If you live alone, however, having someone come in a few hours a day or a few times a week may not be enough care. Some policies have a care manager who works with the family and doctor to determine how to provide the care needed. By law, no company can require a prior hospital stay in order to qualify for benefits. Nevertheless, a company might write this into a policy. Look for policies that count days in the deductible period cumulatively over several stays, rather than consecutively during one stay.
Inflation protection is costly but important.
The policy should provide for third-party notification so the policy can't lapse if you forget to pay a premium because of dementia. Also, legally, all long-term care policies are guaranteed renewable, so the company cannot drop you if you develop a serious health problem. The policy is a legal contract between you and the insurance company, so read everything carefully. Most policies allow you to cancel within 10 days for a full refund if the policy does not meet your expectations. Premiums are based on your age when you purchase the policy.