Long Term Care Insurance
Valerie E. Rumbough, CPA, CFP
Vice President of Finance
How do I determine whether or not I need to purchase long-term care insurance?

There are a few basic things that you need to think about:

First of all, consider what your monthly income may be, should you require skilled nursing or assisted living.  Consider the loss of a job if you are still working, and what may be available to replace that income, such as retirement savings, pensions, Social Security, etc.

Second, estimate what your monthly expenses may be.  If you are married, consider the possibility of one spouse being in a nursing facility and the other at home.  You would have essentially two households to maintain.   Or, what if both of you needed care?  In addition to monthly fees, many nursing facilities charge an up front fee.  Do you have adequate resources to take care of this initial cost?  This may come from selling your current residence, unless one spouse remains there.

Once you have determined what your income and expenses may be, do you see a shortfall?  If so, long-term care insurance maybe the answer for you to fill in the gap.  You may want to seek the advice of a professional in this area to help you determine what your specific needs may be.

 
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