What's Long Term Care Inflation Protection | Why You Need It (2024)

With egg prices seemingly doubling overnight, and the consumer price index up a dizzying 6.5% in 2022, inflation is top of mind. Though it may be more noticeable while filling up a shopping cart or a tank of gas, one area that deserves attention for seniors, and those planning for retirement, is long-term care insurance with inflation protection.

The Senior List estimates that the average cost for a private room in a nursing home in the United States in 2022 was $111,600 a year (1). This is up 3.3% from The American Council of Aging’s 2021 report where a room was $108,000 a year (2). For many this number is already expensive, but things will not get any cheaper.

What’s Causing Long-Term Care Prices Increases?

Though the same culprits affecting all Americans like the increased cost of food, energy, medicine, and housing do play a part in rising costs to long-term care, there are a few longer trend items that are at play.

Aging Population

The United States, like many other countries, is facing a growing number of seniors. MSN Money reports that by 2030 those 65 or older will make up 20 percent of the population (3). For reference only 13 percent of the US population was 65 or older in 2010. This trend shows no signs of slowing and with an increased demand for senior living facilities that is greater than the speed at which new facilities can be created, prices will continue to balloon.

People are Living Longer

More than an increase in the number of people hitting 65, people are living longer than in the past. This means longer stays which require more funds, but also keeps long term care communities at capacity, unable to take on new residents. With increased demand, and low supply, senior living communities can demand more money.

Senior Care Employees Require Hire Wages

As senior care becomes ever more crucial and retirement communities struggle with being understaffed, employees are often tasked with more responsibilities. This in turn requires higher wages to retain quality employees.

How to Build Inflation Protection into your Long Term Care Plan

With many not needing services for 15+ years, you may be wondering what can be done to implement inflation protection so that funds are there when you need them? When purchasing a long term care insurance plan, some policies offer an automatic inflation protection. This protection clause can work using one of several methods that increases the policy amount each year. Here are the most common:

Simple Inflation Protection

The benefit policy grows by a set percentage based on its original value. For instance, if the policy offered a 3% inflation protection on a $100 a day policy, after the first year the policy would be worth $103 a day going up $3. In the second year, it would not go up 3% of the $103 but yet again go up the fixed $3 based on 3% of the original policy.

Compound Inflation Protection

As its name suggests, compound inflation protection builds off itself offering more protection than the simple inflation protection. Using the example above, the $100 a day policy with 3% inflation protection would be $103 after the 1st year. However, in the second year, the $103 would be subject to a 3% raise, so the policy would then go to $103.09.

In the short term it may not seem like a difference, but after 20 years, the simple inflation plan would be $160 a day vs $180.61 for the compound interest plan or a $7500 difference per year.

Consumer Price Index Compound Inflation Protection

With this plan, the benefit policy would increase depending on the consumer price index. Previously we said how the consumer price index (CPI) was up 6.5% in 2022. With this policy, the $100 used above would go up $6.50. Then if the next year the CPI was 4.2%, the $106.50 would increase 4.2%.

This policy is great at covering large swings in prices dealing with home goods, food, and energy but does not take into account health care costs. This can potentially create a gap when food and gas prices don’t rise as much as healthcare.

Speak with Our Long-Term Care Insurance Specialists

For over 25 years, Blakeford Senior Life has been a nonprofit provider of quality senior lifestyle solutions and health services to senior adults. LiveWell is a revolutionary suite of benefits expertly managed and personally delivered to your home and includes compound inflation protection. To learn more about long-term care insurance and what will work for you, give us a call 615-665-0694 or contact us to get all your questions answered.

Sources:

1. The Senior List: Nursing Home Costs and How to Afford Them

https://www.theseniorlist.com/nursing-homes/costs/

2. American Council of Aging: 2021 Nursing Home Costs by State and Region
https://www.medicaidplanningassistance.org/nursing-home-costs/

3. MSN: Baby boomers retiring will affect the economy – here’s how

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/retirement/baby-boomers-retiring-will-affect-the-economy-here-s-how/ss-AA10pxux#image=2

What's Long Term Care Inflation Protection | Why You Need It (2024)

FAQs

What's Long Term Care Inflation Protection | Why You Need It? ›

Inflation protection in a long-term care insurance policy helps protect against the rising costs of care. There are different types of inflation protection. One of the most common types is 3% compound. Compound inflation is basically interest on interest.

