Do You Need Long Term Care Insurance?

Here’s something to think about: Almost half of people over age 65 will spend some time in a nursing 
home.1
Not only are we more and more likely to require some type of senior care, but the costs involved in 
nursing home care are inordinately expensive.  In fact, the average annual cost involved with a one-year 
nursing home stay is about $50,000.2  In many larger cities it can be much more expensive.  
Unfortunately, none of these expenses are covered by Medicare or private medical insurance.


Many of us spend thousands of dollars making sure we have things like auto insurance and fire insurance 
on our homes—and never complain that the money is wasted.   The truth is that for every 1,000 people, 5 
will have a house fire, 70 will have an auto accident, and roughly 500 will need long-term care.  The 
average claims associated with these losses are $3,428 for a house fire, $3,000 for an auto accident, 
and $50,000 a year for long-term care.3   As obvious as these statistics are, many people are still under 
the impression that they don’t need to worry about long-term care (LTC) coverage.  What’s more, less 
than 10 percent of those over age 65 have purchased LTC insurance.4   So, why not insure against one 
of the most devastating costs of life—Long Term Care?

Fortunately, a record number of seniors are beginning to buy long term care insurance.    This is most 
likely due to increased education and the startling statistics we’re seeing.   Most the individuals that 
come to me for their long term care insurance needs, do so in order to protect their assets and to insure 
a choice in the quality of care that they deserve.  Of these individuals, the majority that end up needing 
the care can remain independent, don’t burden family members with constant 24-hour care, and don’t 
alter their standard of living.  For the majority, this is what makes LTC insurance such an obvious choice.

When selecting a policy, it’s important to select a policy that not only you can afford but also meets your 
needs. There are many insurance policies covering LTC available today.  Policies can vary widely in 
terms of benefits they’ll offer, terms of the contract, and features.  Choosing the right policy is not 
simple.   Individuals looking to purchase coverage should consider the following

five important factors:

• The insurer’s financial strength rating.  You obviously want a solid “A”
  

rated company that’s been around for awhile.  They are the most likely
to keep your premiums stable and honor your claims without hassle.

• Cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).  COLA increases your chosen daily
  

benefit each year in order to keep up with inflation.  For example, the
daily benefit amount might increase each year at a compounded or
simple rate of 5%.  With the health care costs skyrocketing, this benefit
is crucial.

• Home health care and custodial nursing home care.  This gives you
  

the option to stay at home and receive care as well as receive nursing
home care, if needed.  Most people would prefer to have the option of in
home care.

• Qualified policy.  Purchase a policy that is “qualified” for tax purposes.  
  

Currently both qualified and non-qualified policies are generally
considered tax-free.  However, the IRS could technically deem
non-qualified benefit payments taxable in the future.

• Guaranteed policy.  Is the policy guaranteed for life?  Make sure the
  

insurance company can’t cancel your policy due to bad health.

While long term care insurance might not be cheap, neither are the costs it covers.
For most of us, the solution to all of this is to obtain insurance as early as possible
when premiums are lower and before any pre-existing conditions arrive.  But
what is the solution when seniors are older and coverage is more expensive?
While I believe that you should have complete coverage, there are several
ways to keep premiums down.  To reduce premium costs consider these
options:

• Lengthen the elimination period.  The elimination period is a lot like a deductible.  The longer  
  

the elimination period (deductible), the less expensive the insurance will be.  However, this
means you will have to pay the expenses for the first 30, 60, or 90 days of care.  Having a 90-day
elimination period can cut premium costs considerably.

• Choose a shorter period of coverage.  Instead of choosing lifetime coverage choose a  
  

coverage period between three to five years.  The savings can be significant and studies show
the average nursing home stay is approximately 2 ½ years.5

• Choose a lower daily benefit.  The average annual cost of private nursing home care is about     
  

$150 per day.6  If you chose just $100 per day, you could lower your premiums, if you end up
needing the coverage, you could make up the difference with other forms of income, such as  social security.

•  Get a joint policy.  If you are married, you could get a joint policy that covers both you and your   
  

spouse at a discount.  Most major companies offer this.  If you had to make a choice on whom to
insure you should choose the wife; they are more likely to enter a nursing home due to a longer
life expectancy.

The biggest objection I hear regarding long term care insurance is that some people feel the money is 
wasted if they never end up utilizing the coverage—It really doesn’t have to be that way.  Recently the 
insurance industry has introduced a new alternative that combines life insurance and LTC benefits into 
one policy.  This type of policy insures that either you or your beneficiaries get back the amount you start 
with, if not more.  Here’s an example:  Lets assume you deposit $50,000 and you’re a 65-year-old male.  
The insurance company might provide you with up to $279,195 total long term care benefit.  If you don’t 
end up needing the LTC, the insurance company will provide your heirs with a guaranteed death benefit 
of up to $93,065 income tax free.7  It’s not for everybody:  These types of policies typically require a large 
upfront deposit, but for some people, this is a good way to turn an otherwise low paying investment or 
bank account into the protection they so badly need.

Long-term care insurance is more complex than many other forms of insurance, so I recommend working 
with a qualified investment advisor in order to find a suitable plan you’re comfortable with.

Endnotes1  Source: Best Review, AM Best Company, April, 1996
2  Source: Cooperative of American Physicians, March, 2002
3  Source: Society of Actuaries, 1995 / Health Insurance Association of America, 1994
4  Source: U.S. General Accounting Office, Testimony on Long Term Care, “Baby Boom  
Generation  Increases Challenge of Financing Needed Services,” March 27, 2001.
5  Source: Worth, February, 1996
6  Source:  Health, United States, 2001, Department of Health and Human Services CDC
7  Benefits are covered by the claims paying ability of the issuing insurance company.
This example is for illustrative purposes only and is not representative of an actual
policy.  Actual results may vary.