Arkansas Long Term Care Insurance Partnership Companies and Costs
Long Term Care Insurance in Arkansas
Planning ahead for future long term care needs is a key part of retirement planning. Many people have had first-hand experience with a loved one who needed long term care. These experiences underscore the reality of the financial and emotional stress when someone needs long term care.
Long term care insurance can protect your retirement assets. Plus it gives you the peace of mind, knowing you can cover the cost of long term care if you need it in the future. A long term care plan also protects your family from having to be caregivers. And it enables you to choose where you’ll receive any care needed in later years.
CLICK HERE For Arkansas Long Term Care Insurance Quotes. We’ll give you quotes and comparisons for the leading LTC insurance providers in Arkansas.
Probability of Needing Long Term Care
Someone turning age 65 today has about a 70 percent chance of needing some type of long term care during their lifetime. While one-third may never need long term care, 20 percent will need it for longer than 5 years. The average length of time people need long term care services is 3 years.1
As of 2021, the average cost for 3 years of long term care in Arkansas is $240,900 ($80,300 per year). That cost is projected to be $435,093 ($145,031 per year) in 2041.2
And it’s not only seniors that need long term care. Over 35 percent of people currently receiving long term care services are between 18 and 64.3
Does Medicare Cover Long Term Care?
Medicare is the federal health insurance program for those over 65 and some younger people with disabilities. Medicare does not pay for custodial care which makes up more than 90% of all long term care services.
An example of custodial care is when someone needs help with walking, bathing, eating, dressing or using the toilet. Custodial care is what people need most when they have a physical impairment from a stroke. Or, due to cognitive impairment from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Don’t make the mistake of thinking Medicare covers long term care costs. It doesn’t.
When To Buy Long Term Care Insurance
Like most advisers, we recommend buying long term care insurance in your fifties or early sixties. The primary reasons for this recommendation are:
- The younger you are when you buy a policy, the lower the annual premiums.
- By the time you reach your mid sixties, you’re more likely to have a medical condition that makes you ineligible for a preferred-health discount, or makes it tough to get coverage at all.
- Even though you’ll pay premiums a longer period of time, you’ll typically pay less overall than someone buying at an older age.
So it almost never pays to wait. And, while you’re waiting, you’re uninsured. If an accident or illness happens causing you to need long-term care, you’ll have to pay out of pocket.
Long Term Care Insurance Options
There are two types of long term health care insurance in Arkansas. And each type of policy has its specific advantages. One of our licensed professionals can provide more details to help you decide which is best for you.
Traditional Long Term Care Insurance
You pay an annual premium, and if you need long term care due to a cognitive or physical impairment, the policy pays for your care. Traditional LTC insurance policies make up about half of all long term care policies sold. Policies under the Arkansas Long-Term Care Insurance Partnership fall under this category.
Hybrid Long Term Care Insurance
A hybrid long term care insurance policy combines the benefits of life insurance, or an annuity, with long term care benefits. You can buy a hybrid long term care insurance policy by paying a one-time lump sum premium, or over a set period of time.
If long term care is never needed, the policy works much like a traditional life insurance policy. It would then pay a death benefit to your beneficiary when you die. And the death benefit is often similar to the amount paid for the policy. But if you need long-term care, the amount of money available can exceed the death benefit or long term care annuity value, often several times over, offering tremendous leverage of premium dollars.
Arkansas Long Term Care Costs
These 2021 Arkansas long term care costs can help you decide how much insurance you need. It compares nursing facility, assisted living and home care costs across Arkansas.2
Arkansas Long Term Care Costs – 2021 (annual) |
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| Region | Nursing Home (private room) | Nursing Home (semi-private room) | Assisted Living (private room) | Home Health Aide (44 hours/wk) |
| Arkansas State Median | $80,300 | $73,000 | $45,120 | $50,336 |
| Fayetteville Area | $83,950 | $73,000 | $43,800 | $59,488 |
| Fort Smith | $77,865 | $73,000 | $46,200 | $52,624 |
| Hot Springs | $88,513 | $73,000 | $54,000 | $51,480 |
| Jonesboro | $69,350 | $63,988 | $43,800 | $46,904 |
| Little Rock Area | $85,775 | $73,000 | $53,850 | $51,480 |
| Pine Bluff | $79,942 | $72,463 | $39,948 | $48,048 |
Arkansas Long-Term Care Partnership Program
Arkansas Long-Term Care Partnership Program policies are available. This program joins private long term care insurance with special access to Medicaid. The purpose of the Arkansas Long-Term Care Insurance Partnership is to help residents prepare for the possibility of needing nursing home care, assisted living care or home care.
Special asset protection features of the Arkansas Long-Term Care Insurance Partnership Program allow you to keep all, or part of your assets under the Medicaid program. This applies if your long term care needs last longer than the benefits of your Partnership policy.
The cost of Arkansas Long-Term Care Partnership policies is like other LTC coverage. But we do recommend comparing Arkansas Long-Term Care Partnership policies with regular LTC insurance. Doing so can find you a wider range of choices, including Hybrid Long-Term Care Insurance not available under the Arkansas Long-Term Care Partnership Program.
Arkansas Long-Term Care Partnership Reciprocity
Reciprocity applies if you buy a qualifying Long-Term Care Partnership policy in another State and then later move to Arkansas. Reciprocity means you will not lose the special asset protection when you move to Arkansas. The State of Arkansas would also recognize accumulated asset protection for Medicaid qualification, if you’re already receiving long term care benefits from your Long-Term Care Partnership policy before relocating.
How Much Does LTC Insurance Cost in Arkansas?
How much does long term care insurance cost in Arkansas? Your long term care insurance rates depend on your age and health history at the time you buy the insurance. Generally, the younger and healthier you are the lower the cost.
Your long term care insurance premiums also depend on the following benefits you select:
- Benefit Period
- Daily Benefit
- Elimination Period (a deductible in days)
- Inflation Protection (if chosen)
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Long Term Care Insurance Companies in Arkansas
Arkansas long term health care insurance is available from several well respected insurance companies. We compare these companies to find you the best protection at the lowest cost. Here’s a list of the best long term care insurance companies in Arkansas:
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1. 2022 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (www.longtermcare.acl.gov), site accessed 11/18/2022
2. Cost of Care Survey 2021 (Genworth.com), site accessed 11/18/2022
3. Family Caregiver Alliance (www.caregiver.org), site accessed 11/18/2022