February 7, 2014 – The reopening of the CalPERS long term care insurance program to new applicants is welcome news for Californians. According to a comparison of costs, some consumers may be able to save 12 percent yearly by shopping around.
“CalPERS closed their long term care insurance program to new applicants back in 2008 so it’s good news to have them re-entering the market,” declares Jesse Slome, director of the American Association for Long Term Care Insurance (AALTCI). The national trade group which advocates for long term care insurance planning is headquartered in Westlake Village, CA.
“CalPERS is offering a newly designed family of plans that applicants can select from,” Slome notes. The program is available to all current and retired California public employees, their spouses, parents, parents-in law and adult children and siblings between the ages of 18 and 79.
A preliminary review of the program features and costs by AALTCI finds some consumers may be able to save money or get better coverage in the open marketplace. According to AALTCI, a single male age 55 purchasing a benefit pool of $164,250 will pay $1,824 a year under the CalPERS plan. “They could get that same coverage currently for about $1,600 if they comparison shop,” Slome advises.
The CalPERS plan offers a three percent simple inflation growth option. “Leading insurers such as Mass Mutual, Genworth and MedAmerica offer a variety of other options that, for the same cost could actually get you more benefits in later years when you are likely to need care,” Slome advises. According to AALTCI, a $164,250 initial benefit grows to $312,075 at age 85 with the three percent simple compound growth. “A California couple age 55 could pay about the same as the CalPERS plan with a leading insurer but they’d have over one million dollars in combined benefits available to them at age 85,” Slome notes. “The difference can really be quite significant over time.”
“We always advise consumers that comparison shopping is in their best interest,” he adds. “A long term care insurance specialist can compare multiple insurers offering coverage in California and offer you the policy that best suits your age, your health and budget.”
To compare long term care insurance costs connect with a designated California long term care specialist call the national organization at (818) 597-3227 or visit the Association’s website at www.aaltci.org.
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