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An Introduction to Long-Term Care Insurance

Posted by Aubrey Carew Sizer | Mar 07, 2022

In Northern Virginia, where we are located here at The Law Office of Aubrey Carew Sizer PLLC, nursing home care can easily cost $10,000 a month. The high cost of a long-term need for care can deplete even the best-planned estate. As a result, many seniors buy long-term care insurance to cover this risk. One great advantage of this insurance is that most policies now cover home care and assisted living care as well as nursing home care, causing some insurance agents to describe it as “avoid nursing home insurance.”

Unfortunately, the long-term care insurance industry is still relatively young and continues to experience growing pains. Until Congress began regulating the industry as part of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, many of the policies were poor, containing bars to coverage that could make them unavailable just when needed. Some companies that went into the business with great optimism have found that they were not making money and have retreated from the business or dropped out entirely. In recent years, insurers have been hit particularly hard by the climate of historically low interest rates because companies' profits rely on returns from investing policyholder premiums.  In addition, policyholders are living longer and fewer are abandoning policies midstream than actuaries had predicted. 

Between 2010 and 2012, three large insurers – MetLife, Unum and Prudential – ended long-term care insurance sales to some or all markets.   Companies still writing policies are raising premiums, some precipitously.  Others have put up roadblocks to claims on the policies. One long-term care insurance company, in particular, Bankers Life and Casualty, has gained a reputation for not paying claims

Still, having long-term care insurance can be a lifesaver for a senior needing care, as well as for his or her spouse and children. The biggest problem with policies now is the cost of the premiums is often out of reach for most seniors and the refusal of insurance companies to guarantee their rates. Another problem with long-term care insurance is that by the time many people can afford to purchase policies, they are uninsurable due to health problems. One solution to this problem, of course, is to purchase policies while you are young and healthy. The other solution is to shop around. Every company has its own underwriting criteria.

The website Reviews.com rates which long-term care insurers are the most affordable, deliver the most robust coverage, are best for extended care, and offer the simplest policies.  For the site's findings, click here.   

About the Author

Aubrey Carew Sizer

Aubrey Carew Sizer, Esquire, is the Principal Attorney of The Law Office of Aubrey Carew Sizer PLLC, a Northern Virginia law firm providing representation for Wills, Trusts, and Estate Planning, Long-Term Care Planning, Guardianship and Conservatorship, Special Needs Planning for the Disabled, and Probate, Estate and Trust Administration.

Services

The Law Office of Aubrey Carew Sizer PLLC provides customized and affordable estate planning (including wills, living trusts, powers of attorney, and advance medical directives); elder law services (including long-term care planning, special needs planning for the disabled, and guardianships and conservatorships); probate, estate and trust administration (including advising executors and administrators of estates about post-mortem planning and the local probate process in Virginia), as well as general aging and disability advice in Northern Virginia, including but not limited to Arlington, Alexandria, Ashburn, Bristow, Burke, Centreville, Chantilly, Gainesville, Fairfax, Falls Church, Haymarket, Herndon, Leesburg, Manassas, Manassas Park, Reston, Springfield, Sterling, and throughout Loudoun, Prince William, and Fairfax counties.

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