Life Insurance With Long Term Care Benefits
Asset-based insurance, an alternative to traditional long term care insurance.
There a millions of Americans entering into Medicare-age every year.
Many think that health insurance or Medicare pays for long term care, it doesn't.
- longtermcare.gov
What are your options?
Your options depend on your health, age, and financial goals.
If you want to insure for the risk then you must be healthy enough to
qualify for insurance and be able to afford it.
If you are not going to insure and you plan to pay for care
out of pocket then you will need $30,000-$100,000+ or more per person
per year to cover the cost of care. The cost of care depends on the type
of care needed and where the care is provided.
Predicting your future.
Your future will happen whether you plan for it or not. By waiting
to decide, you are deciding to wait. If your health changes you may not
be insurable.
Of those applying for long term care insurance ages 60-69 25% are declined coverage because of health, ages 70-79 we find 44% are declined. The younger you are when you buy insurance the cheaper it is and more likely you will health-qualify.
According to the Alzheimer's Association 1 in 3 will die
from Alzheimer's or another form of dementia. Alzheimer's is expected to
become the leading cause of death in the future. Do you really
think you are going to beat the odds?
If you think that you will not need long term care when you
are old and frail then consider that you will still be leaving a legacy
with the life insurance. Life insurance benefits the living.
These Life/LTC policies are designed specifically to be used for long term care.
You don't buy insurance planning to use it tomorrow.
Protecting your future.
What do you want to have happen with your estate? Most reply they
want it to go to their children, grandchildren, or a charity.
Jonathan Pond, award winning financial advisor claims that 90% of estates go in this order:
1. Nursing home
2. IRS
3. Children
4. Grandchildren
5. Charity
"The more expensive the premium, the more important it is that you have it."
- Ric Edelmen, America's #1 Financial Advisor (Barron's)
Is Life insurance with LTC better than traditional LTC insurance?
Life insurance with long term care benefits also called
asset-based insurance or linked-benefit insurance provides protection
for the premium dollars you pay that traditional long term care
insurance does not provide. Plus with Life/LTC your premiums will never
increase.
With a Life/LTC policy the premiums you pay will go towards a policy that you can use for long term care and if you do not need care, or only need some care, the policy will pay a tax-free death benefit to your beneficiaries. If you have traditional LTC insurance you will lose the premiums paid if you don't use the policy.
If long term care services are needed, which assets would you use first?
Typically you would use cash reserves for long term care expenses
because cash are usually the lowest yielding and most accessible.
Instead of earmarking an entire account (or more) for long term care
expenses you can reallocate a portion of the cash reserves to purchase a
life insurance policy with long term care benefits.
How you can pay for your Life/LTC policy.
You can reposition existing money such as CDs, Money
Market, Savings, or you can 1035 exchange an existing universal/whole
life insurance policy. See the Pension Protection Act for more information.
Q: Can I use my IRA money or one of my old 401k's to fund the plan?
A: If you are over 59 1/2 and if available in your state,
you can do a 1035 exchange or "trustee to trustee transfer" to
reposition the money to fund the policy from a 401k/IRA account. Spouses can share benefits,
Q: I am facing a RMD next year when I turn 70 1/2, will I be able to use the RMD to pay for my policy?
A: Your RMD (Required Minimum Distribution) will automatically
be taken out of your qualified account to pay for the premium. Depending
on how much your RMD will be would determine if you needed an
additional distribution. RMD Calculator
Long Term Care is a family affair.
The majority of caregivers are family members.