Long-Term Care Insurance

Policy TypeHealth

Coverage for help with daily living activities and cognitive impairment, costs that health plans largely exclude.

Overview

Nursing homes run over 100,000 dollars a year for a private room in many states and home care adds up just as fast, which is the risk the product addresses. Policies are built from a daily benefit, a benefit period, an elimination period, and inflation protection, with compound inflation riders strongly advised for buyers under 70. Premiums have risen sharply over the decades as insurers underestimated claims and lapse behavior, and some carriers exited after rate shocks. Hybrid life and annuity policies with care riders have grown because they guarantee a payment even if care is never needed. Buying in the mid 50s balances cost against insurability.

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