Long-Term Care Insurance

Have you ever worried about medical costs consuming your savings?

Rising medical costs and longer life expectancies are making this a concern for many. There are some government programs like Medicaid and Medicare that can help cover some expenses of long-term care. However, there are restrictions on what is covered and qualifying for these programs may only be possible after you have used all your personal savings.

With long-term care insurance, you will be in a better position to get the care and services you need. You will have a greater opportunity to choose the type of care you want. You can protect your other assets and be in a better position to leave assets to heirs when you pass away. You will be in more control of your financial future.

The Costs of Long-term Care

Several studies have found that a year's stay in a nursing home can cost over $60,000. Even the cost of having a skilled professional come to your home and provide care three times a week can be over $15,000 annually depending on what type of care you need. While life expectancies are increasing, amount of care we need (and its cost) seems to be increasing even faster.

Paying for Long-term Care

Neither Medicare nor private medical insurance cover most long-term care costs. Medicare will pay for some special services, but most people receiving long-term care need help with things not covered, like bathing, dressing and eating. In most cases, Medicare does not cover these.

Medicaid will cover nursing home care, but it functions like a safety-net type program. To get Medicaid help, you must meet federal and state guidelines for income and assets. Many people start paying for care out of their personal assets and then qualify for Medicaid when their personal assets are depleted. While some assets and income can be protected, by the time you qualify for Medicaid, you will probably have used up most of the assets you had hoped to pass on to surviving family members.

Long-term care insurance is another way to pay for some or all of your long-term care. This type of insurance was introduced in the 1980s as nursing home insurance but now covers a great deal more. The greatest benefits of these policies are that they enable you to make more decisions about your care and they help protect your other assets.

Some Guidelines

1. Usually, age 50 is the time to consider a long-term care policy. Younger than that, you probably do not need it and older than that, you may have a condition that could prevent you from qualifying or result in higher premiums. The earlier you buy the coverage, the lower the premiums.
2. Be sure the insurance company is financially sound. You may qualify for benefits for a long time and you want the insurance company to be around. You can get ratings reports from your agent or at the library on insurance companies.
3. Review what types of expenses are covered by the policy. Some policies provide coverage for only some services, a limited period of time or only up to a certain total dollar limit. As you would expect, the more services covered, the higher the premium.
4. Get the coverage you need. Many experts suggest at least three years' coverage. While three years in a nursing home today may cost $150,000, be sure the policy you are considering protects you against medical cost inflation.
5. Review the elimination period. This refers to the amount of time between you start receiving care and when your insurance starts paying.
6. Be sure to understand what makes you eligible for benefits.
7. Make sure the policy is guaranteed renewable. This does not necessarily mean that your premiums will not rise. It does mean you can still get the coverage.

Summary

Long-term care insurance can be a critical part of your overall financial plan. If you have substantial assets and do not want to rely on Medicare or Medicaid, you should consider it. When shopping for a policy, talk to several companies, ask a lot of questions and be sure to understand all the terms of the policy.