Facing Long-Term Care with Confidence

Amy’s Story

Amy sat across the table from me wiping tears from her eyes. She was sharing her haunting encounter with long-term care, which brought sadness to her heart as she recalled it.

Her mother had experienced full-blown Alzheimer’s, which meant she needed continual care. Because Amy was now housing her daughter, who had recently gone through a divorce, and her two granddaughters (her daughter’s children), she had no more room in her home to take in her mother. Besides, both Amy and her daughter worked fulltime which meant they were not available from early morning till evening to care for Amy’s mother. Thus came the need for long-term care for her mom.

Does Medicare Cover Long-Term Care?

Amy’s mom was on Medicare, but Medicare only covers up to 100 days of skilled nursing. Care beyond those 100 days is considered long-term care, which is not covered by Medicare.

So, herein lies the problem. Amy’s mother needed long-term care, but she did not have long-term care coverage; and long-term care can be quite expensive. A stay in a nursing home, for example, can run $5,000 to $8,000 per month, depending on the nursing home and its service area. That’s about $60,000 to nearly $100,000 per year!

Amy’s mother could not afford that. Fortunately, because Amy’s father had understood the importance of life insurance, he provided well for Amy’s mother upon his death. But it wouldn’t take long for her long-term care to eat up the $150,000 she had left.

So what is she to do? Because Amy’s mother did not consider long-term care insurance when there was an opportunity to do so, she has no option but to spend all of her money on long-term care. Though, at one time, she had hopes of leaving her children some money to help with college funding for their kids, that would not be a possibility in her current situation.

The Medicaid Five-Year Look-Back

Amy and her siblings would love to protect their mother’s money; however, there is no way of doing that in her mother’s situation. This is mainly because of the five-year look-back rule.

The five-year look-back refers to a specific aspect of the law relating to long-term care as a ward of the state (the state paying for the individual’s long-term care in a nursing home). In order for one to become a ward of the state (get on Medicaid) for long-term care, the individual would need to spend down all of their money till they only have $2,000 left. Then, and only then, will the state pick up the cost of a nursing home. (There are also other requirements for Medicaid to pay for nursing home stay.)

However, the law also says that, once the need for long-term care arises, you cannot protect any of your money from being spent on long-term care—unless you give it away (such as to your children) more than five years prior to your need of long-term care. Thus, the five-year look-back allows the state to look back over the past five years to make sure that, during that period, you have not tried to hide your money. If you are found guilty of that violation, the state can grab all of that money.

For example, supposing Amy’s mother had given Amy $100,000 within that five-year look-back period of time, and Amy used that money to build a house. If Amy’s mother applies to become a Medicaid patient, the state can force Amy to sell her house in order to recoup that look-back money. On the other hand, if Amy’s mother had transferred, let’s say, $100,000 of her money to her children more than five years prior to being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, that money would have been protected.

Keeping or Losing Your Freedom to Choose

The saddest part of Amy’s mother’s situation may not even be the loss of the money that was supposed to go to Amy and her siblings. Instead, the saddest aspect may be the loss of freedom of choice regarding her mother’s long-term care.

Nursing homes that get state funding must allocate so many Medicaid beds. Medicaid beds are for those who become wards of the state in regard to long-term care.

However, with the record number of people experiencing long-term care on the state’s money, Medicaid beds fill up quickly. That means that, even though Amy dreamed of being close to her mother for the rest of her life, they may have to settle for a nursing home fifty miles away. In addition, that particular home may not be the kind of home Amy had hoped her mother could stay in. After all, the state does not care if one is happy about their mother’s stay in state-funded long-term care.

Can a Tragic Long-Term Care Outcome Be Prevented?

So, as Amy was sitting opposite me retelling the saga of her mother’s long-term care, tears streamed down her face; for she was overwhelmed. She was thinking about the spending of all of her mom’s money, some of which was supposed to help Amy’s children with college; she thought of her mother living a distance from Amy, making it hard on Amy’s busy schedule to see her mom frequently; and she was burdened by the thought of her mom living in a nursing home that fell far below the standards both Amy and her mother (at one time) had for her stay and her care.

That is a sad and tragic story, one that is replayed—in similar ways—again and again and again. So, what can one do to prevent such a tragedy?

Long-Term Care Insurance: Pros & Cons

Long-term care insurance protects one’s resources. Typically, a long-term care policy provides a certain monetary protection. For example, a policy covering a total benefit amount of, say, $200,000 would provide that amount of coverage for long-term care.

In addition, in partnership states such as Texas, which encourage people to purchase long-term care protection, the total benefit provision of the policy one buys will be the total amount of money protected for that individual, even if one spends through all of that amount for long-term care. This means, with that same $200,000 policy benefit, if the insured spends through that amount on long-term care needs, he could then become a ward of the state; but in his case, he can keep $200,000. Since he had a policy with a $200,000 benefit, Texas (and other partnership states) would allow him to protect $200,000 of his money while still becoming a Medicaid patient. This is how states like Texas reward people for purchasing long-term care.

