Estate Planning Basics for Newlyweds: Prepare for the Unexpected

2025-01-14 by Sue Hunt


Getting married is such an exciting time! Between the beautiful wedding, fun reception, and romantic honeymoon, there's a lot to celebrate. But it's also the perfect time to think about your future together and plan for the unexpected.

Why You and Your New Spouse Need to Plan Your Estates

Estate planning might not be the first thing on your mind, but it's essential for everyone—whether you're young or old, married or single. It gives you peace of mind knowing that you and your loved ones are protected against life's surprises. Unfortunately, many couples spend more time planning their honeymoon than thinking about how to protect each other through estate planning.

What Happens Without an Estate Plan?

Without an estate plan, things can get complicated if you become unable to manage your affairs due to illness or injury, or if you pass away. Here are some potential issues:

  • Incapacity: If you can't manage your own affairs, your spouse and family won't know who should make decisions for you or how to handle your assets. This can lead to family conflicts and tough decisions about medical care.
  • Healthcare Decisions: Without a plan, the court and state law will decide who makes healthcare decisions for you if you're unable to do so.
  • Minor Children: If you're the only legal parent and can't take care of your children, a judge will decide who will take your place.
  • Financial Access: The court may restrict access to your money and property, even for your spouse, requiring court permission for financial decisions.

If you pass away without an estate plan, your spouse and loved ones will face additional challenges:

  • Estate Administration: Your family won't know who should handle your affairs or inherit your assets.
  • Guardianship: Without a will, the court will appoint a guardian for your minor children based on state law.
  • Asset Exposure: Your assets could be exposed to creditors, divorcing spouses, and lawsuits.
  • Pet Care: Your beloved pet could end up in a shelter if no arrangements are made for their care.

What Should You Do?

We invite you and your new spouse to call our office at 336-373-9877 to set up a meeting. We'll guide you through protecting each other, your loved ones, your pets, and your hard-earned assets. Let's make things easier for you and your families.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Last Minute Moves to Save on Taxes

2022-04-04 by Sasha Hartzell


It's that time again - just days away from the tax filing deadline. Although many strategies to save on your income taxes must be locked in before the end of the year, there are still numerous ways you can reduce your tax bill right up until the filing deadline, which has been pushed back to Monday April 18th due to a holiday on April 15th.

Some of these strategies are time tested and available every year. Pandemic-based legislative changes from these past two years have also created several new, though temporary, opportunities. While there are dozens of potential tax breaks you may qualify for, here are seven of the leading moves you can make to save on your 2021 tax return.

1. Max Out Your Retirement Account Contributions

The lower your income is, the lower your taxes will be. Tax-advantaged retirement plans, such as 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and individual retirement accounts (IRAs), are a great way to reduce your taxable income while saving money. As you have until the April tax-filing deadline to add money to your plan for the previous tax year, you still have time to contribute.

For 2021, those with workplace retirement plans, such as a 401(k), 403(b), and most 457 plans, can contribute up to $19,500. And for 2022 the max contribution has increased $20,500! Anyone 50 and older can also make additional 'catch-up' contributions of up to $6,500 (for both 2021 and 2022).

For those with IRAs, both traditional Roth, you can contribute up to $6,000 in both 2021 and 2022, or $7,000 for those 50 or older. However, the ability to deduct your traditional IRA contributions from your taxes comes with certain limitations, depending on your adjusted gross income (AGI) and workplace retirement. Roth contributions are not tax deductible, since they are made after taxes are taken out. Withdrawals from a Roth in retirement, however, are tax-free.

Note: RMDs Reinstated For 2021

Although you are typically required to take an annual required minimum distribution (RMD) from your traditional IRA, 401(k), or other tax-advantaged retirement account starting in the year you turn 72, the CARES Act waived the RMD requirement for 2020 due to the pandemic. The waiver also applied if you reached age 70 ½ in 2019, but waited to take your first RMD until 2020.

