Final answer:
Eleanor is in the 'elimination period', which is the time between when she becomes eligible for long-term care insurance benefits and when those benefits begin.
Step-by-step explanation:
Eleanor recently qualified for long-term care insurance benefits. During the period she is waiting for her insurer to start paying for her care, which lasts 3 months, she is said to be in the elimination period. This term refers to the time between an individual becoming eligible for benefits and when the benefits actually begin. It is essentially a waiting period and is common in long-term care insurance policies. During the elimination period, policyholders are generally responsible for covering their own care costs.