Here are the important questions to ask about any long-term-care policy you consider buying:

1. Does the policy cover assisted living?

2. Does the policy have 5 percent compounded inflation protection?

3. Has the company ever raised premiums on any long-term-care policies it sold?

4. Does the policy have a premium waiver? When does it begin? Does it apply to all of the benefits in the policy? Does the company refund any of the annual premium I paid in advance?

5. Do I have to satisfy the elimination period more than once?

6. If home care is a covered benefit, is care management also a benefit of the policy? Is the cost of care management deducted from my maximum benefits?

7. Does the company use its own care manager, or can I choose my own?

8. Does the policy include a nonforfeiture benefit? If so, how does it work?

9.  Explain the side-by-side comparison and the Personal Worksheet.

10. Are you authorized to sell me either an individual policy or a “Partnership” policy?

 * Source: Taking Care of Tomorrow: A Consumer’s Guide to Long Term Care. California Department of Aging, 1998.

For more information on this, review our services or request our free brochure "Long Term Care Insurance" or order our book "Long Term Care -- Alternatives & Solutions."