Life Insurance Riders that Pay for Long-Term Care


Life insurance has many uses, including income replacement, business continuation, and estate preservation. Long-term care insurance provides financial protection against the potentially high cost of long-term care. If you find yourself in need of both types of insurance, a life insurance policy that combines a death benefit with a long-term care benefit may appeal to you.

Here's how it works

Some life insurance issuers offer life insurance with a long-term care rider available for an additional charge. If you buy this type of policy, you can pay the premium in a single lump sum or by making periodic payments. In any case, the policy provides you with a death benefit that you can also use to pay for long-term care related expenses, should you incur them.

The amount of death benefit and long-term care allowance is based on your age, gender, and health at the time you buy the policy. The appeal of this combination policy lies in the fact that either you'll use the policy to pay for long-term care expenses or your beneficiaries will receive the insurance proceeds at your death. In either case, someone will benefit from the premiums you pay.

Long-term care riders

The long-term care benefit is added to the life insurance policy by either an accelerated benefits rider or an extension of benefits rider.

Accelerated benefits rider --An accelerated benefits rider makes it possible for you to access your death benefit to pay for expenses related to long-term care. The death benefit is reduced by the amount you use for long-term care expenses, plus a service charge. If you need long-term care for a lengthy period of time, the death benefit will eventually be depleted. This same rider also can be used if you have a terminal illness that may require payment of large medical bills. Because accelerating the death benefit can have unfavorable tax consequences, you may want to consult your tax professional before exercising this option.

Example: You pay a single premium of $50,000 for a universal life insurance policy with a long-term care accelerated benefits rider. The policy immediately provides approximately $87,000 in long-term care benefits or $87,000 as a death benefit. If you incur long-term care expenses, the accelerated benefits rider allows you to access a portion, such as 3% ($2,610), of the death benefit amount ($87,000) each month to reimburse you for some or all of your long-term care expenses. Long-term care payments are available until the total death benefit amount ($87,000) is exhausted (about 33.3 months). Whatever you don't use for long-term care will be left to your heirs as a death benefit.

(The hypothetical example is for illustration purposes only and does not reflect actual insurance products or performance. Guarantees are subject to the claims-paying ability of the issuer.)

Extension of benefits rider --An extension of benefits rider increases your long-term care coverage beyond your death benefit. This rider differs from company to company as to its specific application.

Depending on the issuer, the extension of benefits rider either increases the total amount available for long-term care (the death benefit remains the same) or extends the number of months over which long-term care benefits can be paid. In either case, long-term care payments will reduce the available death benefit of the policy. However, some companies still pay a minimum death benefit even if the total of all long-term care payments exceeds the policy's death benefit amount.

Continuing from the previous example, if the policy's extension of benefits rider increases the long-term care benefit (the death benefit--$87,000--remains the same) to three times the death benefit ($261,000), the monthly amount available for long-term care increases to $7,830. On the other hand, if the extension of benefits rider extends the length of time the monthly long-term care benefit is available, then the monthly payments ($2,610) are extended for an additional 24 to 36 months beyond the initial number of months (33.3) available.

Other provisions

Typically, qualifying for payments under a long-term care rider is similar to the requirements for most stand-alone long-term care policies. You must be unable to perform some of the activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, eating, getting in or out of a bed or chair, toilet use, or maintaining continence) or suffer from a severe cognitive impairment.

An elimination period may also apply: you pay for the initial cost of long-term care out-of-pocket for a specific number of days (usually 30 to 90) before you can apply for payments under the policy. As with all life and long-term care insurance, the insurance company will require you to answer some health-related questions and submit to a physical examination before issuing a combination policy to you.

Is a combination policy right for you?

Deciding whether a combination policy is right for you depends on a number of factors. Do you need life insurance and long-term care insurance? How much life and long-term care insurance will you need? How long will you need it? Will the long-term care part of a combination policy provide sufficient coverage?

A long-term care rider may not provide as many features as a stand-alone long-term care policy. For example, the combination policy may not cover assisted living or home health aides. It also may not provide an inflation adjustment, an important feature considering the rising cost of long-term care. The tax benefits offered by a qualified long-term care policy may not apply to the long-term care portion of combination policies, which could result in taxation of long-term care benefits received from the policy.

