Long-Term Care Insurance — Planning for the Care You May Need

Most Americans significantly underestimate the likelihood that they will need long-term care at some point in their lives—and the cost of that care when it becomes necessary. Long-term care encompasses a broad range of personal and custodial services—help with daily activities like bathing, dressing, and eating, as well as care in assisted living facilities, memory care units, and nursing homes. These services are not covered by Original Medicare in any meaningful way, and they can be extraordinarily expensive. Long-term care insurance is one of the most thoughtful investments you can make in your future independence and the financial security of your family.

United Allstar Insurance Advisors helps clients throughout the Spring and Houston area evaluate their long-term care risk, understand their options, and select a policy that provides the right level of protection for their needs and goals. We believe that planning ahead is always better than reacting in a crisis—and when it comes to long-term care, the earlier you plan, the more options and better pricing you will have available to you.

What Is Long-Term Care Insurance?

Long-term care insurance is a specialized insurance product designed to cover the costs of extended personal and custodial care services that traditional health insurance and Medicare do not cover. These policies reimburse policyholders for covered services up to a preselected daily or monthly benefit amount for a period determined by the terms of the policy.

What Does Long-Term Care Insurance Cover?

Depending on the policy, long-term care insurance can cover services provided in a range of settings, including the following:

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In-home personal care assistance

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Adult day service programs

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Assisted living facility care

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Memory care facility care

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Nursing home care

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Hospice and respite care

How Long-Term Care Insurance Premiums Are Calculated

The cost of a long-term care insurance policy depends on several key factors that are assessed at the time of application:

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Your age when you purchase the policy — younger buyers pay lower premiums

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Your current health status—underwriting is required for most policies

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The daily or monthly benefit amount you select

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The benefit period — how long the policy will pay benefits

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The elimination period — the waiting period before benefits begin

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Inflation protection options — protecting your benefit against rising care costs

Why Plan for Long-Term Care Now?

The most common reason people do not plan for long-term care is the same reason they should—they cannot imagine needing it. But the statistics are clear: a significant portion of Americans over 65 will require some form of long-term care during their lifetime. The costs — which can exceed $80,000 to $100,000 per year for nursing home care — can rapidly deplete a lifetime of savings and significantly impact the financial security of a surviving spouse.


Long-term care insurance preserves your assets, protects your independence by giving you the means to choose your own care, and removes the burden of care costs from your family. United Allstar Insurance Advisors can help you assess whether long-term care insurance is the right solution for your situation and identify the policy that provides the best value and protection for your goals.