What you need to know about long-term care insurance and hybrid policies.
Raising children. Caring for aging parents. Building purposeful careers. We dedicate much of our lives to the people and things that mean the most to us. Eventually these responsibilities recede, allowing us more time for ourselves. This should be an exciting time, but the “what ifs” are always a possibility. Those turning 65 today have an almost 70% chance of needing some type of long-term care services as they age, and 20% will need it for longer than five years. This could mean home health care, nursing home care or personal or adult day care. Many people mistakenly believe that Medicare or Medicaid would cover their care expenses, but this is often not the case.
Without long-term care insurance in place, you may deplete your savings or retirement income, or have no choice but to rely on a family member for care.
What is long-term care insurance?
Long-term care insurance steps in if you develop a health condition that requires you to receive care and supervision. It covers the cost of help when you are unable to perform two of the six activities of daily living (ADLs) without assistance or supervision. This can mean support with toileting, continence, dressing, eating, bathing or transference. These services are not medical, so health insurance and Medicare won’t cover them.
What options are available?
Traditional, standalone long-term care policies offer coverage only for long-term care in your home or in a specialized facility. These products are still popular but in recent years long-term care has an innovative new choice. These hybrid policies, sometimes called combo or linked-benefit products, bundle long-term care insurance with either life insurance or an annuity. That means if you need long-term care, the policy covers your expenses, but if you don’t need it, you’ve got other options. Depending on the type of hybrid policy you select, it will either pay your loved ones
a death benefit, like a life insurance policy, or it guarantees you an income stream during retirement, like an annuity.
When should I buy long-term care coverage?
Think you’re too young and healthy for long-term care insurance? Because both long-term care insurance and life insurance rates generally increase with age, it’s best to start shopping for a hybrid or standalone policy when you’re in your 40s or 50s. That said, you can still buy a policy in your 60s or older, but note you can’t get it when you need it. You still need to be healthy to qualify, so it’s best to act sooner rather than later.
Remember, long-term care insurance can help you with many goals: It protects your assets, spares your family from financial and emotional stress, and puts you in control of your health decisions.
For more information or a full review or to see your long term care insurance options, please contact Beck Insurance Agency in Archbold, Ohio or Whitehouse, Ohio. You can reach Beck Insurance Agency by calling 419-446-2777, by emailing us at help@beckinsurance.com, or by submitting your request online by clicking here.
