family member?
Yes, but the prospective member would still need to meet the suitability standard for enrollment.
If a member goes up to 5 years and beyond without using the services, does the fee stay at the lowest price (40% discount in 4 years)?
Yes. Plans will remain at a 40% discounted rate starting in year 5 and beyond until the member chooses to access their initial home care hours. It's for this reason that members save their hours until the point that their need for assistance becomes ESSENTIAL.
Do couples need to purchase the same plan to qualify for the couple's discounts?
No, they can purchase different level plans for the discount on each membership. They must share the same address and enroll at the same time using separate enrollment forms.
Can a member select the monthly draft date?
No. Enrollments written on the 29th thru the 14th are drafted on the 14th of the month. Enrollments made on the 15th thru the 28th are drafted on the 28th of each month.
ASSI has been successfully in business since February of 2008 and the principals have been involved in the senior arena since 1986. They have earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and have the highest endorsement from Dun & Bradstreet.
Explain who will buy this product?
Plans are primarily for seniors whose desire is to stay in their home as they age but have waited too long to purchase traditional long term care/home care insurance and no longer qualify because of health underwriting or financial limitations. These Plans give individuals an opportunity to purchase a specific plan that will “bank” access to between 1,500 & 10,000 home care service hours to utilize in the event of future illnesses, injury or challenges during the aging process when assistance becomes essential.
How can I tell if my parents need home care?
Your parents or other loved ones may benefit from in-home care if they exhibit any of these signs: decline in personal hygiene, loss of interest in cooking, diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, forgets to pay bills, forgets to take medications, needs help getting up and down from chairs or sofas, falls frequently, has limited mobility, diminished driving skills, has a chronic disease like arthritis that makes tasks like opening jars or buttoning a shirt difficult.
Is there medical underwriting?
No, but there is a Suitability Standard that every individual must meet, which states that the individual currently does not need or is receiving any assistance (including from family members) with activities such as bathing, dressing, transferring. The individual must be able to live independently at this time. There is no “policy” to deliver, instead a copy of the completed enrollment form/terms & conditions page is the client’s Field Issued Contract. The client will also receive a Welcome Letter with an ID card within 2 to 4 weeks from the receipt of enrollment.
Membership
Is there age limits for individuals wanting to enroll into a Care Plan?
No.
Is there gender pricing?
No.
Does the rate differ from state to state?
No, rates are the same in all states.
After year one, does the client need to enroll again?
No. An individual just continues paying their membership fee.
What would happen if a member made an annual payment, and they suddenly passed away?
In the event of death, the member's estate will be refunded on a prorated basis providing the service hours of their plan have not been utilized.
Can a member utilize the services if they are out of state?
Yes. Service is available in all 50 States.
Waiting Period
Exactly how does the Waiting Period work when a client enrolls in a True Freedom Plan?
The 90-day Waiting Period begins the day an individual enrolls into a Plan. Full access to the initial hours of a chosen plan are available following this one-time 90-day period.
Benefits
How are the hours in a Plan scheduled?
To schedule service, members simply call the toll-free customer service number found on their membership card, on their field issue contract or in the brochure provided after enrollment. Membership cards are mailed out to clients once all enrollment paperwork has been received and processed by ASSI.
Do service hours need to be used consecutively?
No. Hours can be alternated daily, weekly or monthly. The ANYTIME Hours (provided by a chosen friend or neighbor) can be scheduled any day of the week and during any/all hours including as overnight 24/7 live-in home care. The AGENCY Hours (provided by a home care agency in the members city) can be scheduled between Monday thru Friday, 9am to 5pm for up to 5 hours a day/5 days a week. (Both AGENCY Hours & ANYTIME Hours cannot be utilized on the same day.)
What are some example of the companies in the Plan network of agencies that provide non-medical in-home care?
The top 10 largest home care corporate entities in the country representing thousands of locations are part of our network, in addition to hundreds of independent providers. They include Always Best Care, ResCare, Visiting Angels, Comfort Keepers, Griswold, Brightstar Care, Home Instead, Home Helpers, Bayada, Interim and many more.
Can members use a Plan if they are in assisted living?
Yes, if they are residing in the independent section of an assisted living facility.
Friends & Neighbors
Can a family member take care of a member and be paid as part of the anytime hours?
No.
Do the ANYTIME Hours service providers sign a timesheet?
Yes. They complete a worksheet, then email, fax, or mail it to the company.
How does a member select a friend or neighbor for the ANYTIME Hours of their Plan?
The member contacts American Senior Services, Inc (ASSI) benefits department and works with their experienced care coordinators to develop a plan that best addresses their needs. The member identifies the friend or neighbor (not someone already living in the same household). ASSI must approve anyone selected to provide ANYTIME Services.
Renewals & Rates
Can there be a rate increase?
Yes. American Senior Services Inc. reserves the right to increase membership fees. True Freedom Plans have been available since 2008, with no increase in membership fees in the company's history. If a future rate increase were deemed necessary, our initial strategy would be to raise fees on new enrollments, not existing ones.
If a client purchases the plan and moves from one state to another, is the plan transferable?
Yes.
Can a third party purchase this plan for a family member?
Yes, but the prospective member would still need to meet the suitability standard for enrollment.
If a member goes up to 5 years and beyond without using the services, does the fee stay at the lowest price (40% discount in 4 years)?
Yes. Plans will remain at a 40% discounted rate starting in year 5 and beyond until the member chooses to access their initial home care hours. It's for this reason that members save their hours until the point that their need for assistance becomes ESSENTIAL.
Do couples need to purchase the same plan to qualify for the couple's discounts?
No, they can purchase different level plans for the discount on each membership. They must share the same address and enroll at the same time using separate enrollment forms.
Can a member select the monthly draft date?
No. Enrollments written on the 29th thru the 14th are drafted on the 14th of the month. Enrollments made on the 15th thru the 28th are drafted on the 28th of each month.