Long-Term Care Insurance

Long-term care (LTC) insurance is designed to cover care services that traditional health insurance and Medicare do not cover. With a 65-year-old having approximately a 70% chance of needing some form of long-term care, understanding LTC insurance is essential for comprehensive financial planning.

What Long-Term Care Insurance Covers

LTC insurance provides coverage for seven primary types of care:

Key Distinction: Medicare and health insurance cover medical care (skilled nursing, hospital stays). LTC insurance covers custodial care---help with daily living activities like bathing, dressing, and eating---which Medicare does NOT cover.

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Benefit Triggers: The 6 Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)

To qualify for LTC benefits, an individual must meet one of two benefit triggers:

1. ADL Trigger: Unable to perform 2 of 6 Activities of Daily Living without substantial assistance for at least 90 days
2. Cognitive Impairment Trigger: Substantial cognitive impairment (such as Alzheimer's or dementia) requiring supervision

The Six ADLs

Exam Tip: Remember the 6 ADLs with the mnemonic "BED TBC" (Bathing, Eating, Dressing, Toileting, Bed-to-chair transferring, Continence). Note that walking is NOT an ADL.

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2025-2026 Long-Term Care Costs by Setting

Understanding current care costs is essential for determining appropriate benefit amounts:

*Projected at 2.54% average annual inflation

Planning Insight: The average 65-year-old spends approximately $121,000 on paid long-term care services. Costs vary significantly by state---nursing home private rooms range from $5,639/month (Texas) to $31,282/month (Alaska).

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Key Policy Features

Daily or Monthly Benefit Amount

The daily benefit (or monthly benefit) is the maximum amount the policy will pay per day for covered services.

• 2025 typical range: $150-$400 per day ($4,500-$12,000/month)
• Should be selected based on care costs in your area
• Higher benefits = higher premiums

Benefit Period

The benefit period determines how long benefits will be paid:

Statistics: The average nursing home stay is 2.2 years. However, 20% of residents stay 5+ years.

Elimination Period (Waiting Period)

The elimination period is the number of days you must pay out-of-pocket before benefits begin---similar to a deductible.

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Inflation Protection Options

Inflation protection is critical for policies purchased at younger ages, as care costs have historically risen 3-5% annually.

Example: A $200/day benefit with 3% compound inflation grows to $362/day after 20 years. With simple 3%, it only reaches $320/day.

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Traditional vs. Hybrid LTC Policies

Traditional LTC Insurance

Characteristics:

• Pure long-term care coverage
• Premiums are NOT guaranteed (can increase)
• "Use it or lose it"---no benefit if care not needed
• Lower initial premium than hybrid

Premium Ranges (2025):

Hybrid LTC Policies (Life Insurance + LTC)

Hybrid policies combine life insurance with long-term care benefits:

Key Advantages:

• Guaranteed premiums that won't increase
• Death benefit paid to beneficiaries if LTC not used
• Return of premium option available
• Cash indemnity payments (no receipts needed)

Types of Hybrid Policies:

1. Accelerated Death Benefit (ADB) Rider: Access life insurance death benefit for LTC; least LTC coverage
2. Linked Benefit Policy: Life insurance with LTC extension; prioritizes long-term care benefits
3. Annuity with LTC Rider: Annuity that provides LTC benefits; uses existing assets

Best Candidates:

• Net worth $500,000-$5 million
• At least $300,000 in liquid assets
• Couples with at least $500,000 in liquid assets

Cost Consideration: Hybrid policies cost 2-4 times more than traditional LTC insurance due to dual benefits.

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Tax-Qualified vs. Non-Qualified Policies

Tax-Qualified LTC Policies

To qualify for tax benefits, a policy must meet federal standards including:

• No cash surrender value
• Benefits limited to qualified LTC services
• Dividends used to reduce premiums or increase benefits
• Consumer protection requirements met
• Does not pay for expenses covered by Medicare

Tax Benefits:

• Premiums deductible as medical expenses (subject to age-based limits and 7.5% AGI floor)
• Benefits received are generally tax-free

2025-2026 Premium Deduction Limits

Business Deductions:

• Self-employed: 100% deductible as business expense (not subject to limits)
• C-Corporations: Fully deductible as business expense
• HSA funds can pay qualified LTC premiums

New for 2026: Under SECURE 2.0 Act, you can withdraw up to $2,500 annually (indexed for inflation) from retirement plans to pay LTC premiums without the 10% early withdrawal penalty (distribution still taxable as income).

Non-Qualified Policies

• Do not meet federal tax-qualified standards
• Premiums NOT tax-deductible
• May have more flexible benefit triggers
• Benefits may be taxable

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Planning Considerations

Best Time to Purchase

• Ideal age: Mid-50s to early 60s
• Premiums are significantly lower when younger and healthier
• Must qualify medically (pre-existing conditions can result in denial or higher premiums)

Who Should Consider LTC Insurance?

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On the Exam

CFP exam questions on LTC insurance commonly test:

1. ADL knowledge: Which activities are included (remember: walking is NOT an ADL)
2. Benefit triggers: 2 of 6 ADLs OR cognitive impairment for at least 90 days
3. Tax-qualified requirements: Premium deductibility limits by age
4. Inflation protection: Simple vs. compound growth calculations
5. Traditional vs. hybrid: Understanding when each is appropriate
6. Elimination period: Impact on premiums and out-of-pocket costs