Types of Policies

There are 2 types of long term care insurance policies:

• Traditional Long Term Care Insurance Policies
• Hybrid Linked Benefit Policies

It is important to understand the differences of the two types of policies to determine which approach is best suitable for your needs.

Traditional Long Term Care Insurance

With a traditional stand-alone long term care insurance policy, you elect your benefits at the outset:

1. Monthly Benefit ($3,000-$15,000)
2. Benefit Period (2 years, 3 years, 4 years, 5 years, 6 years, 8 years, 10 years, Unlimited) (Individual or Shared)
3. Inflation Protection (3% Compound, 5% Simple, 5% Compound)
4. Waiting Period (30 Days, 60 days, 90 days)

Your policy can be custom-tailored to suit your needs.

Your premium is guaranteed renewable.  Premiums are typically paid on a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual basis.

As long as you pay your premium, you will have coverage in-force.

Long term care insurance policies are similar to your auto insurance, homeowners insurance, and health insurance.  There is no cash value.

As with your auto or homeowners insurance, if you do not make a claim on your long term care insurance policy you will not receive any benefits (actually a good thing).

Because traditional long term care insurance utilizes a "pay-as-you-go" approach your premium is typically affordable and attainable.

Most importantly because traditional long term care insurance policies are able to be customized.  You are able to design the policies to account not only for your current needs but also to account for future inflation.

If inflation protection requirements are met, traditional long term care insurance policies will also offer you Medcaid asset disregard benefits through your State Long Term Care Partnership Program.

With traditional long term care insurance, your premium may be subject to a rate increase. 

Hybrid Linked Benefit Long Term Care Insurance Policies

Traditional "pay-as-you-go" long term care insurance policies are just one avenue for you to explore when you are considering your long term care planning needs. Additional planning options for you to consider are "linking" your long term care benefits to additional insurance benefits such as a paid up life insurance policy or an annuity, for example.

Unlike traditional long term care insurance policies that have a small premium "pay-as-you-go" approach, linked benefit policies usually are funded with a one-time single premium up-front such as $50,000 or $100,000.

The appeal of linked-benefit policies  is that you are guaranteed to receive your premium back should you never need to receive long term care.

Also premiums are fixed, and are guaranteed to never be increased.

Linked-benefit long term care insurance policies will:

• pay for your long term care expenses should you receive care
• provide your estate a tax-free death benefit should you not need care
• offer you a 100% money-back guarantee should you change your mind

For example, you may have already set aside $500,000 in your savings should you need long term care. Let's presume you are a 60 year old female. As an alternative to self-funding your long term care needs, you could choose to move $100,000 of the $500,000 in your savings into a linked-benefit long term care policy. In doing so you could receive:

•$500,000 of long term care benefits ($7000 month for 6 years) should you need care
•$165,000 tax-free death benefit to your beneficiaries should you not need care
•$100,000 returned to you should you change your mind

Linked benefit long term care policies may be worthwhile for you to consider if you have liquid assets generally not needed for retirement income that can be easily repositioned.

Hybrid long term care policies do not offer State Long Term Care Partnership Protection.

Receive Independent Unbiased Objective Long Term Care Insurance Advice

You have various options to consider when deciding upon long term care insurance.  We will help you review and compare your rates, benefits and options with all of the traditional long term care insurance and linked benefit solutions offered by major top-rated companies such as Genworth, Mass Mutual, Mutual of Omaha, Lincoln Moneyguard, Pacific Life, Transamerica, Medamerica, State Life and more.

Please call us direct toll free at 800-891-5824 or complete our easy online quote request form.

We look forward to hearing from you.