What if your life insurance needs change as you get older and you find that you no longer want life insurance protection? It's not uncommon for people to drop their life insurance in their later years if there's no compelling need for it, but if you surrender the combination policy, you're also forfeiting the long-term care benefit it provides, usually at a time when you are most likely to need it.

And keep in mind that as you use your long-term care benefits, you're depleting the death benefit--a death benefit you presumably wanted to pass on to your heirs or perhaps use to pay for estate taxes.

Finally, compare costs of combination policies to other forms of life insurance, such as term insurance, and stand-alone long-term care policies. Depending on your age and health, the cost for the combination life policy may actually be higher than the total premiums paid for separate life insurance and long-term care policies, especially if your life insurance need is temporary (such as income replacement during your working years) rather than permanent.

Please e-mail me at dkdowell@dkdcpa.com or call me at 502.271.8452 to discuss. 


STATE DEDUCTIBILITY RULES LONG TERM CARE INSURANCE DEDUCTIONS AND CREDITS FOR ALL STATES

Many states offer tax incentives to encourage the purchase of LTCi. Below is a general summary of state specific tax information for your reference. This information is current through December 2011 and is subject to change.

Taxpayers may need to meet state specific requirements to qualify for deductions or credits for LTCi. For information regarding the tax liability of a case, consultation with a tax consultant or legal advisor is recommended.

What The Coding Means
* = No Credit Or Deduction. No Broad-Based State Income Tax.
** = Same As Federal Tax Law (see above for details).


ALABAMA
Deduction Individuals are allowed an itemized deduction for qualified long term care insurance contract to the extent that the amount does not exceed specified limitations. These amounts are indexed. Businesses, whether incorporated or not, may deduct LTC insurance as reasonable compensation expenses.

ALASKA*
No tax benefits presently.

ARIZONA*
No tax benefits presently

ARKANSAS**
Deduction A deduction is allowed to the limits provided in the federal Internal Revenue Code (see above for details)

CALIFORNIA
Deduction A deduction is allowed to the limits provided in the federal Internal Revenue Code (see above for details)

COLORADO
Credit A Credit is allowed for 25 percent of the premiums paid for long term care insurance during tax year for the individual and spouse. The Colorado credit is only applicable to thoise with federal taxable income of less than $50,000; to two individuals filing a joint return with a federal taxable income of less than $50,000 if claiming the credit for one policy; or less than $100,000 if claiming the credit for two policies.

CONNECTICUT*
No tax benefits presently

DELAWARE*
No tax benefits presently

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Deduction A deduction for long term care insurance premiums paid annually ius allowed from gross income provided that the deduction does no exceed $500 per year, per individual. It does not matter whether the individual files joiuntly and the LTC poilicy must meet District of Columbia's definitions.

FLORIDA*
No tax benefits presently

BACK to TOP OF STATE LISTING


GEORGIA*
No tax benefits presently

HAWAII
Deduction Same as federal tax law, except subject to 7.5% of HI adjusted gross income, instead of federal adjusted gross income.

IDAHO
Deduction A deduction is allowed for premium paid by a taxpayer for LTCi which is for the benefit of the taxpayer, a dependent of the taxpayer or an employee of a taxpayer and the amount can be deducted from taxable income to the extent the premium is not otherwise deducted by taxpayer.

ILLINOIS*
No tax benefits presently

INDIANA
Deduction Deduction up to full cost of premium paid for qualified LTCi for taxpayer and taxpayer's spouse paid in the taxable year.

IOWA**
Deduction A deduction is allowed to the limits provided in the federal Internal Revenue Code (see above for details)

KANSAS
Deduction For tax years beginning in 2005,a subtraction from federal adjusted gross income for $500 in the tax year 2005, increasing each year by $100 until 2010. After 2010, it is a $1000 subtraction from the federal adjusted gross income for premium costs for qualified LTCi.

KENTUCKY
Deduction Deduction from adjusted gross income allowed for any amount paid during the tax year for LTC premiums.

