Long-term care is when a person needs someone to care for them because they cannot manage a number of daily living activities on their own any longer and it is envisaged that this will happen for the foreseeable future. It comprises of help with daily living activities such as washing, dressing or eating and can take place in the home or in a residential or nursing care home.
The onset of needing care can happen at any time, this change can happen very suddenly as when a person suffers a stroke or accident. Alternatively their dependency needs may increase slowly, typically as a result of permanent conditions such as arthritis, a stroke or dementia.
Why take out a long term care immediate needs policy? Essentially predicting life expectancy is not a precise science. When people pay for their own care they may live longer in a good care home but their money could run out. An insurance care plan policy guarantees life time payments.
When a person dies, the income stops and the care plan purchase price is non refundable unless there is some form of capital protection against early demise.
The purchase price of a care plan is based on the applicant’s life expectancy. Insurance companies take into account gender, age and medical condition by requesting a report from the persons G.P. Also they usually contact the care provider direct by telephone. If an individual’s life expectancy is deemed to be lower to chronic medical ailments, the price of the plan will be lower.
In addition to age, gender and state of health, the lump sum cost of a long term care policy is assessed by the level of monthly payments to the care provider. The monthly shortfall is calculated by deducting other regular income such as pensions and state benefits. The regular shortfall will help determine the amount of lump sum purchase price in return for a guaranteed income stream for life. The care benefits can be arranged to rise automatically every year by a given percentage to coincide with the care provider’s annual review date.
When arranging the annuity, it is a good idea to ask the care provider about the history of price increases so that this can be taken into account when arranging the level of benefits required. Better still ask the care provider if they will agree to fixed annual fee rises at say 5% in return for direct payments into their account that increase automatically every year.
Even a guaranteed care plan cannot take into account increased care costs if there is a need the need to move care homes. This may be due to a requirement for nursing care or if the present care home closes for some reason or is taken over by a larger group. A regular NHS contribution is made for persons assessed as needing registered nursing care. However if the person’s health has deteriorated to such an extent that they qualify for continuing care, this is fully funded by the NHS.
Long term care plans have a significant tax saving benefit. This is because there is no tax liability on the person in care when benefits are payable direct to a registered care provider.
before to start planning for long term care fees make sure to access Barbara Davies’s vital free report concerning long term care insurance policies.