Long term care insurance is a mystery phrase for most people. Most people don’t know what ” long term care insurance ” is and the rest don’t care.
But they should find out what it is because then they’ll care! If you have an older relative for whom you’ll be responsible, it might turn out to be the cheapest and least aggravating purchase ever!
Is it cheaper to pay $ 4000 a year in premiums for long term care insurance or worry about having to pay $ 3000 and up PER MONTH if she or he needs to be in a long term care facility. It is your choice.
For more information, go to hughestrustco.com
Facts about Buying Long-Term Care Insurance
Long-term care insurance is an essential product that many people overlook, but its popularity is steadily increasing. More than 5% of senior citizens are in need of a way to pay for a nursing home during the waning years of their life. Buying long-term care insurance is the best way to protect their assets and pass them down to their children.
Finding the Ideal Long-Term Care Insurance Policy
- Find an agent that you’re comfortable with. You’ll have a lot of questions about the policies available. A patient agent that explains policies to you is the best one.
- Compare policies and prices. Keep in mind that a long-term care policy is very specific about what it will pay. It does not simply cover all of your medical bills once you reach a certain age.
- Make the decision with family and loved ones. If you have children willing to help with your medical care in the event that you need day-to-day assistance, choose a policy with less nursing home care benefits. You may not need them.
Questions to Ask When Buying a Long-Term Care Insurance Policy
- Does the policy include coverage for hospital care, nursing home care or in-home care?
- Are there stipulations that cancel my coverage if I acquire a certain disease or for other types of incidents?
- How long will the coverage last once I start using it?
- Will the premiums increase? If so, how much?
- What is the maximum amount payout of benefits?
Will the policy begin paying the day I need it, or will there be an “elimination period” before the policy begins to pay?
Don’t let the prospect of purchasing long-term care insurance be a daunting task. Better yet, don’t do it alone, either. Involve family and friends to help you make the decision. This is an important commodity that simply shouldn’t be overlooked with long-term care insurance.
The Cost of Buying a Long-Term Care Insurance Policy
There are several factors that are considered when discussing the cost of buying long-term care insurance. The younger you are when you search for a policy, the less expensive the premiums tend to be. Similarly, a good medical history will also affect the premium prices. If you’re considering purchasing long-term care insurance for yourself or an aging loved one, here are some average prices that you can expect to pay and some tips to help you find less expensive policies.
The Prices of Long-Term Care Insurance
A year’s stay in a nursing home currently costs an average of $40,000.
Premiums for a long-term care insurance policy can range from $500-2,500 each year, depending on age and health history.
With an inflation rate of 5%, you can expect that your premiums will at least double after 14 years. That means that if you are paying a premium for a room that costs $100 today, it will likely cost over $400 in 30 years.
Ways to Save Money on Long-Term Care Insurance Premiums
Choose higher deductibles for your policy. Long-term care insurance policies are similar to all other types of insurance in that you will be required to pay a deductible before your policy begins to pay. Paying a higher deductible means lower annual premiums.
Choose a longer elimination period. This is the amount of time between when you go into a hospital or a nursing home and when your policy actually begins to pay your benefits. A one-year elimination period is ideal for reducing your premium.
Get a policy to fill the gap. If you make $30,000 annually, you typically only need a $10,000 policy to cover the cost of your care.
Long-term care insurance is quickly becoming a necessity. By the time people realize they need it, though, it’s too late to get a decent price. Start early and make careful decisions to help ensure that your needs are taken care of when you are unable to care for yourself.
The Importance of Long Term Care Insurance
Having a long-term care insurance policy provides peace of mind for both the policyholder and the family. Unfortunately, most people don’t recognize the need for the policy until it’s too late. With rising costs of insurance and longer life expectancies for people in general, long-term care insurance is more important than ever.
Some Facts about Long-Term Care Insurance
- There are more senior citizens in the general population than ever before.
- By 2010, more than 20 million people will be over the age of 75.
- In the United States and Canada, more than $1 billion dollars each year is spent on nursing home care for seniors.
- Ten percent of seniors will spend at least some of their time in a nursing home.
- Nearly half of all nursing home patients will return home before passing away. The other half will finish their lives while being cared for in a nursing home.
- One quarter of adults who live past the age of 85 will go to a nursing home for the last years of their life. The numbers increase with for each age group as they get older.
- About 70% of people who live in nursing homes have exhausted all of their savings within one year. Other assets are often exhausted soon after that.
- The cost of staying in a nursing home is roughly $110 each day. Depending on how long a person stays, their bill could reach into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
- Contrary to popular belief, the government does not automatically pay for long-term care.
With these grim facts, it’s no wonder why more and more people are turning to long-term care insurance to make sure their needs are met when they get older. Even though only a small percentage of people will be able to take advantage of the benefits, it’s a great product to have for peace of mind as you enter into your later adult life.
You can find other long term care insurance articles at our websites http://www.long-term-care-insurance-cost.com/ and http://www.hughestrustco.com