In addition, purchasing a long-term care policy preserves one’s choices. Without a policy, people have to spend their own money on long-term care—until they only have $2,000 left; but, then, they have to go into a nursing home—of the state’s choice. With a policy, one needing long-term care could choose to remain at home while getting their care. So, one choice would be to remain at home or to go to a facility; and if they choose to receive care in a facility, they have options of facilities, other than the state-appointed nursing home.

A downside of traditional long-term care insurance is that it can be rather pricey and too expensive for some. And the longer one waits to get long-term care insurance, the higher will be the premium. (The premium for someone who purchase long-term care while in their 30s will be much lower than for someone who waits until their 50s or 60s to get the same insurance.)

Furthermore, you won’t be able to lock in your premium for life with a traditional plan. Your premium can keep rising over the years, and you just need to hope it doesn’t become too expensive to where you need to drop the coverage after paying into it for years.

Is There a Better Option for Long-Term Care Insurance?

If, by this question, we mean, is there a lesser-expensive option, the answer is yes. There are a couple of options with a provision for long-term care coverage—life insurance and annuities. With these come a couple of general payment options—single pay and other.

READ ALSO: Life Insurance Buyer’s Guide for 2023

If you have, say, $100,000 sitting in a bank savings account or in a CD (Certificate of Deposit), neither of which is earning anything right now, you might consider putting that $100,000 in either a single pay life insurance policy or in a single-pay annuity. Depending on your age and health, if, for example, you put that money in a permanent life insurance policy, your $100,000 could get you $175,000 or $200,000 face amount which would provide you that amount in a tax-free death benefit you could pass on to your beneficiary (or beneficiaries).

Or, if that same life policy has a chronic illness benefit (which many life policies do have), that $175,000 or $200,000, etc. would provide you with a long-term care benefit. Generally, that benefit would allow you to draw 2% monthly of the face amount of your policy when you meet the qualifications of long-term care on the policy. (Typically, once a medical doctor determines your need of long-term care—based on cognitive impairment or on the inability to perform at least two activities of daily living—then the clock starts ticking over the next 90 days [the elimination period]. Once those 90 days have passed, you can typically you can begin drawing on your chronic illness benefit, which is your long-term care provision.) Thus, if your policy has a death benefit of $200,000, and you qualify for the long-term care (chronic illness) benefit, you can draw $4,000 per month of tax-free money.

If you don’t have $100,000 (or so) sitting around, you can purchase life insurance with a chronic illness benefit with monthly premiums. You can set it up to be paid up in ten years, for example, or you can continue monthly premiums until you encounter the need for long-term care, at which point, your life insurance policy may waive your premium (meaning you won’t have to pay premiums while using it for long-term care). In either case, this policy with a chronic illness benefit will work the same way as a single-pay premium policy will work.

So, what are the upsides of using permanent life insurance (whole life or universal life) or annuities for your long-term care coverage? First, the cost to you will be lower. Second, you won’t have to worry about increasing premiums, as you will with traditional long-term care insurance.

Third, there is a far greater probability you will use a benefit from your life insurance policy or annuity versus traditional long-term insurance. With long-term care insurance, if you never meet the requirements for long-term care, you won’t be able to use the insurance; you will have paid those premiums for all of those years so you could have the peace of mind you had coverage if ever the need were to arise. However, with either permanent life insurance or annuities containing chronic illness benefits, a benefit will be paid in one of three ways: 1) paying for long-term care; 2) providing a death benefit to your beneficiaries; or 3) providing an income stream, if your policy builds cash value. (Look for another article to explain the tax-free income stream that can be acquired through life insurance.)

The Moral of This Story

Thus, the moral of this story is: Be prepared so your story won’t become tragic. Since, nearly 70% of people turning 65 will need long-term care, don’t put off looking into your best options for long-term care.