However, RMDs were reinstated in 2021, so if you are 72 or older, you were required to make a withdrawal from your retirement account before the end of 2021. Similarly, if you reached age 70 ½ in 2019 and your RMD in 2020 was waived, your 2021 RMD was also required to occur by Dec. 31, 2021. And if you reached age 72 in 2021, your 2021 RMD is required to occur by April 1, 2022.

If you failed to distribute the RMD, you may owe a 50% penalty on the amount not distributed. That said, you may be able to avoid the penalty by requesting a waiver from the IRS. You can request a waiver if your failure to take the RMD is due to a reasonable error, and you take steps to make the required distribution. To request a waiver, submit Form 5329 to the IRS, with a statement explaining the error and the steps you are taking to correct it.

2. Contribute To A Health Savings Account

As with tax advantaged retirement plans, if you have a high-deductible health insurance plan, you may be able to reduce your taxable income by contributing to a health savings account (HSA), which is a tax-exempt account you can use to pay medical expenses. The deadline for making a 2021 contribution to your HSA is April 15, 2022.

HSAs offer three different tax breaks: Contributions are tax-deductible, they allow for tax-free growth, and withdrawals are tax-free if they are used to pay for qualified medical expenses.

For 2021, if you had self-only health coverage, you could have contributed up to $3,600. For 2022, the individual coverage contribution limit is $3,650. If you have family coverage, the limit was $7,200 in 2021 and is $7,300 in 2022. And if you're 55 or older, you can add an extra $1,000 catch-up contribution to your HSA.

To be eligible, you must have a high-deductible health insurance plan with a minimum deductible of $1,400 for self-only coverage or $2,800 for family coverage. The maximum out-of-pocket expenses cannot exceed $7,000 for a self-only plan or $14,000 for a family plan.

3. Claim The New Expanded Child Credit

The American Rescue Plan's expanded child tax credit was made fully refundable in 2021, and it was increased up to $3,600 per child through age 5 and up to $3,000 per child aged 6 to 17. Dependents who are 18 can qualify for $500 each. Dependents aged 19 to 24 may also qualify, but they must be enrolled in college full-time.

Eligible families automatically received half the total of the payments in advance monthly payments between July and December 2021, unless they opted out. When eligible parents file their taxes in 2022, they'll get the remainder of the benefit they didn't receive through advance monthly payments. If you did not receive the advance payments because you opted out or didn't receive them for some other reason, you can claim the full credit when you file in April.

Because the IRS based these payments on your 2020 tax return, a change in income or the number of qualifying dependents in 2021 could have resulted in an overpayment. If so, you'll have to pay that back when you file in April.

Even if you made little to no income, you are still eligible for the child tax credit, though payments begin to phase out when your AGI reaches $75,000 for single filers, and $150,000 for joint filers. To find out where you stand with this credit, visit the Child Tax Credit Update Portal on the IRS website.

4. Take The Increased Deduction For Charitable Donations

The CARES Act allowed for up to a $300 deduction per tax return for charitable donations in 2020, even for those taxpayers who don't itemize. For 2021, this benefit expanded to up to $300 per person.

This means if you are a married couple filing jointly, you could be eligible for up to a $600 deduction for your charitable giving last year, even if you take the standard deduction, which increased to $12,550 for single filers and $25,100 for joint filers in 2021.

5. Claim The Increased Child & Dependent Care Credit

If you care for a child under age 13, or a spouse, parent, or another adult dependent who is unable to care for themselves, you may be able to get up to 50% back as a tax break or refund for your care-related expenses. For 2021, the amount you can claim maxes out at $8,000 for one dependent and $16,000 for two or more.

For 2021 only, this credit is fully refundable, meaning that you can receive money even if you don't owe taxes. Note that this credit is different from the child tax credit mentioned above, and qualifying for the child tax credit does not affect your eligibility for this credit and vice versa. Learn more about the requirements for the Child and Dependent Care Credit on the IRS website.

6. Claim The American Opportunity Tax Credit

The American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) provides undergraduate college students or their parents with an annual tax credit up to $2,500 for eligible education expenses incurred during the first four years of college. The credit can be used to cover 100% of the first $2,000 spent on tuition, books, school fees, and other supplies (excluding living expenses or transportation) plus 25% of the next $2,000 for a total of $2,500.

