A Review Of Long Term Care Insurance
Long Term Care insurance is rising in popularity. Following is a definition of this insurance, including the general types available. Services provided are discussed. The advantages to having this coverage, and the best time to purchase a policy, will also be explained.
This insurance helps provide for the cost of caring for an individual beyond a specific time period, usually 90 days. It does not necessarily require the beneficiary to be elderly, but someone who cannot perform at least two basic activities of daily living, such as walking, eating, bathing, dressing, toileting, etc. The person is not necessarily “sick” but cannot perform basic functions due to a variety of reasons. This type of coverage provides services not offered by regular health insurance, medicare or medicaid.
Two general types of policies exist. The first is “tax-qualified”, which is more common. The beneficiary must be unable to perform at least two normal daily living activities. The second is “non-tax qualified”. This plan actually requires the benefit recipient to be unable to perform only one activity of daily living. Tax-qualified policies are more prevalent, because people want to be able to deduct premiums from their taxes. However, these tax issues can be complex. Individuals should seek advice of knowledgeable tax professionals before choosing a type of policy, since non-tax qualified plans provide better benefits. Group policies through one’s employer do exist, but may or may not be tax-qualified, and can be canceled by the insurance company.
Individuals who do not have friends or family who can care for them are prime candidates for this kind of insurance. These plans provide for live-in companions, home or adult day care, hospice or Alzheimer’s’s facilities, as well as assisted living. Individuals are reimbursed for expenses as they occur. Premium amounts are driven by the age and health of the recipient when the plan is purchased, whether benefit provision is scheduled to adjust for inflation, as well as the length of waiting period before covered care begins.
This coverage is helpful because it provides care for those without family or friends who are able to do so. In addition, it pays for services that Medicare and Medicaid do not. Home health care costs an average of $29 per hour. Medicaid pays some of this cost, but usually sell off most assets before becoming eligible. Medicare provides some home care and short term stay in nursing facilities, but no long term care.
If an insured’s net worth, excluding housing, is between $200,000 and $2 million, then getting this insurance is recommended. Financial advisers recommend that individuals purchase the insurance when in their fifties, not before or not later. If premiums are paid for too long before services are needed, the cost may exceed the benefit. If people wait too long to purchase long term care coverage, premiums may be too costly.
People are living longer, but because of this, usually end up needing assistance later in life. Therefore, Long Term Care insurance should be addressed as part of retirement planning. While premiums can be expensive, they can be less costly than actual health and long term care costs. Those who purchase these policies feel assured that they will be cared for, and their personal assets protected.
For more information on how Long Term Care Insurance can help prepare us as we age. Also you can get a long term care insurance quote. We represent 20 of the top LTCi providers. This gives you tremendous options.
