What Is Life Care Planning, and Who Needs It in Kentucky?
After a serious injury, it can be difficult to know what your medical needs will look like months or even years from now. Some injuries heal with time, while others require ongoing treatment, therapy, equipment, medication, or assistance with everyday activities.
When an injury is expected to have long-term consequences, a life care plan can help identify and estimate the costs of the care you may need in the future.
For people pursuing a personal injury claim in Kentucky, understanding those future needs can be an important part of assessing the full financial impact of a catastrophic injury.
What Is a Life Care Plan?
A life care plan is a detailed assessment of the medical and related needs an injured person is reasonably expected to have over the course of their lifetime. It may address future physician visits, surgeries, medications, physical or occupational therapy, medical equipment, rehabilitation, home modifications, and other services related to the injury.
A life care plan is generally prepared using medical information about the person’s condition, treatment history, prognosis, and anticipated future needs. A qualified professional may then use that information to develop a projected schedule of care and associated costs.
The goal is not to guess what will happen in the future. Instead, the plan provides a structured way to evaluate care that medical evidence indicates may be reasonably necessary.
Who May Need a Life Care Plan?
Not every personal injury requires a life care plan. They are more commonly considered when an injury is severe enough to require significant long-term or lifetime care.
For example, a life care plan may be appropriate after a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, severe burn, amputation, or other catastrophic injury that causes permanent impairment. Someone who needs ongoing rehabilitation, specialized medical equipment, repeated procedures, or substantial assistance with daily activities may also benefit from this type of assessment.
Depending on your broader financial and estate-planning needs, you may also consider tools such as a life estate deed when planning for the future, although a life estate deed serves a different purpose from a life care plan.
The need for a life care plan depends on the individual circumstances. Your diagnosis, prognosis, treatment history, expected life expectancy, and future care needs can all affect whether one is appropriate.
How Can a Life Care Plan Affect a Kentucky Injury Claim?
A serious injury can create expenses that extend far beyond the medical bills you have already received. Kentucky law recognizes medical expenses as a category of economic loss in certain motor vehicle injury claims, and Kentucky courts have addressed the evidentiary requirements for proving medical expenses.
A life care plan can help organize information about anticipated future treatment and related costs. It may give your attorney and medical experts a clearer picture of the financial impact of your injury and provide a basis for evaluating future medical damages.
An irrevocable trust may also be considered as part of broader financial planning, but it is separate from the process of developing a life care plan.
However, having a life care plan does not automatically mean that every projected expense will be awarded. The reliability of the medical opinions, the evidence supporting the projected care, and the circumstances of the individual claim all matter.
When Should You Consider a Life Care Plan?
If your doctors expect your injury to require substantial care for years to come, it may be worth discussing life care planning with your personal injury lawyer. Waiting until the end of treatment may not always make sense when your condition is permanent or your future needs are already becoming apparent.
Your attorney can review your medical records and work with appropriate professionals to determine whether a life care plan would help document your future needs.
Talk to a Kentucky Personal Injury Lawyer
A catastrophic injury can change much more than your immediate medical situation. It can affect your ability to work, your independence, and the care you may need for years to come.
At Hoffman Walker & Knauf, we can help you evaluate the full impact of a serious injury, including potential future medical and care needs. If you are considering a personal injury claim in Kentucky, contact us to discuss your circumstances and learn how we may be able to help.