To qualify, the student must be pursuing a degree or credential and be enrolled at least half-time for one academic period (semester, trimester, or quarter) beginning in 2021 or the first three months of 2022. The credit can be claimed for a maximum of four years, and it can be claimed by the student or their parents provided they paid the expenses and the student is listed as a dependent on their tax return.

The full credit is available for individual filers with an AGI of $80,000 or less or $160,000 or less for joint filers. A reduced credit is available for individuals with an AGI over $80,000 but less than $90,000, or over $160,000 but less than $180,000 for joint filers. Taxpayers who earn more aren't eligible for the credit. The credit is also partially refundable, so you can still receive 40% of the credit (up to $1,000) even if you had no income or owed no taxes.

7. Claim The Lifetime Learning Credit

The Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC) is another tax credit for qualifying educational expenses, but it's slightly different from the American Opportunity Credit. The credit can be used to cover 20% of the first $10,000 spent on tuition and school fees for a maximum of $2,000. Unlike the AOTC, the LLC does not generally cover books or other supplies (unless those books or supplies were required to be purchased to take the course), and it also does not cover living expenses or transportation.

The LLC is not just for undergraduates; it applies to undergraduate, graduate, and non-degree or vocational students, and there's no limit on the number of years you can claim it. To qualify for the LLC, the student must be enrolled in at least one course for an academic period beginning in 2021 or the first three months of 2022. The credit can be claimed by the student or their parents provided they paid the expenses and the student is listed as a dependent on their tax return.

The full credit is available for individual filers with an AGI of less than $59,000, or less than $118,000 for joint filers. A reduced credit is available for individuals with an AGI between $59,000 and $69,000, or between $118,000 to $138,000 for joint filers. Those who earn more than $69,000 or $138,000 can't claim the credit.

The LLC is not refundable, so you can use the credit to pay any taxes you owe, but you won't get any of the credit back as a refund. Additionally, you can't claim both the American Opportunity Tax Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit in the same year.

Maximize Your Tax Savings for 2021
These are just a few of the tax breaks available for 2021! There are plenty of other deductions and credits that your family might qualify for depending on your circumstances.

Who Will Care for Your Child When You Cannot?

2024-04-08 by Sue Hunt


As a parent, you are responsible for the care of your minor child. In most circumstances, this means getting them up for school, making sure they are fed, and providing for other basic needs. However, what would happen if you and your child's other parent were unable to care for them?

It is important to note that if something were to happen to you, your child's other parent is most likely going to have full authority and custody of your child, unless there is some other reason why they would not have this authority. So in most cases, estate planning is going to help develop a plan for protecting your child in the event that neither parent is able to care for them.

What If You Die?

When it comes to planning for the unexpected, many parents are familiar with the concept of naming a guardian to take care of their minor children in the event both parents die. This is an important step toward ensuring that your child's future is secure.

Without an Estate Plan

If you and your child's other parent die without officially nominating a guardian to care for your child, a judge will have to make a guardianship decision. The judge will refer to state law, which will provide a list of people in order of priority who can be named as the child's guardian—usually family members. The judge will then have a short period of time to gather information and determine who will be entrusted to raise your child. Due to the time constraints and limited information, it is impossible for the judge to understand all of the nuances of your family circumstances. However, the judge will have to choose someone based on their best judgment. In the end, the judge may end up choosing someone you would never have wanted to raise your child to act as your child's guardian until they are 18 years old.

With an Estate Plan

By proactively planning, you can take back control and nominate the person you want to raise your child in the event you and the child's other parent are unable to care for them. Although you are only able to make a nomination, your choice can hold a great deal of weight when the judge has to decide on an appropriate guardian. The most common place for parents to make this nomination is in their last will and testament. This document becomes effective at your death and also explains your wishes about what will happen to your accounts and property. Depending on your state law, there may be another way to nominate a guardian. Some states recognize a separate document in which you can nominate a guardian, and that document is then referenced in your will. Some people prefer this approach because it is easier to change the separate document as opposed to changing your will if you want to choose a different guardian or backup guardians.

