Comprehensive itemized care plan following IALCP/IARP standards with frequencies, durations, and costs across the lifespan (Reavis, 2002).
A narrower, scoped projection of future medical costs for a defined set of needs, prepared without the full life care planning process.
| Dimension | Life Care Plan | Future Medical Cost Projection |
|---|---|---|
| Methodology | IALCP/IARP standards, treating-team grounded | Variable; often summary of treating-physician testimony |
| Scope | Medical + non-medical categories across lifespan | Typically medical categories only |
| Preparer | CLCP | Sometimes physician or economist |
| Defensibility | Methodology-driven; grounded in published life-care-planning standards | Variable, depends on author and method |
Prefer a full life care plan when damages include long-term care across multiple categories.
A simpler projection may suffice when the scope is limited to a single medical category or short horizon.
Both project future costs. The life care plan provides comprehensive, methodology-grounded coverage across the full scope of needs (Weed & Berens, 2018).
In some cases, where a physician can quantify projected care costs. Broader projections typically require a CLCP.