LOUISIANA
Credit A credit against the individual income tax is allowed for amounts paid as premiums for eligible long term care insurance. The amount of the credit equals 10 percent of the total amount of premiums paid each year by each individual claiming the tax credit and the policy must meet the specific qualification requirements.

MAINE
Deduction The Superintendent of the State must certify the policy you purchase as a qualifying long term care policy. Then you are pemitted a deduction as long as the amount subtracted is reduced by the amount claimed as a deduction for federal income tax purposes. Sounds more complicated than it really is. Employers providing long term care benefits to employees may also qualify for a tax credit which follows a formula equal to the lowest of $5,000, 20 percent of the costs or $100 for each employee covered.

MARYLAND
Credit Taxpayer is allowed a one-time credit against the state income tax in an amount equal to 100% of eligible LTCi premium paid. The credit may not exceed $500 for each insured, may not be claimed by more than one taxpayer with respect to the same individual and may not be claimed if the insured was covered by LTCi before July 1 2000. No carryover is allowed. For employers, a credit up to an amount equal to 5% of the costs incurred by the employer during the taxable year for providing LTCi as part of the benefit package. The credit may not exceed $5000 or $100 for each employee covered by LTCi under the benefit package.

MASSACHUSETTS*
No tax benefits presently

MICHIGAN*
No tax benefits presently

MINNESOTA
Credit A credit is allowed for LTCi premiums equal to the lesser of: (1) 25% of premiums paid to the extent not deducted in determining federal taxable income; or (2) $100 (which equals $200 for married couples who file joint tax returns.)
.
MISSISSIPPI
Credit A credit equal to 25% of premium costs paid during the taxable year for a qualified policy for self, spouse, parent, parent-in-law, or dependent. The credit cannot exceed $500.

MISSOURI
Deduction Taxpayers may deduct 100% of all non-reimbursed amounts paid for qualified LTCi premiums to the extent such amounts are not included in itemized deductions.

MONTANA
Deduction - Credit Montana offers both a deduction for entire amount of qualified LTCi premiums covering taxpayer, taxpayer's parents, grandparents & dependents. A tax credit is now allowed for for premiums paid for long term care insurance coverage for a qualifying family member. The amount of the credit shall be based on the taxpayer's adjusted gross income and can not exceed $5,000 per qualifying family member in a taxable year. Or, $10,000 for two or more family members.

NEBRASKA
Deduction Nevada now permits a tax deduction for Long Term Care Savings Plan contributions of up to $2,000 per married filing jointly return or $1,000 for any otrher return to the extent that it is not deducted for federal income tax purposes.

NEVADA*
No tax benefits presently

BACK to TOP OF STATE LISTING


NEW HAMPSHIRE*
No tax benefits presently

NEW JERSEY
Deduction Deduction of LTC insurance premiums may be taken if they exceed 2% of adjusted gross income and cannot be reimbursed.

NEW MEXICO
Credit / Deduction. New Mexico permits taxpayers who are age 65 and older and who are not a dependent of another taxpayer to claim a credit of $2,800 for medical care expenses which includes long term care insurance premiums paid for the filing taxpayer, spouse or dependents if expenses equal $28,000 or more within the particular taxable yeare (and so long as the expenses are nopt reimbursed). A deduction allows taxpayers an additional exemption of $3,000 for medical expenses if expenses (including the cost for LTC insurance) equal $28,000 or more within the taxable year and if expenses are not reimbursed or otherwise covered.

NEW YORK
Credit Credit for 20% of premium paid for qualifying LTCi premiums. Taxpayer is permitted to carry over to future tax years any credit amount in excess of taxpayer�s tax liability for the year. Employers are eligible for a credit equal to 20% of the premiums paid during the tax year for the purchase of, or for continuing coverage under, a LTCi policy. The credit is not refundable and the credit may not reduce the tax to less than the minimum tax due.