What If You Are Alive but Cannot Manage Your Own Affairs?

Although most of the emphasis is on naming a guardian for when both parents are dead, there may be instances in which you need someone to have the authority to make decisions for your child while you are alive but unable to make them yourself.

Without an Estate Plan

Not having an incapacity plan in place that includes guardianship nominations means that a judge will have to make this judgment call on their own with no input from you (similar to the determination of a guardian if you die without a plan in place).

With an Estate Plan

A comprehensive estate plan can also include a nomination of a guardian in the event you and the child's other parent are incapacitated (unable to manage your own affairs). Although you are technically alive, if you cannot manage your own affairs, there is no way that you will be able to care for your minor child. This is another reason why having a separate document for nominating a guardian (as described above) may be preferable to nominating guardians directly in a last will and testament. Because a last will and testament is only effective at your death, a nomination for a guardian in your will may not be effective when you are still living. However, a nomination in a separate document that anticipates the possibility that you may be alive and unable to care for your child can provide great assistance to the judge when evaluating a guardian. Depending on the nature of your incapacity, this guardian may only be needed temporarily, with you assuming full responsibility for your child upon regaining the ability to make decisions for yourself.

What If You Are Just Out of Town?

Sometimes, you travel without your child and will have to leave them in the care of someone temporarily. While you of course hope that nothing will go wrong while you are away, it is better to be safe than sorry.

Without an Estate Plan

Without the proper documentation, there may be delays in caring for your child if your child were to get hurt or need permission for a school event while you are out of town. The hospital or school may try to reach you by phone in order to get your permission to treat them or allow them to attend a school event. Depending on the nature of your trip, getting a hold of you may not be easy (e.g., if you are on a cruise ship with little access to phone or email). Ultimately, your child will likely be treated medically, but the chosen caregiver may encounter additional roadblocks trying to obtain medical services for your child, and they may not be able to make critical medical decisions when needed.

With an Estate Plan

Most states recognize a document that allows you to delegate your authority to make decisions on behalf of your child to another person during your lifetime. You still maintain the ability to make decisions for your child, but you empower another person to have this authority in the event you are out of town or cannot get to the hospital immediately. This document allows your chosen caregiver to make most decisions on behalf of your child, except for consenting to the adoption or marriage of your child. The name of this document will vary depending on your state and is usually effective for six months to a year, subject to state law. Because this document is only effective for a certain period of time, it is important that you touch base with us to have new documents prepared so that your child is always protected.

We Are Here to Protect You and Your Children

Being a parent is a full-time job. We want to make sure that regardless of what life throws at you, you and your child are cared for. Give us a call to learn more about how we can ensure that the right people are making decisions for your child when you cannot.

How to Give Real Property to a Loved One at Your Death Without Probate Court Involvement

2025-02-04 by Sue Hunt


A home is often one of the most important assets that people own. Therefore, most people want to stay in their home until they die and then have a loved one receive it. One common way to pass a home to loved ones is through a will. However, transferring property with a will requires probate, which is generally considered a lengthy, costly, and public court process that many actively seek to avoid.

There are several ways an estate plan can transfer property without a will or probate court involvement when the owner passes away. In addition to a lifetime transfer of the property (by sale or gift), certain types of deeds can be used that take effect only upon the property owner's death and do not subject the property to probate. However, using these deeds for probate avoidance can potentially introduce new issues. A trust-based estate plan may be a better option if the goal is simply to avoid probate.

Home Ownership and Inheritance

We are living through one of the largest intergenerational wealth transfers in history. Roughly one in six Americans expect to receive an inheritance in the next 10 years, and among those, nearly half anticipate inheriting property such as a house.[1]

According to Pew Research, in 2021, nearly two-thirds of US households lived in a home they owned as their primary residence.[2] Homeowners have, on average, around $174,000 in equity in their homes—more than double the value of their next most valuable asset, retirement accounts, which have an average value of $76,000.[3]

Real Property, Legal Rights, and Trusts

A key concept in estate planning is honoring people's wishes by helping them control, as much as possible, what they own and what happens to it after their death.