Do I need inflation protection on my long-term care policy? ›

In general, yes. Inflation protection should be included in every LTC insurance policy because these policies pay a fixed dollar amount for each day of care. Most people are buying these policies decades before they will need care. A fixed daily benefit loses buying power each year.

What is the benefit of inflation protection? ›

Key Takeaways. Insurance inflation protection is a feature of some insurance policies whereby future or ongoing benefits to be paid are adjusted upward with inflation. The goal is to ensure that the relative buying power of the dollars granted as benefits do not erode over time due to inflation.

What is long term inflation protection? ›

We sell TIPS for a term of 5, 10, or 30 years. As the name implies, TIPS are set up to protect you against inflation. Unlike other Treasury securities, where the principal is fixed, the principal of a TIPS can go up or down over its term.

What is the purpose of inflation guard coverage? ›

Inflation guard helps your home insurance coverage keep pace with inflation. It automatically increases your coverage limits annually so you don't end up underinsured due to rising costs. Inflation guard is a standard part of most insurance policies, but can be added on to others.

What is the biggest drawback of long-term care insurance? ›

Long term care insurance is expensive and premiums can go up. That's often a big, unpleasant surprise for many people. Many assume they were locked into a premium amount when they got their long term care insurance policy.

What is the primary purpose of long-term care insurance? ›

Long-Term Care Insurance is designed to pay or reimburse covered long-term care costs. It is very important to understand the coverage provided and how benefits will be paid/reimbursed before you purchase a Long-Term Care Policy.

What are the cons of the Inflation Reduction Act? ›

It fails to ensure accountability or transparency in how the resources are used, heightening the risk for overspending, fraud, and abuse. Furthermore, loopholes in the bill's electric vehicle tax provisions will lead to an increased reliance on China. An EPA school bus and garbage truck program.

Who gets benefit from inflation? ›

People who have to repay their large debts will benefit from inflation. People who have fixed wages and have cash savings will be hurt from inflation. Inflation is a situation where the money will be able to buy fewer goods than it was able to do so as the value of money comes down.

What is the disadvantage of inflation? ›

Inflation Erodes Purchasing Power

An overall rise in prices over time reduces the purchasing power of consumers since a fixed amount of money will afford progressively less consumption. Consumers lose purchasing power regardless of what the inflation rate is—whether it's 2% or 4%.

Why is long-term inflation bad? ›

In an inflationary environment, unevenly rising prices inevitably reduce the purchasing power of some consumers, and this erosion of real income is the single biggest cost of inflation. Inflation can also distort purchasing power over time for recipients and payers of fixed interest rates.

Under which circ*mstances would inflation protection not be included in a long-term policy? ›

Final answer: Inflation protection may not be included in a long-term policy under circ*mstances such as low or stable inflation expectations, no anticipated need for increased benefits in the future, or when the cost of including inflation protection is too high.

What is the inflation rate on long-term care? ›

The 2023 survey found that the costs of long-term care services have increased since 2022 as follows: Assisted living facility rates increased by 1.4% to an annual national median cost of $64,200 per year.

What are the benefits of inflation protection? ›

The Inflation Protection Fund seeks to provide investors with current income and protect principal from loss of purchasing power due to inflation.

What does inflation cover? ›

Inflation measures how quickly the prices of goods and services are rising. Inflation is sometimes classified into three types: demand-pull inflation, cost-push inflation, and built-in inflation. The most commonly used inflation indexes are the Consumer Price Index and the Wholesale Price Index.

How does inflation affect home insurance? ›

One of these is the correlation between inflation and higher home replacement costs. Inflation causes the cost of labor and materials to rise. Thus, it means that the expense of replacing a home will increase, too. If you need to file a property insurance claim, but your policy only extends coverage up to $250,000.

What is the most common offering of an inflation rider for long-term care policies? ›

Inflation protection in a long-term care insurance policy helps protect against the rising costs of care. There are different types of inflation protection. One of the most common types is 3% compound.

What are 5 factors that you should consider when buying long-term care insurance? ›

Items to Consider Before Buying Long-Term Care Insurance
  • Duration of Benefits.
  • Benefit Triggers.
  • Waiting Periods.
  • Daily Benefit Amount.
  • Maximum Policy Benefits.
  • Inflation Protection.
  • Insurance Agents.

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