NORTH CAROLINA
Credit A credit is allowed for premiums paid on LTC insurance for taxpayer, taxpayer's spouse or dependent in an amount equal to 15% of the premium costs, up to $350 for each policy on which the credit is claimed as long as adj. gross income meets the following limitations: Married Filing Separately <$50,000; Single <$60,000; Head of Household <$80,000; Married Filing Jointly or Qualifying Widower <$100,000.

NORTH DAKOTA
Credit A credit is allowed for premiums paid on LTC insurance for taxpayer and or spouse up to $250 within any taxable year.

OHIO
Deduction Deduction of federally qualified LTCi premiums for taxpayer, taxpayer's spouse and dependents to the extent deduction is not allowed in computing federal adj.gross income.

OKLAHOMA**
No tax benefits presently

OREGON
Credit Credit equal to the lesser of 15% of premiums paid during the tax year or $500 for LTC insurance coverage for individual, dependent or parents. For employers, a credit of $500 is allowed for each employee covered by an employer-sponsored policy.

PENNSYLVANIA*
No tax benefits presently

PUERTO RICO*
No tax benefits presently

RHODE ISLAND**
No tax benefits presently

SOUTH CAROLINA**
No tax benefits presently

SOUTH DAKOTA*
No tax benefits presently

TENNESSEE*
No tax benefits presently

TEXAS*
No tax benefits presently

UTAH*
No tax benefits presently

VERMONT**
No tax benefits presently

VIRGINIA
Deduction Virginia statutes permit a deduction from federal adjusted gross income for the amount paid in long term care insurance premiums provided the individual has not claimed a deduc tion for federal tax puposes or a credit under Virginia tax code 58.1-339.11. This code permits a credit against the individual's income taxes that shall not exceed 15 percent of the amount of long term care insurance premium paid during the taxable year. And, the credit can not be claimed to the extent that the individual has claimed a deduction for federal tax purposes. This one is worth having your CPA decide as a tax credit can be worth far more than a tax deduction.

WASHINGTON*
No tax benefits presently

WEST VIRGINIA
Deduction Deduction for LTCi premiums covering taxpayer, taxpayer's spouse, parents and dependents to the extent the amount paid for LTCi is not deducted in determining federal income tax.

WISCONSIN
Deduction Deduction allowed for taxpayer & taxpayer's spouse for 100% of the amount paid for a LTCi policy to the extent the same deduction is not taken for federal income tax purposes.

WYOMING*
No tax benefits presently

What The Coding Means
* = No Credit Or Deduction. No Broad-Based State Income Tax.
** = Same As Federal Tax Law (see above for details).

BACK to TOP OF STATE LISTING

If you would like to capitalize on tax advantaged savings available to those purchasing LTC insurance protection, now is the time to start the process. Click here to complete our simple online questionnaire and get the ball rolling.

Acknowledgements: The American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance does not provide tax advice and does not warrant the information provided herewith. As mentioned previously, always seek the counsel of a professional tax advisor.

For Immediate Release- Affiliation with Long Term Care Advisors


I am very pleased that I am now affiliated with Long Term Care Advisors.  For more information, please visit my website at www.ltcadvisor.info/dkdowell

My Mission Statement is as follows-

About Long Term Care Advisors
"...OUR MISSION STATEMENT"

To deliver to those who are thoughtfully preparing for their retirement, the gift of peace of mind for themselves, their family and their community. We do this by offering the added financial security and independence afforded by custom designed, quality Long Term Care Insurance and related products and services.

We realize that in today's fast changing world the number one priority to most of our clients is to protect what they have spent a lifetime accumulating.

Since we have gained the respect of our clients and many others, we take our job very seriously. This is one reason why we are so committed to doing everything we can to stay in front of our competition by continuing to be familiar with the newest products in the industry.

We realize that helping our clients achieve their goals is the only way we can reach our own. That is why the needs of our clients always come first.