An estate plan enables a homeowner to decide what happens to their property after they pass away, ensuring that it goes to the person (or people) they choose in a manner of their choosing, whether that means keeping it in the family and setting limits on its use or transferring the property to a beneficiary without restrictions.

Options for Transferring Real Property at Your Death

Estate planning is highly flexible, offering multiple ways to satisfy someone's wishes for what happens to their money and property when they die, each with a mix of benefits and downsides.

To avoid probate, there are many ways to transfer real property, both during the owner's lifetime and at their death. Some solutions can cost less than a trust, but as the examples below show, they can also have significant downsides and risks.

Deed-Based Transfers

A deed is a legal document that transfers real estate ownership from the current owner (the grantor) to another individual or entity (the grantee). Several types of deeds can be used to gift real property at the grantor's death. They include the following:

  • Life estate deed. A life estate, created through a life estate deed, gives a person the right to live in and use a property for their lifetime. The life estate's owner is called the life tenant, and the person who receives the property after the life tenant's death is called the remainderman. Some people may consider using a life estate deed to retain the ability to live in their own home while they are alive, allowing them to name the remainderman who will receive the property at the life tenant's death. While a life estate avoids probate, the creation of the life estate can be undone only if the remainderman agrees. Because the goals, legal rights, and responsibilities of the life tenant and the remainderman may differ, disagreements may arise between them over, among other things, property use, improvements, or maintenance. In addition, a life tenant cannot liquidate or sell the property without the remainderman's agreement.
  • Enhanced life estate deed. Also known as a ladybird deed, an enhanced life estate deed allows the grantor (who becomes the life tenant) to retain the ability to live in their home and the right to use, mortgage, sell, gift, and otherwise convey the property during their lifetime without the signature or blessing of the remainderman. When the life tenant dies, if they still own the property at their death, the remainderman will receive it. This provides flexibility for a property owner wanting to name who will receive the property at their death while retaining control over it throughout their lifetime. However, this type of deed is not available in all states. North Carolina does allow ladybird deeds.
  • Beneficiary deed. Also known as a transfer-on-death (TOD) deed, a beneficiary deed automatically transfers the deeded property to a named beneficiary at the time of the property owner's death. The transfer avoids probate, and the deed can be revoked anytime during the owner's lifetime. However, not all states allow beneficiary deeds. North Carolina does not allow transfer-on-death deeds.

Again, not all of these types of deeds are legally valid in all states. An experienced estate planning attorney can explain what tools are available to you and discuss the benefits and potential risks.

Downsides to Using a Deed to Transfer Property at Your Death

There is no creditor protection for your beneficiaries. When a deed transfers property to a beneficiary, that property goes to the beneficiary outright. There are no strings attached and no protections. For instance, if the beneficiary were to receive the property during a bankruptcy proceeding, it might be used to satisfy the creditors because it is now considered the beneficiary's property.

There is no protection if the beneficiary is disabled or unable to manage their affairs. As previously mentioned, when the beneficiary receives the property, it is theirs. However, if they receive the property when they cannot manage their affairs, its management falls to another person. It may be handled by a court-appointed guardian or conservator or an agent under a financial power of attorney, who can do whatever they want with it (as long as it is in the incapacitated beneficiary's best interest). Also, if the beneficiary receives any means-based assistance, the sudden inheritance could jeopardize those benefits by placing the beneficiary above any applicable asset threshold.

There are no protections for you if you cannot manage your affairs. These deeds are a sufficient way to transfer property after you are deceased. However, if you cannot manage your affairs during your lifetime, the named beneficiary or remainderman has no access to or interest in the property to help you manage it until you pass away. You will have to rely on an agent under a financial power of attorney (if you have one) or a court-appointed guardian or conservator to manage the property on your behalf.

Your beneficiary is free to do what they want. As already discussed, if you use a deed to transfer ownership at your death, your beneficiary will receive the property outright. You cannot add any conditions or requirements regarding the property or its use. The beneficiary can sell, mortgage, or use it as a rental property (subject to applicable zoning restrictions). It is their property to do with as they please. Their intended use of the property may not align with your wishes.

