Long-Term Care Insurance: Pricey But Necessary?

One of the most common questions I get is "Should we purchase long-term care insurance? Is it worth it?" The answer to that question is up to the individual client, but usually people feel that it's "too expensive" as they pay it while healthy, and it transforms into a "lifesaver" when one becomes ill and the insurance is paying out.

The following is an article from AP Business Writer Dave Carpenter.

cHICAGO – Joyce Smith visited friends recently at a modern nursing home that made her thankful she has long-term care insurance. With relatively plush conditions, including large private rooms and lots of space and privacy, this was the type of safety net she could live with someday.

Turning to her husband, she said: “You keep paying that long-term care, Harry!”

While the Green Valley, Ariz., couple are healthy and hope they are years away from filing a claim, they figure they’ll end up in much better hands thanks to the long-term care policy they secured six years ago when Harry was 54 and Joyce was 60. They acted after watching Joyce’s mother Gladys fall ill and go into a nursing home without such protection, draining her life savings of $200,000 in 2 1/2 years.

“If you’re able to, you should have it,” Joyce says of the coverage. She takes comfort in knowing that she and her husband will be able to provide for any daily assistance they may need in later years.

The Smiths are among 8 million Americans with long-term care insurance — an area where insurers expect big growth as baby boomers zero in on their senior years.

The projections are high because the reality is that about 70 percent of people over 65 will require some type of long-term care services during their lifetime, according to the National Clearinghouse for Long-Term Care Information. It might come at any age, actually; 40 percent of people currently receiving long-term care are 64 or under.

But adding a significant extra cost can be daunting, especially at a time when many are focused on saving for retirement.

So can figuring out what level of benefits you want and how long a period to pay for. Most people get three, four or five years of coverage, because only 20 percent of today’s 65-year-olds will need care for more than five years. The more you sign up for, the higher the cost.

The price varies widely based on age, policy type, benefit level and number of years purchased, among other things, and can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars a year. Someone seeking protection equal to today’s average annual cost of care, about $55,000, would pay $1,064 a year for a standard policy purchased at age 55 or $2,013 for a similar policy at age 65, according to the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, an industry group.

As a benchmark, Consumer Reports Money Adviser recently noted that, in general, coverage may be largely unaffordable for people with a net worth below $200,000 to $300,000, not including their home. If you’re in that category, you will likely have to rely on government programs for any long-term care, which can cost you your choice of care facilities and, like Gladys, all your savings.

Other drawbacks also exist, including the limits and conditions of many policies.

But foregoing it is risky. Retiree health costs can be enormous without even factoring in the savings needed to cover long-term care expenses.

A man retiring at 65 in 2008 will need anywhere from $64,000 to $159,000 in savings to cover health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket expenses in retirement just for a 50 percent chance of having enough money, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute, and $196,000 to $331,000 for a 90 percent chance.

A woman the same age would need $86,000 to $184,000 for a 50-50 chance and $223,000 to $390,000 to have a 90 percent chance.

The Smiths, who are retired, pay $4,995 a year for a joint policy with MassMutual that will provide extensive long-term care benefits for an unlimited time — now rare — when they become eligible by virtue of needing help with daily living activities. They consider themselves fortunate they locked in for that amount, having been told by their agent recently that it might cost triple the amount today.

“It’s one of those insurance products that’s kind of difficult to understand,” says Harry, a retired firefighter. “I studied it for nearly a year. ... But it gives you peace of mind to have it.”

Having the insurance also protects children from a potentially heavy burden.

“We’ve had friends tell us ‘We’re not getting long-term care, let the kids take care of us,”’ says Joyce, who with her husband has two daughters and a son. “Well, that’s not being very nice to the children. We don’t want our kids to have to take care of us.”

Long Term Care's Impact On The Family

"Families are not necessarily drawn together in a time of crisis. Very often, they are blown apart." says Nancy Dykeman, an educator of long term care planners.

Nancy illustrates this problem with an example:

Imagine a young family. The father is working toward a career promotion; he coaches his kids' soccer teams. His wife works part time. They have two children. The mom's parents are retired, healthy and live in Arizona, playing golf and loving life. Then the unthinkable happens - the young mom suffers a stroke. Months of rehabilitation and care at home follow. Grandma and Grandpa travel back and forth from Arizona, often staying for long periods to help, even though their retirement dream is slipping away.

Dad must continue working to support his family, but his employer is tired of the time he spends on the phone and his coming in late or leaving early. A promotion is off the table.

What about the kids? Their mom, confidante and best friend is hurting and no longer fun. All of her energy goes into trying to recover. Kids' roles change too. They must help prepare meals, keep things picked up, and support their dad and grandparents.

Who knew this young wife and mother would need long-term care? Would the impact be different had it been one of the grandparents? Whenever anyone of any age needs long term care, it's a family issue.

Dykeman says that Long-term care insurance (LTCI) would have been a priceless gift for this family because it "protects the family, allowing them to think and work together without the stress and sacrifice of constant crisis mode." It also allows each family member to keep their normal role, rather than that of a caregiver.

Make sure you have a plan - it's critical for all adults, of any age. Whether it includes long term care insurance, annuities, or Medicaid planning and asset protection, consult with a professional to ensure you and your family are taken care of.