How to Understand Health Standards for Long Term Care Insurance Enrollment

Long term care insurance conforms to the basic insurance mechanism, in that the individual risk of future peril is shared by a pool of people who currently are free from that peril.

The insurance pool is represented by the insurance company which sets eligibility standards for enrollment to ensure a hazard-free pool, so that actuaries can calculate reasonable, standardized premiums for pool members who meet the eligibility requirements and enroll in the risk pool. In this way, members transfer their individual risk of peril to the pool. The pool shares the risk for all members and covers those whom actually experience the future peril.

If you are thinking about applying for a long term care insurance policy, please be aware that certain pre-existing health conditions can make it impossible for some folks to enroll due to health reasons. If you have any health issues, this article can help you better understand long term care insurance health requirements.

Do not apply for long term care insurance if you CURRENTLY:

* Use a multi-pronged cane, crutches, oxygen, walker or wheelchair

* Require assistance with bathing, dressing, feeding, toileting, urinary or bowel continence, or transferring between bed or chair

* Use/need home health care, adult day care, assisted living or nursing home care

* Require assistance with grocery shopping, use of transportation, use of telephone or banking

( NOTE: These pre-existing health problems may make you uninsurable for buying a new long term care insurance policy. However, all the above health conditions WILL be covered if they occur AFTER you you have purchased your long term care insurance policy. )

In addition, do not apply for long term care insurance if you CURRENTLY have:

* AIDs or HIV infection

* Alzheimer's

* Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

* Cystic Fibrosis

* Dementia

* Hemophilia (other than Von Willebrand disease)

* Hepatitis C, Non-A, Non-B, or Autoimmune (Active)

* Kidney Failure

* Liver Cirrhosis

* Memory Loss

* Multiple Sclerosis

* Muscular Dystrophy

* Paralysis

* Parkinson's Disease

* Post-Polio Syndrome

* Schizophrenia

* Sickle Cell Anemia

* Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Every long term care insurance company has their own health underwriting standards. Each company's health underwriting standards may vary by state, according to each state's laws.

Note: As you increase in age, so does your risk for health issues. Therefore, most long term care insurance companies will require medical records for people over 45, medical records and phone interview for people 50 and over, and medical records plus a face-to-face health interview for people over 70.

Be aware: If you think you can slip your health issues past long term care insurance underwriters, then think again. First, lying on your application is fraud. Second, it is the underwriter's job to be very thorough when looking through your medical records and assessing risk. Be honest with yourself and with the long term care insurance company you choose.

The upshot of all this is that folks must protect themselves while they are still in good health.

If you fall within acceptable guidelines, then "congratulations", as you can protect your assets and your family's lifestyle stability now, then cross your fingers and hope that you are not one of the nearly 45% of us who will need care at some point in our lives.

Copyright (c) 2006 Clay Cotton

Rate Article

Related Videos
Play Video Health Insurance Options for Small Business	Play Video Beat The Bean Counters	Play Video Back Insurance?	Play Video How Should Society Care for the Elderly?	Play Video Learn About Healthcare

Listed below are more articles related to the above article from the "Insurance" article category.

People interested in the above article "How to Understand Health Standards for Long Term Care Insurance Enrollment" are also interested in the related articles listed below:

 

Sine-qua-non: Long Term Care Insurance

No one ever wanted to encounter losing the ability to care for ones self. If there was one thing that one could wish away, it would be the unforeseen financial and personal risks and the exorbitant cost of Long-term care (LTC).

Know All About The Workers Compensation Insurance

Intego is a nationwide, experienced, specialized, and focused agency. We offer the finest industry products using the most sophisticated web-based technology and back them with unparalleled customer service. Let us show you how this powerful combination can improve your business process-giving you more time to build your business and keep your customers happy.

The Importance of Insurance Coverage for Young People

Debt reduction law centers appear to be on a relatively better position than insurance companies especially with the ongoing recession. When it comes to finances at this day and age, being young and single often means there's a huge possibility that you are preoccupied about getting rid of your debt or saving your home rather than thinking about your insurance coverage. This is often due to a widespread belief that right now, insurance is one of a young person's least important concerns and that it is not quite practical to acquire it in the middle of an economic crisis.

Wedding and Events Insurance or Provides Piece of Mind

Planning a wedding is something lots of girls start thinking about from a very early age! But one thing most little girls don't think about, when doodling their dream wedding dress, is insurance. Wedding insurance is perhaps not the most exciting things happy couples have to think about in the lead-up to their wedding but since weddings can cost between •£15,000 and •£25,000, it's an important to detail to work into your plan.

Is Your Home Haunting Your Insurance?

Since insurance is based on the sharing of risk, your home's history could very well play a significant part in determining your insurance premium as it could increase the home's risk profile. This is not confined to risks such as burglaries, but also applies to any claims that may have been made by the previous owners.

How Marriage Affects Your Insurance

Getting married is undoubtedly one of the busiest and most stressful times of your life. You have all sorts of arrangements to make and you have a deadline so you have to make them quickly. You probably can't think of anything other than getting married to the person of your dreams and feel you can only afford to focus on your big day. Although this is understandable, and indeed expected, you also need to consider your insurance.

How to Obtain Insurance

In our previous articles we've approached such issues as correct cargo insurance, clauses of the insurance agreement, term of validity of the insurance agreement and factors which influence the underwriting rate. Today we'll discuss how to obtain insurance.