Using a Trust to Transfer Real Property

While you may view your home as a place to live and not as an investment or financial vehicle, that perception can change when you pass away and the home passes to a loved one, particularly if that loved one already has a primary residence.

A beneficiary who inherits a home may decide to sell the property; turn it into a rental; renovate the property to use it as a farm or business; sell off individual structures on the property (such as a barn or historic structure); cash in on its natural resources (e.g., allow timber to be harvested); or even tear down the original home and build a new one in its place. When more than one beneficiary inherits the property, disagreements about how to best use it could arise.

You might not care what happens to your home when you are gone. However, if you want to set restrictions on its use for any reason—whether those reasons are sentimental or have the practical intent of reducing conflicts among multiple beneficiaries—you must use the right estate planning tool.

Consider placing your home in a living trust that legally owns the property, with you serving as a trustee and being the current beneficiary during your lifetime. This allows you to stay in your home—and maintain control over it—while you are alive. When you pass away, the home does not go through probate because you do not technically own it. Instead, a successor trustee assumes legal responsibility for the property and manages it or gives it away in accordance with your trust's terms.

The trust terms can be highly detailed, and limitations can be set on how the property can be used. You can stipulate, for example, that the property must be shared as a family vacation home and cannot be used for business purposes. You can require that the house be held in the trust until your minor children reach a certain age so they can remain in the home after your passing. While the trust owns the property, your terms will govern its use. As soon as the property is distributed from the trust, you lose all control over it.

The Best Way to Transfer Property for Every Situation

Estate planning is a highly personal process that must consider many factors, each of which can have multiple solutions that present a unique set of benefits and drawbacks.

Avoiding probate is usually just one estate planning consideration among many, and it may not be desirable in every situation.

Determining the best way to pass down real property at death depends on your preferences and family circumstances. An estate planning attorney can explain each available option and help you decide what is best for your situation.

[1] The "Great Wealth Transfer" is underway but nearly half expecting an inheritance are not ready to manage it, finds New York Life Wealth Watch Survey, New York Life, July 19, 2023, https://www.newyorklife.com/newsroom/2023/new-york-life-wealth-watch-great-wealth-transfer.

[2] Rakesh Kochhar and Mohamad Moslimani, 4. The assets households own and the debts they carry, Pew Research Center, Dec. 4, 2023, https://www.pewresearch.org/2023/12/04/the-assets-households-own-and-the-debts-they-carry.

[3] Id.

Do I Need Long-Term Care Insurance and How Does it Work?

2026-04-10 by Julia Walker


Do I Need Long-Term Care Insurance and How Does It Work?

Policy experts and families alike have long noted that the United States lacks a comprehensive public system for long-term care.

Medicare generally does not cover these services, and while Medicaid can help, it is available only to people with very limited assets, often requiring a spend-down that can leave little or nothing for loved ones.

Private long-term care insurance (LTCI) offers a potential solution, but the market is more exclusive than it once was. The policies still available today are typically designed for relatively healthy people who can afford higher premiums.

In recent years, interest in the LTCI market has grown again, thanks in part to hybrid life insurance/LTC products. While LTCI is not right for everyone, both traditional and hybrid policies can play a useful role in protecting assets and supporting long-term care strategies.

What LTCI Is—and Is Not

KFF Health News and the New York Times recently published a series explaining why “few can afford to grow old” and many Americans are “dying broke” due to high long-term care costs and no universal public care system.[1]

Given this reality, a private LTCI policy may seem like a no-brainer. Yet the contraction of the LTCI market over the past few decades shows that this is a limited tool with a small target audience.

