by jacobvats on Tue Dec 22, 2009 3:22 am
Long-term-care insurance sounds simple. You pay annual premiums now for coverage that you might use years hence should you need custodial care.
Such coverage really shouldn’t be considered before age 60 except by those with chronic diseases. Insurance agents, however, wax on about the policies’ benefits , often pushing the plans on people in their 40s. And no wonder. Agents can reap hefty commissions--50 percent of your first year’s premium and 10 percent of your payment for every succeeding year.
Even without high-pressure salesmanship tactics, long-term-care insurance can stymie the most conscientious consumer because it is so complicated. Indeed, although the policies have become more standardized in recent years, they are fraught with uncertainties that can leave you much less secure than you planned. Among the most important points