How much insurance is enough? What to look for in a long term care insurance policy.

LTC insurance is a valuable financial tool to help pay for pending LTC. However, LTC insurance is not for everyone. For those who could benefit from a policy, questions arise as to how much to buy and what consumer options to purchase in a policy. Insurance is most appropriate for couples with assets of $110,000 or more, excluding their house, car, and personal belongings. Single persons with a need to protect assets should have at least $40,000 in assets. These individuals have smaller need for LTC insurance to protect assets for their children. How much insurance to buy depends on the cost of LTC and the financial resources of the person. Premiums for LTC insurance are level. A company cannot raise the premiums for an individual, but may request an increase for a class of people. With the potential that premiums may increase and that buying power of income may decline, the policy should be affordable both at time of purchase and in future. Policies pay a specified benefit amount for a specified benefit period. In deciding how much insurance to buy, it is advisable to buy a higher benefit amount for a shorter benefit period. This provides the greatest likelihood of receiving the policy's maximum benefit. The deductible amount should be between 20 and 100 days. In selecting a policy, the most important criterion is the company itself.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)