Around 70 percent of people aged 65 and older will need long-term care services during their lifetime, but fewer than 5 percent of Americans aged 50 and older own a long-term care policy.[2]

LTCI emerged in the 1970s and 1980s as a mass-market product, similar to life insurance but specifically designed to cover services that standard health insurance and Medicare typically do not pay for. It typically covers the following services:

●  In-home care. Assistance with daily activities while staying at home

●  Assisted living facilities. Supportive housing with care services

●  Memory care. Specialized care for people with Alzheimer’s or other memory-related conditions

●  Skilled nursing or nursing homes. Long-term skilled care in a facility with professional medical support

LTCI generally does not cover the following services:

●  Short-term medical care that Medicare already pays for

●  Care that does not meet policy requirements (Most policies only pay when you have significant cognitive impairment or cannot perform at least two activities of daily living, such as bathing or getting dressed.)

●  Informal care by family or friends unless it meets the policy’s rules for coverage

What Else to Know About LTCI: Pricing, Options, and Fit

Why are more Americans not purchasing long-term care insurance? Let’s start with the benefits. Here is what LTCI can do:

●  Provide dedicated funds for care

●  Preserve assets for heirs

●  Offer flexibility in choosing where and how care is provided

●  Reduce reliance on family caregivers and Medicaid planning, including having to spend down savings

●   Support spousal planning

But LTCI is far from a perfect solution and is not one-size-fits-all. These are some important factors to consider:

●   Hybrid life/LTC products are growing in popularity,[3] combining long-term care coverage with a death benefit. They may be especially appealing to younger buyers or sandwich-generation families.[4]

●   Some policies (especially older or narrowly designed ones) may not pay for all the care you assume is covered,[5] leading to substantial out-of-pocket costs.

●   Modern policies often have stricter health requirements and more conservative pricing.

●    A policy for a 55-year-old single man averages roughly $950 per year and about $1,500 for a single woman. A married couple of the same age purchasing coverage together may pay around $2,080 annually, with higher premiums for inflation protection, according to the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance.[6]

●   Plan features that affect pricing include age at the time of purchase, medical history and current health, daily or monthly benefit amounts, benefit duration, inflation protection, and waiting periods.[7]

With these factors in mind, LTCI may be worth considering in the following circumstances:

●   You have meaningful assets at risk and want to reduce the possibility of care costs wiping out your savings.

●   You want to preserve a legacy rather than using those assets for self-funded care.

●   You want to protect a spouse’s financial stability if your partner requires care.

●   You want to reduce the risk that care expenses will disrupt investments or other financial goals.

●   You are healthy enough to qualify and can afford to pay premiums over the long term.

LTCI may not be a good fit in the following circumstances:

●   You have limited cash or income flexibility, and premiums would stretch your budget or make other financial goals harder to achieve.

●   You expect to rely primarily on public benefits; if you are planning for Medicaid to cover your care, LTCI may not be necessary.

●   You have already arranged savings or trusts to cover care.

●   You face health issues that may make it difficult or expensive to qualify for coverage.

●   You are unwilling to commit to long-term premium obligations, preferring financial flexibility.

Whether LTCI is right for you comes down to a personalized analysis. The need for long-term care is becoming more common among aging Americans. However, a dedicated care policy is just one tool within LTC planning and the larger planning picture. You should evaluate its fit alongside your legal documents, insurance coverage, and financial goals so that long-term care—if it becomes necessary—does not dictate the choices available to you and your family.



[1] Dying Broke: A KFF Health News–New York Times Project, KFF Health News (Nov. 14–Dec. 15, 2023), https://kffhealthnews.org/dying-broke.
[2] Janet Weiner, Reforming Long-Term Care Policy: Lessons from the Past, Imperatives for the Future, Penn LDI (Dec. 4, 2025), https://ldi.upenn.edu/our-work/research-updates/reforming-long-term-care-policy.
[3] Is Life Insurance the Answer to the Growing Long-Term Care Need in the U.S.?, LIMRA (Aug. 28, 2025), https://www.limra.com/en/newsroom/industry-trends/2025/is-life-insurance-the-answer-to-the-growing-long-term-care-need-in-the-u.s.
[4] The Sandwich Generation: Balancing Care for Parents & Children, Caregiver Action Network, https://www.caregiveraction.org/sandwich-generation (last visited Mar. 31, 2026).
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