LONG TERM CARE INSURANCE

What is long term care insurance?

A long term care (LTC) insurance policy helps cover the cost of long term care, picking up where health and disability insurance leave off. LTC refers to help with daily activities -- such as eating, bathing or dressing -- over an extended period of time. It can also include help for those suffering from a severe cognitive impairment such as Alzheimer's disease. LTC is generally provided in the patient's home, an assisted living facility , or a nursing home.

Why would I want long term care insurance?

(1) At some point in your life there is a strong probability that you may need LTC;
(2) LTC is very expensive. The national average cost of a semi-private room in a nursing home is now $70,000 annually. By 2030, the average annual cost of nursing home care is expected to exceed $190,000 per year and (3) in most cases, health and disability insurance cover only a fraction of LTC costs.

Don't expect much help from Medicare or Medicaid either. Medicare pays for skilled care, however it is for a limited period of time and generally does not purely cover custodial care (other than incidental homemaker services). Medicaid covers some long term care, but not until you (and your spouse) "spend down" nearly all of your assets.

The bottom line: If you want access to the highest quality of care and don't want to trade the wealth you've accumulated over a lifetime to pay for your care, you need LTC insurance.
Remember, too, that the need for LTC can happen to anyone, even in the prime of life. And the cost of purchasing LTC insurance is substantially reduced when you purchase it while you're young.