If you're thinking about buying a standalone long-term care (LTC) insurance policy, you might have another option. An increasing number of states are permitting the sale of long-term care hybrid products that allow you to obtain LTC coverage with a special rider added on to your life insurance policy.
How Does It Work?
When it comes to long-term care, you might be able to add an acceleration rider to your life insurance policy that will allow you to tap into (accelerate) your death benefit if you need LTC during your life. For such a rider to take effect, most insurers require a prognosis of death within 12 months, and your benefits may be limited to a percentage of the face amount in your policy. Of course, your death benefit will be reduced by the amount of benefits you receive. If your LTC costs are high, you may eventually deplete your death benefit (assuming your policy allows it). This would negate the original purpose of your life insurance policy–to provide financially for your family members after your death.
How Do I Get the Funds?
The operation of LTC riders can differ from company to company. For example, in some cases you'll be reimbursed for your long-term care expenses as they're incurred, up to the limit set by the rider. In other cases, you may receive a percentage of the death benefit each month, which you can then apply to your LTC expenses. Before you purchase such a rider, make sure you understand exactly how you'll be reimbursed.
In addition, you'll want to know what triggers the prepayment of your death benefit that can be used for long-term care. For example, does simply needing home health care entitle you to benefits, or will you need to be chronically ill and unable to perform at least three activities of daily living to start receiving benefits?
How Do I Decide If I Should Buy a Long-Term Care Rider or a Separate Long-Term Care Insurance Policy?
Opinions differ on whether an acceleration rider can be an adequate substitute for a separate LTC insurance policy. The answer depends in part on the size of your life insurance policy, the money you'll receive while the policy is in force to pay your LTC costs, and how much long-term care is expected to cost at the time you'll need it.
If you do the math, you'll probably discover that an acceleration rider on your life insurance policy won't cover all of your long-term care expenses. In fact, it may give you a false sense of security that all of your needs will be met. And keep in mind that LTC benefits you receive will reduce the policy's death benefit, possibly leaving little or nothing for your remaining family members.
However, the premiums on a standalone LTC insurance policy can be very costly, depending on your current age, your health, and the benefits offered. If these costs make such a policy prohibitive, a long-term care rider on your insurance policy may be a plausible middle-ground solution. A rider can allow you to tap into funds in the future should you need long-term care (even if that means less for your surviving loved ones). For help in assessing your personal situation, contact an insurance professional.
Prepared by Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc. Copyright 2021
This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax or legal advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific situation with a qualified tax or legal advisor.
Riders are additional guarantee options that are available to an annuity or life insurance contract holder. While some riders are part of an existing contract, many other may carry additional fees, charges and restrictions, and the policy holder should review their contract carefully before purchasing. Guarantees are based on the claims paying ability of the issuing insurance company.
