Independent · Plain English · Updated 2026

Long Term Care Insurance, Explained Before You Buy

About 70% of people turning 65 will need long-term care — and neither health insurance nor Medicare pays for it. This guide covers what the coverage does, what it really costs, and every alternative, with no jargon and no sales pitch.

Start with the basics See costs by age
~70%
of people turning 65 will need some long-term care (HHS estimates)
$5,900+
national median monthly cost of assisted living (Genworth survey)
100 days
the maximum skilled care Medicare covers — custodial care: zero
55–65
the age window when most buyers get the best pricing and approval odds

Browse the guide

Twenty-one focused guides in five sections — each page answers one question completely.

The three questions everyone asks

What does it cost?

Roughly $1,700–$5,000+/year bought in your mid-50s, driven by age, gender, health, and four design choices.

Cost by age →How to get quotes →

Is it worth it?

Most valuable for households with $300K–$2M to protect. Below that, Medicaid backstops; above it, self-funding competes.

The honest math →The alternatives →

Doesn't Medicare cover this?

No — the most expensive misconception in retirement planning. Medicare stops at 100 days of skilled care.

Medicare's real rules →How Medicaid works →

Ready for real numbers? Premiums vary widely by age, health, and state — and identical coverage varies 40–60% between carriers. Personalized comparison quotes are the only accurate answer.

Compare LTC quotes →

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