Which long-term care insurance type is best?

Did you know that you have a nearly 70% chance of needing some form of long-term care at some point in your remaining years when you turn 65? Unfortunately, that care can be costly. That's where long-term care insurance comes in. 

Long-term care insurance is a type of coverage that helps cover the cost of your long-term care if and when the need arises. However, there are three common options to choose from when you shop for a long-term care policy: 

• Standalone long-term care insurance
• Long-term care insurance with a death benefit
• Life insurance with a long-term care rider

Each of these options provides a unique type of coverage, but which is best? The answer to that question largely depends on you and what you're hoping to get out of your long-term care insurance policy. 

Compare your long-term care insurance options today. 

Which long-term care insurance type is best?

Before you decide which long-term care insurance type is best, it's important that you understand how each of these products works. Here's what to know about each: 

Standalone long-term care insurance

Standalone long-term care insurance provides a long-term care benefit. For example, if you have a $250,000 standalone long-term care policy, your insurance provider will pay up to $250,000 of your long-term care expenses if and when you need care.

Purchase a standalone long-term care insurance policy now. 

Standalone long-term care insurance pros

• Your long-term care expenses may be covered up to your coverage cap. 
• This insurance may cover costs associated with aging in place. 
• You can add riders for inflation protection, spousal coverage and more. 
• Your payments typically cease when you need coverage.

Standalone long-term care insurance cons

• There's no value if you don't need long-term care. 
• The types of care covered may be limited so it's important to ask questions about the types of coverage available. 
• Premiums can increase over time. 

Long-term care insurance with a death benefit

Long-term care insurance with a death benefit, also sometimes called hybrid long-term care insurance, is similar to standalone long-term care coverage. The difference between the two is that this type of insurance converts your long-term care benefit into a death benefit if you don't use it before you die. For example, if you have a $250,000 long-term care policy with a death benefit and you don't need long-term care, the $250,000 in coverage will be transferred to your beneficiaries when you die. If you use a portion of your benefits for long-term care, any remaining benefit amount will be transferred to your beneficiaries upon your death. 

Long-term care insurance with a death benefit pros

• If you don't need long-term care the value of your policy gets transferred to your beneficiaries upon your death. 
• Payments typically stop when you need coverage. 
• This insurance may cover costs associated with aging in place.
• You can add riders to customize your policy. 

Long-term care insurance with a death benefit cons

• It's typically more expensive than long-term care insurance with no death benefit. 
• The types of care covered may be limited so it's important to ask questions about the types of coverage available. 
• Premiums can increase over time. 

Life insurance with a long-term care rider

Life insurance with a long-term care rider is like a typical life insurance policy. The difference is that these policies give you the ability to use a percentage of your death benefit to cover your long-term care costs. For example, if you have a $250,000 life insurance policy with a 50% long-term care rider, you can use $125,000 of your $250,000 death benefit to cover the cost of your long-term care. 

Life insurance with a long-term care rider pros

• There's value whether or not you need long-term care. 
• You can add riders to customize your policy. 
• Policy premiums don't increase over time. 

Life insurance with a long-term care rider cons

• Long-term care coverage options are typically limited. 
• Premiums usually continue even after you need care. 

Which is the better option?

The type of long-term care insurance you should choose depends on what you're looking for from your coverage. "Standalone long-term care insurance will only pay out in the event of long-term care being necessary," says Joseph Fresard, an attorney at Simasko Law that specializes in elder law estate planning. If the long-term care policy includes "a death benefit, there will also be some amount of payment upon death."

He went on to explain that "life insurance with a long-term care rider will typically be less flexible than long-term care insurance, cover less and continue to require premiums be paid after the long-term care begins, but have a higher death benefit." So, it's important to consider the pros and cons of each type of policy before you decide which type of long-term care coverage is best for you. 

Find meaningful long-term care coverage today. 

The bottom line

The bottom line is that there's a need for all three of these types of long-term care policies. After all, everyone has unique needs and expectations when it comes to insurance. Consider what you plan on getting out of your long-term care coverage as you determine which of these options is best for you and carefully review your budget both now - and what it is expected to be in the future - so that you can better manage costs.