long term insurance

With Premiums Rising Dramatically, Should You Keep Your Long-Term Care Insurance?

by Elder Law

long term insurance

When clients ask us whether it is right for them, we consider their overall plan and unique situation. Sometimes we recommend long-term care insurance, sometimes we don’t, depending on the client’s needs and goals.

But what if you’ve already purchased long-term care insurance, and you’ve seen your premiums rise dramatically in recent years? First of all, you’re not alone. In some cases, premiums have gone up as much as 40 to 60 percent in recent years. The reason is that many insurance companies have suffered major losses on policies written more than ten years ago, and they are looking to recoup those losses. (A number of companies no longer offer long-term care insurance at all.)

If your premiums have increased, should you keep the policy? Make changes to it? Look for a cheaper one? Here are some factors to consider:

  • If your policy is more than two years old, you probably will not be able to find a cheaper one to replace it if you choose to cancel the existing policy. It may also be harder to qualify for a new policy
  • If your premiums have risen more than 20%, you may want to reduce your daily benefit to try and keep the premium down
  • You might be able to reduce your premium by lowering the rate of inflation protection. However, make sure it is not applied retroactively

Contact a New York Elder Law Attorney

Given that every family is unique, with particular needs and goals, it is advisable to discuss matters such as long-term care insurance with an experienced elder law attorney. We can review your policy and your existing plan to determine whether it is in your best interests to keep your existing policy. We can also recommend other tools and strategies that can help ensure you get the long-term care you need without losing your life savings. Contact us today for a consultation.

insurance

Five Factors to Consider When Purchasing Long-Term Care Insurance

by Uncategorized

The United States Department of Health and Human Services estimates that approximately 70 percent of Americans over the age of 65 will need some type of long-term care. Contrary to what many people believe, Medicare does not cover long-term custodial care. Given the cost of such care, it makes sense to consider your options, in advance, about how to obtain the care you might very well need without exhausting your life savings to pay for it.

insurance

One such option is long-term care insurance. Here are some factors to consider regarding the purchase of a long-term care insurance policy.

Your age and health matter.

The younger you are when you purchase long-term care insurance, the less expensive it will be. Unfortunately, if you have conditions such as diabetes or heart disease, your application might be rejected.

It is better to have some coverage than none at all.

The very best plans, such as those that adjust for inflation or cover the widest range of services, may be prohibitively expensive. Experts advise that policies with the option to add services in the future may be a better approach.

Know exactly what services are provided by your policy, and just as importantly, what services are not covered.

Take note of when the coverage begins.

Most policies have what is known as a waiting period. During the waiting period, you will have to pay for services on your own before the policy kicks in. As you would expect, the shorter the policy’s waiting period, the more expensive the policy will be.

Finally, if you buy your policy through an agent, ask him or her these three questions:

  • How long have you been selling long-term care insurance?
  • How many policies have you sold? Fewer than 100 is not enough.
  • How many insurers do you work with? The minimum should be three or four.

Contact an Experienced New York Estate Planning Attorney

We invite you to contact Amoruso & Amoruso LLP by calling (914) 253-9255 for a consultation about whether long-term care insurance is right for you, and if so, what type of policy makes the most sense for your particular situation.