With Premiums Rising Dramatically, Should You Keep Your Long-Term Care Insurance? | SB Estate Planning
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. If you would like to learn more about what your options are, give SB Estate Planning a call at (805)946-1550 or visit our website.
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
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 Santa Barbara Estate Planning at (805)946-1550 today to set up a consultation.
Author Bio
Julianna Malis is the Founder and Managing Partner of Santa Barbara Estate Planning & Elder Law, a Santa Barbara estate planning law firm she founded in 2014. With more than 25 years of experience practicing law, she has dedicated her career to representing clients in a wide range of legal matters, including estate planning, elder law, Medicaid and Medicare planning, probate, and other estate planning areas.
Julianna received her Juris Doctor from the University of the Pacific — McGeorge School of Law and is a member of the California State Bar Association.