Purchasing Long-Term Care Insurance (LTC) can be an important part of your overall financial plan. Designing the right policy to meet your individual needs and objectives is a key component in the purchasing process. Caring for yourself or another family member with a chronic long term condition (requiring extensive home care or nursing home services) can deplete family savings and retirement funds. The average cost of a nursing facility in the Los Angeles area (semi-private room) is $137.00 per day which equates to approximately $50,005 per year, while home health care is $18.00 per hour. (MetLife Market Survey of Nursing Home and Home Care Costs 2004)
What is long-term care? Long-term care is the daily assistance necessary when one contracts a serious disability that lasts for a period of time (considered 90 days and longer), and they are not able to care for themselves. Types of care include: home health care, home care, adult day health care, respite care, assisted living facilities, skilled nursing facilities and hospice services.
Will I need long-term care? The older you are, the greater the probability that some sort of long term care will be needed. 70% of people over age 65 will require long term care at some point; one in two over age 85 require care and assistance with Activities of Daily Living. A LTC insurance policy is not the same as your health insurance or your Medicare coverage (which provide a limited number of days for home health care and skilled nursing). A LTC insurance policy can help protect your assets from the rising cost of care, allowing you to remain financially and socially independent.
Are there alternative solutions? Let us help you explore self funding versus an annuity versus life insurance with or without a LTC rider. Individual and group plans are available. In 2017 we see the number of providers for these types of policies decreasing. We welcome the opportunity to meet with you or your employer to explore these benefits.
How much does a long-term care insurance policy cost? Contact us for a copy of "Building a Long-Term Care Plan". Or to request a no-obligation quote call us at the above phone number or write us at CONTACT.
Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Program: The CLASS program established under Health Reform Law (2010) establishes a national voluntary long-term care insurance program. This program design was disbanded in late 2011.