Introduction
This is the question that everyone wants to know. How much does long term care insurance cost? And how do you decide how much coverage to get? The answer can be complicated, but we’re here to help.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to determine whether long term care insurance is right for you, and what kind of coverage you should buy if it is.
What’s the cost of long-term care insurance?
The cost of long-term care insurance depends on a few factors, including your age and health. Generally speaking, the older you are when you purchase LTCI coverage, the more it will cost. Your premiums may also be lower if you’re in good health—but even if you have some minor health issues (like arthritis or high blood pressure), don’t fret: It’s still possible to secure affordable long-term care insurance quotes if they aren’t completely out of reach.
To get started on your quote search, go to GetInsuranceQuotes.com and fill out our short questionnaire about your personal information and health status—you can even upload an image or video clip so we can see how healthy (or unhealthy) you are!
How much long-term care insurance do you need?
How much long-term care insurance do you need?
The average cost of long-term care insurance is roughly $1,300 per year. While the average length of a stay in a nursing home is about 2.5 years, only about 38% of people will stay for more than 2 years. If you have children who are taking time off work to care for you during this period, that can cut into your savings as well (and they’ll need to factor into your planning). Fortunately, if there’s one thing we know about life it’s that it can throw curve balls at any moment—so adding some buffer to your financial plan would be wise.
If all this sounds intimidating and like something many people would rather not think about until they absolutely have to, don’t fret! There are plenty of ways to protect yourself from these costs without locking down every part of your future just yet:
Is it too late to get coverage?
It’s never too late to get long-term care coverage. The key is to start early, because the older you get, the more expensive your premiums will be. If you haven’t yet purchased a policy and are in good health, it’s worth paying close attention now so that when (or if) you need long-term care coverage later on down the road it won’t be difficult or expensive to obtain.
A lot of people think they can’t afford to buy a policy because they’re over 50 years old and have medical issues like diabetes or heart disease that would make them uninsurable. But this isn’t true; many insurance companies offer plans with affordable premiums for those with pre-existing conditions or life-threatening illnesses like cancer.
It’s also worth noting that there are programs out there designed specifically for people who don’t want their finances tied up in long term care costs: some employers offer group policies at discounted rates through their employer plan benefits; other programs allow individuals who qualify based on age and income level (so long as they meet certain guidelines) access without having first met any medical requirements whatsoever!
Long-term care insurance is valuable but expensive.
Long-term care insurance can be a lifesaver in the event of an extended health crisis. But as with most valuable things, it comes at a premium: the average cost of long-term care insurance is $1,400 per year. That’s not cheap by any stretch of the imagination.
The price of long-term care coverage varies wildly depending on what kind of policy you buy and when you purchase it (i.e., whether or not you’re over 50). There are also several different types of policies to choose from—some cover only home health aides while others cover assisted living as well—so make sure you know exactly what your needs are before you sign on the dotted line.
The important thing is that if someone in your family needs around-the-clock help with their daily activities due to illness or injury, this type of insurance can pay out hundreds if not thousands over time to help offset those costs until they reach Medicaid eligibility levels (around $2 million).
Conclusion
Long-term care insurance is a valuable way to protect yourself and your loved ones from the cost of nursing home care. However, it’s important to understand that this type of coverage is expensive. The average cost per year for long-term care insurance ranges from $2,000-$5,000 depending on factors like age and health status—but if you’re older than 50 years old with less than perfect health? You may need multiple policies!