Nationwide Long Term Care Life Insurance Review

The long-term care insurance landscape has been undergoing a shift over the last few years. Amidst companies leaving the market altogether and the market consolidating, some companies have ventured into asset based LTC policies. Out of the carriers moving in this direction, Nationwide is one of the best long-term care life insurance companies. In the following Nationwide review, we will investigate the company’s history, ratings, long-term care life insurance product and the features offered, so that you can decide if Nationwide is the right choice for you.

About Nationwide Life Insurance Company

Nationwide is a Fortune 100 company and has been doing business for over 91 years. As one of the biggest insurance and financial services companies in the world, Nationwide and its affiliates provide property and casualty insurance, life insurance and retirement savings, asset management and strategic investments.

The Company’s various products are underwritten by Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and Affiliated Companies. However, not all Nationwide affiliated companies are mutual insurance companies, and not all Nationwide members are insured by a mutual company.

For 2016, Nationwide reported total sales of $43 billion in total sales with operating income of $910 million on revenues of $26.9 billion. In addition, the company has $209.8 billion in total assets under management. Finally, the company paid $17.2 billion in claims and other benefits to members.

Nationwide Life Insurance Company Financial Ratings

Nationwide is a top rated insurance company as is evident by the following financial ratings.

• A.M. Best rating: A+
  
• S&P rating: A+
  
• Moody’s rating: A1
  
• Fitch rating: N/A
• Comdex ranking: 89 (out of 100)
  
• BBB rating: A+

Nationwide Insurance

Nationwide, through its various affiliates, offers an assortment of products and services, such as

• Life Insurance
  • Term Life
  • Whole Life
  • Universal Life
  • Variable Life
  • Long Term Care
• Disability Insurance
• Auto Insurance
• Property Insurance
• Agriculture Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Pet Insurance

Long Term Care Insurance

In our opinion, the best option to protect you and your loved ones from the high costs associated with LTC is long term care insurance (LTCI). Traditionally, long term care insurance provides reimbursement for costs associated with long term care. Some plans also allow cash indemnity up to a certain amount of the income benefit.

In order to be eligible for LTC benefits, one of two scenarios must occur. Either

1. You are unable to perform 2 of 6 activities of daily living (ADLs); or
2. You require care due to a cognitive impairment such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, or Dementia.

Your long-term care benefits provide either reimbursement or cash indemnity for LTC services and costs including in home care, nursing home care, or care in an assisted living facility. Your income benefit is typically income tax free up to certain amount. Generally, you can receive the cash indemnity benefit income tax free based on the HIPAA per diem amount or actual LTC costs. For 2017, the maximum per diem limit is $360 a day.

To receive your long-term care benefits you must meet the requirements mentioned above regarding ADLs or cognitive impairment. In addition, you must file a claim with the insurer and wait for the policy’s elimination period to end. Your elimination period is the time that must pass until you can receive your income benefits. Elimination periods are counted as either a calendar day or as service days.

Once you are eligible to receive benefits, you can receive benefits for as long as your benefit pool or benefit period lasts.

Nationwide YourLife CareMatters

Nationwide YourLife CareMatters provides a fully-customizable life insurance with a long term care rider policy. The policy is a combination universal life insurance  and long-term care coverage available for ages 40-75.

There are several benefits to a asset based long term care insurance combo policy, including cash value growth, lump sum death benefit, return of premium and long-term care cash indemnity.

Nationwide long-term care rider provides for a cash indemnity benefit. Each month you are eligible for LTC benefits, you will get a check sent to you for the maximum monthly benefit. You can use the money as you see fit, even saving some if you choose to. It also provides the flexibility to pay whomever you want for your care, including family or friends.

There are different payment plans available, including single premium, 5-Pay, or 10 Pay. On the limited pay life insurance plans, your premium is fixed, so you don’t have to worry about your premium increasing.

It is a cash indemnity policy, which does not require receipts for reimbursement. And your death benefit is guaranteed, even if you use all of your funds earmarked for long-term care costs and services. Even if you use all the money earmarked for LTC costs and services, your beneficiaries will receive a 20% guaranteed minimum death benefit.

Nationwide offers an optional inflation protection rider, with either 3% simple or 5% compound interest options available.

Your licensed health care practitioner will put together a plan of care for you, and eligible care and service options include:

From Nationwide’s YourLife CareMatters product guide:

With CareMatters, you can stay in the home you know and love by using your long-term care benefit to make any needed safety and accessibility upgrades or to pay for caregivers to come to you. You can even use your benefit for a housekeeper or other things that help keep your life running normally.

You can take any benefit amount, up to the maximum benefit you qualify for. Taking less money can help extend the length of time your benefit is available. The universal life insurance with long-term care rider policy provides customization of the benefits period, including 2-7 year benefit periods. Once again, if you choose to take a lower cash indemnity benefit than the maximum, you can extend your benefit period. Alternatively, you can choose to bank any additional money.

Nationwide Life Insurance Review Conclusion

Long term care is expensive and the costs and services will likely to increase into the future. Currently, you can expect to pay around $100,000 a year for a nursing home and $50,000 a year for assisted living. A 2016 Genworth report showed that in home care currently costs around $3,800 a month. These numbers are growing annually thanks to inflation.

So what can you do? The first step would be to get informed. We can help you with the life insurance long term care planning side. Simply reach out to us by phone or email to get started. If you are interested in a Nationwide Long-Term Care Insurance policy or any of the other companies we represent, please give us a call today.