Clients often seek the advice of an elder law attorney regarding the best protection for their assets in the event they need long-term care in a nursing home or assisted living facility. Since Medicare does not pay for long-term custodial care, having enough to pay for several months to several years of care in a facility is a serious concern for many seniors.
If you have minimal assets, you may qualify for Wisconsin’s Medicaid program to pay for care. But what if your assets exceed the limits for Medicaid qualification? Should you purchase long-term care insurance, or a combination of life insurance and long-term care insurance (called “hybrid” policies)? Factors to consider when choosing between the two include your current health status, available financial resources and your risk tolerance.
With traditional long-term care insurance, you will pay a monthly (or sometimes annual) premium. If you end up needing long-term care, the policy pays out a daily or monthly benefit, up to a lifetime maximum. If you never need long-term care, you end up with no return on the premiums you have paid. While this is the nature of many types of insurance (auto, home, term life), some find the “use-it-or-lose-it” strategy difficult to swallow.
As an alternative, some individuals will purchase so-called hybrid policies. These are policies that combine long-term care insurance with permanent life insurance policies that include a savings/investment component that builds over time. If you end up needing long-term care, you withdraw funds from the policy as they are needed, and the insurance company continues to pay for your care when those funds run out. If you never need long-term care, the funds are still available during your lifetime, and if you die without having expended the funds, your heirs receive the funds upon your death.
Typically, it is easier to qualify for hybrid type coverage because traditional long-term care insurance has stricter underwriting requirements and, therefore, the status of your health will be a consideration in which type of product to invest. Affordability may also be a factor. Hybrid policies are paid over a much shorter period of time, so you will not be able to stretch payments out as long as you would with traditional long-term care insurance, which means you will need to consider available resources. Individuals with more substantial resources may wish to look at alternative investments.
You should also inquire as to whether the payments you will be making are tax deductible. Payments for some hybrid products may not be deductible. Finally, be sure to consult with your attorney, accountant, and financial advisor as to the legal, financial, and tax consequences of your purchase before you make your final decision.