There is no easy answer to this deceptively simple question. Like other insurance, long term care insurance (“LTCI”) comes with many options and can prove surprisingly complex. For instance, many consumers are uncertain what their LTCI does and doesn’t cover.

First, it’s important to understand that medical insurance rarely covers long term care, and LTCI doesn’t cover routine medical costs. Thus, while Medicare may pay for preventive care and to treat illnesses, it won’t cover long term care in a nursing home or other setting. Neither will most employee and other health insurance. Therefore, if you need long term care, you must look to private resources, Medicaid, or LTCI.

Medicaid’s coverage and availability of facilities varies widely from state to state. In addition, choices of care settings and amenities can be more limited for Medicaid patients than for individuals with quality LTCI. Articles https://specialneedsnj.com/articles.php and Q&As https://specialneedsnj.com/elder_law.php throughout SpecialNeedsNJ.com, further explain Medicaid eligibility requirements and planning options. FriedmanLaw frequently helps families qualify for Medicaid without exhausting life savings.

Second, you should recognize that LTCI only covers care within the policy terms. LTCI usually pays a fixed daily benefit for a limited period of time after the insured has been unable to care for him/herself for a set period of time. Once the insured satisfies the elimination period, LTCI pays the daily rate toward long term care costs. For instance, LTCI with a $100 daily benefit and 90 day elimination period would pay up to $100 per day for long term care once the insured has met the policy’s benefit criteria (typically needing assistance with enumerated activities of daily living) for 90 days. The greater the daily benefit and maximum benefit term and the shorter the elimination period, the greater the LTCI premium. However with New Jersey nursing homes often charging over $10,000 per month, LTCI will be of little use unless it is sufficient to cover monthly LTCI costs less Social Security and other available private funds.

LTCI boosters tout the peace of mind that can come with knowing your care costs should be covered. But, the operative word is “should” because depending on the policy, LTCI can be very broad or fraught with limitations. Generally, when purchasing LTCI from a quality insurer, you get what you pay for. In other words broader coverage typically leads to higher prices and policies with low ball premiums probably won’t meet your needs. LTCI premiums vary with age, sex, health, and policy options.

LTCI usually can’t be purchased once an individual needs long term care and LTCI premiums are more manageable if you buy your insurance while younger. Therefore, you may want to consider buying LTCI while in your fifties or sixties instead of waiting until your seventies.

LTCI comes in many flavors, all of which impact benefits and costs. For instance, LTCI may be available with compound inflation protection, simple inflation protection, or no inflation protection. Compound protection is worth more and costs more than simple cost of living increases, but the benefit may be very valuable for younger purchasers. Thus, some consumers may do well to trade a longer elimination period for greater inflation protection. Other options may combine life insurance with LTCI, provide refundable premiums, or integrate husband and wife coverage.

When comparing LTCI options, your top concerns should be to understand the coverages and limitations offered by each policy; whether, when, and why premium can rise; whether the insurer is sound; and the insurer’s reputation for paying or denying reasonable claims. Finally, you also may want to consider a public/private partnership LTCI policy. [See “Public-Private Long Term Care Insurance Medicaid Program Protects Savings & Funds Long Term Care” at https://specialneedsnj.com/article.php?id=26]

Because LTCI can be so complex, professional advice can be crucial. FriedmanLaw has helped many families unravel the complexities of LTCI.

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