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| Long-Term Care Glossary | Long-Term Care FAQ | Long-Term Care Calculators and Tools |
Why
Should I Get Long-Term Care Insurance?
This much is certain:
What are your options?
Generally, these are the most common choices:
Let's review each of these options:
There is a way to self-insure long-term care so that your money is safe, free from market risk, liquid, grows tax-deferred, and worth three times its value for long-term care needs. All you need to do is change the way you save. GILICO can help you with their innovative product - AnnuiCare®.
Why Should I Purchase an
AnnuiCare® Policy?
It has been shown that a majority of people self-insure
their long-term care insurance. With AnnuiCare®, you can enjoy the advantages
of self-insurance while protecting your assets from risk. Your money accumulates
tax-deferred, less monthly charges for the long-term care benefit.
For example, if you have an emergency fund set aside, moving a portion of it into AnnuiCare® can provide you up to three times that amount for long-term care. This allows you to free up the remainder of your assets to reward yourself today. You still maintain control of your funds, but now you have much more financial flexibility.
How
Will an AnnuiCare® Policy Impact My Taxes?
During the accumulation phase of your annuity, interest
earnings are tax-deferred. Prior to 1/1/2010 monthly withdrawals to pay for
long-term care premiums were taxable and you received a 1099 for those deductions.
Because of tax law changes brought about by the Pension Protection Act of 2006,
beginning 1/1/2010 your LTC premium deductions will no longer be taxable.
During the benefits phase, benefits paid from the annuity
portion of AnnuiCare® prior to 1/1/2010, were treated as distributions,
thus interest earnings were withdrawn first and were taxable to the owner. With
passage of the Pension Protection Act of 2006, beginning 1/1/2010 any benefits
paid for qualified LTC expenses are no longer taxable.
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Am
I Eligible for AnnuiCare®?
Financial Suitability Standards
Net Worth: You
must have at least $100,000 of available assets exclusive of home and vehicles.
Cash Flow: You must have ample funds to invest in AnnuiCare®. If you depend on these funds and/or the interest from these funds for routine living expenses, AnnuiCare® may not be suitable.
AnnuiCare® Benefits
What is the AnnuiCare® Benefit Limit and how is
it paid?
The Benefit Limit is three times the Annuity Value
when benefits begin, and it is paid on the basis of Daily Maximums.
What is the AnnuiCare® Daily Maximum?
The Daily maximum is the Annuity Value divided by 730.
This is the number of days in two years (365 X 2 = 730). i.e. – $100,000 AV
= $136.99 Daily Maximum
Deductible Period
What is the Deductible Period?
The Deductible Period is a 90 day waiting period
during which time benefit conditions are met.
Can the Deductible Period be satisfied with non-consecutive,
or intermittent days of care?
Yes. It is satisfied by 90 days of covered services
occurring within a 270-day period.
Are any benefits not subject to the Deductible
Period?
Yes. Care Planning, Caregiver Training, and Respite
Care Benefits are immediately available.
Must the Deductible Period be satisfied each
time benefits are claimed?
No. The Deductible Period need be satisfied ONLY ONCE
during the lifetime of the Insured. If the insured recovers from a chronic illness
after meeting the 90-day Deductible Period and no longer needs care, the Deductible
Period does not apply to any future benefits, regardless of the nature of the
illness, or the length of time since benefits were last paid.
Waiver of Premium
When are Premiums for Long-Term Care waived?
AnnuiCare ® has two Waiver of Premium features:
Ownership and Funding
May a parent or child of the insured own the policy?
No. AnnuiCare® is an annuity with LTC benefits. If
the non-insured owner (other than the spouse) were to die, federal law requires
that the cash value be paid to the beneficiary, which would terminate LTC benefits.
May qualified funds, such as an IRA, be used
to fund AnnuiCare®?
Not without special
arrangement. Contact your agent or the company for details. Qualified
plans have mandated distributions, and will require the owner to reduce the
value of the policy, and thus benefits, at what may be an inopportune time.
How do partial withdrawals affect AnnuiCare® coverage? The owner/insured may withdraw 100% of annuity interest earned without surrender charges and principal may be withdrawn subject to policy penalties, or a 10% Free Withdrawal is available after the first contract year on all AnnuiCare® policies issued on or after July 18, 2005. NOTE: Extreme caution should be exercised when making withdrawals because policyowner withdrawals reduce the AnnuiCare® Benefit Limit by three times the amount withdrawn.
Notice of Claims and Questions
Regarding Benefits
Notify us as soon as possible (telephone is OK) when
covered care or services are needed. We will determine if Benefit Conditions
have been met. Care Advisors are available to assist in development of a Plan
of Care.
How is the Annuity affected by claims paid?
According to the Pension Protection Act of 2006, benefits
paid from your AnnuiCare® annuity beginning January 1, 2010 are not taxable.
Benefits are first paid from withdrawals from your Cost Basis, then from your
gain. All Accumulation Value remaining in your annuity will continue to earn
tax-deferred interest.
What happens if the insured no longer needs care?
If the insured recovers from the benefit condition,
and there is any remaining Annuity Value, withdrawals for LTC premiums are resumed.
If all Annuity Value has been fully depleted, the unused benefit remains in
force as fully paid up LTC coverage for the full remaining benefit.
What happens if all annuity value has been used
and the insured no longer needs care, but the Benefit Limit has not been fully
paid?
If all Annuity Value has been fully depleted,
the unused benefit remains in force for the life of the insured, or until needed
as fully paid up LTC coverage for the full remaining benefit.
Inflation Protection
What is Inflation Protection?
Inflation Protection is the Policyowner’s guaranteed
right to increase LTC benefits up to 5% annually to keep up with the increasing
cost of LTC.
How does Inflation Protection work?
As the Annuity earns interest and increases in value
each year, the AnnuiCare® Daily Maximum and Benefit Limit increase in proportion.
The Inflation Protection feature in AnnuiCare® guarantees the insured the right,
without evidence of insurability, to make additional annuity premium payments
within 30 days after policy anniversaries, such that the AnnuiCare® benefits
are at least 5% greater than on the previous anniversary.
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