If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at dkdowell@dkdcpa.com

Press Release Kentucky’s First Veteran’s Administration Accredited Claims Agent

Dwayne K. Dowell, CPA/PFS, CLTC

9900 Corporate Campus Drive

Suite 3000

Louisville KY 40223

Phone 502.657.6428 Fax 800.899.0084

dkdowell@dkdcpa.com

www.dkdcpa.com

www.dkdcpablog.com

           

PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Dwayne K Dowell CPA/PFS is pleased to announce being conferred as

 

  • Kentucky’s First Veteran’s Administration Accredited Claims Agent

 

Dwayne will be specializing in educating and helping veterans, members of a veteran's family, or the surviving spouse of a veteran understand how to obtain long term care benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Most veterans are not aware of the benefits available through veteran’s health care, through state veteran’s homes, through home renovation grants, or for two disability income programs called Compensation and Pension.

Founder of National Care Planning Council and author of three books on Veterans Benefits, Thomas Day states, “It's astounding that roughly 1/3 of all seniors can qualify for up to $1,949 a month in additional income through Pension under the right conditions. Yet government statistics shows only 5% of potentially eligible veterans are actually receiving the Pension benefit.”

The Aid & Attendance Benefit can help you pay anyone including your child for home care. It can also be used to help you pay for professional care in the home, for assisted living, or for nursing home. Imagine having an extra $1,949 a month that you didn't even know existed. 

In addition to being a Certified Public Accountant/Personal Financial Specialist, Dowell is a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor and Certified in Long Term Care.  “I am very excited about getting my accreditation and look forward to working with Veterans on their needs. “ 

For further information contact Dwayne K Dowell at (502) 657-6428 or e-mail at dkdowell@dkdcpa.com

Two Tax Court Decisions Clarify When Long-Term Care Expenses Are Deductible

Long-term care can be very expensive, but many long-term care expenses can be deducted from your taxes. Two important recent decisions by the U.S. Tax Court provide guidance on when caregiving services are deductible. In one decision, the court ruled that payments to non-medical caregivers are still deductible as medical expenses; in the other, the court held that a written agreement is required in order for a deceased woman's estate to deduct more than $1 million in care that her son allegedly provided her.

In the first case, Estate of Lillian Baral (U.S. Tax Ct., No. 3618-10, July 5, 2011), Lillian Baral suffered from dementia and her doctor recommended that she get 24-hour-a-day care. Her brother hired caregivers to assist Ms. Baral with daily activities. On her tax return, Ms. Baral included a deduction for medical expenses for the payments to the caregivers. The IRS said the expenses were not deductible and asked for more money. Following Ms. Baral's death, her estate appealed the matter to the U.S. Tax Court.

Under tax law, expenses for medical care may be claimed as an itemized deduction if they exceed 7.5 percent of adjusted gross income. (Note that this threshold will rise to 10 percent of adjusted gross income in 2012.) The definition of medical expenses includes the cost of long-term care if a doctor has determined you are chronically ill. "Chronically ill" means you need help with activities like eating, going to the bathroom, bathing, and dressing, or you require substantial supervision due to a severe cognitive impairment.

The Tax Court agreed with Ms. Baral that the payments to the caregivers for assisting and supervising Ms. Baral are deductible medical expenses. The expenses qualified as long-term care services even though the caregivers were not medical personnel because a doctor had found that the services provided to Ms. Baral were necessary due to her dementia.

In the second case, Estate of Olivo v. Commissioner (U.S. Tax Ct., No. 15428-07, July 11, 2011), New Jersey resident Anthony Olivo provided nearly full-time care to his mother from 1994 to 2003, during which time he largely abandoned his practice as an attorney. After his mother died, Mr. Olivo became administrator of her estate.

Mr. Olivo filed a tax return for the estate and claimed a deduction of $1.24 million as a debt he said the estate owed him for the care he had provided his mother over the years. He claimed he had an oral agreement with his mother that after she died she would compensate him for his services. The IRS disallowed the deduction and Mr. Olivo filed a petition with the Tax Court.

The U.S. Tax Court agreed with the IRS that the estate is not entitled to the deduction. Applying the law in New Jersey, which presumes that services to a family member living in the same household are given for free (many states have similar laws), the court ruled that without a written agreement between Ms. Olivo and her son, it must assume that Mr. Olivo provided the services without any expectation he would be repaid.
 
If you have any questions, please e-mail me at dkdowell@dkdcpa.com