Marsha AllenMarsha Allen
16:55 24 Oct 23
My experience with John was definitely 5 Star! He explained everything thoroughly, and simply. He answered all my questions regarding Medicare completely. I would absolutely recommend John, without reservation.
Linda WilliamsLinda Williams
10:08 12 Jul 23
I had a 5 star experience and would recommend him. Always returning my calls promptly, very helpful and informative, listened to what my needs was regarding my Medicare. I truly felt comfortable with John's help to navigate through the maze of Medicare
Cindy KulakCindy Kulak
14:51 18 Jun 23
John is very knowledgable, honest and ethical in helping clients evaluate Medicare options and get enrolled. He made the process extremely easy for myself and my husband.
Dale SimsDale Sims
16:28 11 May 23
John did a great job of explaining Medicare and supplemental insurance. He was thorough and patient. He answered all of my questions. I greatly appreciated his help.
Leeann MoosLeeann Moos
17:26 06 Apr 23
When I became eligible for Medicare, my phone was constantly under attack from Medicare options sales folk. Since I needed help understanding my options and life is too short to do business with annoying people a little research was in order. Thats how I found John. His other customers seem very pleased with his service and I decided to give him a try. I was NOT disappointed! He did an excellent job for me, is extremely personable and I could not be happier. Thank you John
Rose WrightRose Wright
16:07 05 Apr 23
I am so thankful for the help that Mr. John was able to assist me with medicare information. After being bombarded with letters and phone calls you just need someone who can walk you through the confusion. And after getting all the info and the best plan and benefits for what i needed. I am glad that He was there for me.Thank you so very much,Rose Wright
Steve HenselSteve Hensel
21:08 04 Apr 23
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Deborah RounsavallDeborah Rounsavall
14:25 07 Mar 23
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Setella ParksSetella Parks
13:12 07 Mar 23
John's knowledge is invaluable when it comes to navigating the murky water of Medicare plans. He answered all our questions in a manner we could understand and helped us compare benefits between plans, services, and providers readily available in our area. I am so happy we called on him to assist us! He handled EVERYTHING professionally and patiently and has followed up to make sure we are good. Highly recommend his 5 star service!
Sherry JonesSherry Jones
21:01 23 Feb 23
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T/D HT/D H
19:40 20 Feb 23
We were recommended by friends to call John Claeys for our insurance. He came twice to gather information on what we were looking for and returned with information and details. We are delighted to have John Claeys as our agent and would recommend to our friends and anyone else to call John Claeys today.Tom and Debbie
Joyce SandvikJoyce Sandvik
20:32 30 Aug 22
John Claeys came to our house to talk about all aspects of Medicare. He wrote out some information on a notepad as he talked and answered our questions. He gave us the handwritten notes along with printouts of more information specific to my needs. My husband and I took o a few days to discuss the options. John took a list of my medications and researched all the available prescription insurance policies for me. He narrowed it down to the best policy (best prescription prices) for me. It was so easy and I felt confident I was getting exactly what I need when I turn 65. Every September, he will research prescription policies from my updated list of medications to find the best policy for my needs. Thanks to John Claeys for making this transition extremely easy and effortless.
Marilyn ScottMarilyn Scott
09:35 23 Jul 22
John enrolled my husband into Medicare 4 years ago. I knew then I wanted him to help me with my Medicare when it was my time to enroll. John helped me recently. He is very knowledgeable, humble and so patient. He made sure I had the best plan for me. He genuinely cares about his clients. He is the best insurance consultant! I highly recommend John for your Medicare needs!!
James MartinJames Martin
20:31 20 Jun 22
John did a great job of providing many options for my insurance. He is very thorough.
Judy MarkmanJudy Markman
17:02 20 Jun 22
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Dave LemingDave Leming
16:56 20 Jun 22
John was referred to my wife and I as we began to transition to use Medicare as our insurance options. He was very knowlegeable about all things related to government programs and supplemental options as well. I would strongly recommend his services to anyone requiring such support.
Ed HareEd Hare
14:16 08 Jun 22
John was recommended to us by a friend as we were turning 65 and having to make decisions on our medicare and advantage plan choices.John was thorough, informed, patient and engaged in helping us wade through all the minutia we were receiving to package the best set of programs for our future healthcare needs.We are happy and confident as healthcare needs arise having John at our side.Debi and Ed Hare
Julie SimpsonJulie Simpson
02:36 14 May 22
We selected an awesome advisor in John Claeys! John was dedicated to our needs in counseling our new Insurance choices with Medicare. He is sincere in getting his customers into the program that is best for their situation. John was sincere in explaining the process and we are happy to refer him to others! Steve and Julie Simpson
Sherry HilliardSherry Hilliard
16:55 18 Feb 22
John was extremely helpful when I had to select my Medicare supplemental policy. He is very knowledgeable in the various insurance products. I would recommend John to anyone needing insurance, and in fact, I have recommended him to several of my friends.
Margie SmithMargie Smith
01:08 16 Feb 22
Highly recommend Claeys Group Ins Service, John has assisted with my Medicare supplement and RX choices for past couple years. He is very knowledgeable of the various companies and policies available. Saved money and introduced me with a 5star company.
ElizEliz
16:56 10 Feb 22
John came to my house and explained the process of signing up to Medicare in an understandable way. He gave me the steps to take and assisted in the planning. With his help, I got it done. Before he came, it all seemed overwhelming. He's so genuinely nice, and I felt like I had known him for a long time. I highly recommend him, and in fact, already have recommended him to friends and family.
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