Life + LTC Insurance
Combine life insurance with long-term care benefits for dual protection. If you need care, the policy pays for it. If you don't, your beneficiaries receive a tax-free death benefit.
How Does Life + LTC Work?
A Life + LTC hybrid policy combines traditional long-term care insurance with guaranteed Whole Life insurance into a single product. This dual-purpose design means your money is never “wasted” — it works for you regardless of what the future holds.
If you need care, the policy pays for home healthcare, assisted living, adult day care, and nursing home care. If you never need care,your premiums are returned to your beneficiaries as a tax-free life insurance death benefit — principal plus interest.
Licensed home health aides and skilled nursing
Residential communities with support services
Supervised therapeutic activities and nursing
Round-the-clock professional medical care
Key Advantages of Life + LTC
Hybrid policies solve the biggest objections to traditional LTC insurance.
Guaranteed Premiums
Unlike traditional LTC insurance, which has experienced double-digit rate increases for many policyholders, hybrid Life + LTC premiums are guaranteed to never increase. Once you lock in your rate, it stays the same for the life of the policy.
Return of Premium
Change your mind? Most hybrid policies allow you to get 80–100% of your premiums backif you decide the policy is no longer right for you. The exact percentage varies by carrier, but this “money-back guarantee” eliminates the “use it or lose it” concern.
Tax-Free Death Benefit
If you never need long-term care, your beneficiaries receive the full death benefit completely tax-free. Your premiums are never wasted — the money either pays for your care or goes to your loved ones.
Simplified Underwriting
Many hybrid carriers offer more lenient underwriting than traditional LTC policies. If you've been declined for traditional coverage, a hybrid policy may still be available to you.
Payment Options
Choose the funding structure that best fits your financial situation.
Lump Sum
A single premium payment that provides the maximum LTC benefits. Ideal for repositioning assets like CDs, savings accounts, or underperforming investments.
5-Year Plan
Spread the premium over five annual payments. Balances affordability with strong benefit levels while keeping premiums locked in from day one.
10-Year Plan
Spread the premium over ten annual payments for the lowest annual outlay. Good for those who prefer smaller recurring payments over a larger upfront commitment.
Top Life + LTC Carriers Compared
Each carrier has unique strengths. Here's how the leading hybrid Life + LTC products stack up.
Securian
Minnesota Life SecureCare III
- Balanced combination of life and LTC benefits
- 100% money-back guarantee after year 5
- Pays benefits in cash (not reimbursement)
- Only $1 qualified LTC expense required to trigger benefits
Lincoln Financial
MoneyGuard
- Approximately 10% more LTC benefits than competitors
- 50% cash / 50% reimbursement payment structure
- No elimination period required
- Strong inflation protection options
OneAmerica (State Life)
Asset Care
- ONLY hybrid with an unlimited benefit period option
- Two-bucket system: 33 months initial + 3% compound inflation bucket
- Unique continuation-of-benefits rider
- Strong choice for maximum long-term protection
Brighthouse Financial
SmartCare
- Cash benefit payments (no receipts required)
- Death benefit indexed to S&P 500 for growth potential
- Spinoff of MetLife with decades of LTC experience
- Competitive pricing for cash-indemnity benefit
John Hancock
Protection UL
- Largest death benefit among hybrid carriers
- Highest initial monthly LTC benefit amount
- No built-in inflation protection (lower initial cost)
- Universal life chassis for premium flexibility
Nationwide
CareMatters II
- Cash benefit payments (use funds however you choose)
- 90-day elimination period with retroactive payment on day 91
- Strong inflation protection riders available
- Flexible benefit period options
How Benefits Are Triggered
Like traditional LTC policies, hybrid Life + LTC benefits are triggered when you require assistance with two out of six Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)or experience a cognitive impairment such as Alzheimer's or dementia.
Eating
Putting food into the body from a receptacle or feeding tube
Bathing
Washing oneself in a tub or shower, including getting in and out
Dressing
Putting on and taking off clothing, braces, and artificial limbs
Toileting
Getting to and from the toilet and performing associated hygiene
Transferring
Moving into or out of a chair, bed, or wheelchair
Continence
Controlling bowel and bladder functions or managing related care
The Hybrid Market Is Booming
of consecutive double-digit growth in hybrid LTC sales
in new hybrid premiums written in a single year (2013)
hybrid policies sold in one year alone
Why the Rapid Growth?
Consumers want the peace of mind that comes with guaranteed premiums and a return-of-premium safety net. Unlike traditional LTC policies — which have experienced class-wide rate increases of 40–90% in some cases — hybrid policies lock in your cost from day one. The “use it or lose it” concern simply doesn't apply.
Pros & Cons
Advantages
- Guaranteed premiums that will never increase over the life of the policy
- Return of premium — get 80–100% of your money back if you change your mind
- Tax-free death benefit for beneficiaries if care is never needed
- Simplified underwriting compared to traditional LTC policies
- Dual purpose — one policy serves both life insurance and LTC needs
- Eliminates "use it or lose it" concern of traditional LTC insurance
Considerations
- More expensive upfront than traditional LTC insurance — especially lump-sum plans
- Less pure LTC coverage per dollar compared to a standalone traditional policy
- Inflation protection varies significantly by carrier — some offer none
- Lump-sum funding ties up a large amount of capital at once
- Not ideal if you have no need for life insurance coverage
- Those who only need LTC coverage may be better served by traditional policies
Who Should Consider Life + LTC?
Who May Want to Look Elsewhere?
Carrier Quick Comparison
Side-by-side overview of key features across the top six hybrid Life + LTC carriers.
| Carrier | Payment Type | Return of Premium | Standout Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Securian (SecureCare III) | Cash | 100% after year 5 | Only $1 LTC expense to trigger |
| Lincoln Financial (MoneyGuard) | 50% cash / 50% reimburse | Varies by year | ~10% more LTC benefits |
| OneAmerica (Asset Care) | Reimbursement | Varies by year | Unlimited benefit period option |
| Brighthouse (SmartCare) | Cash | Varies by year | Death benefit indexed to S&P 500 |
| John Hancock (Protection UL) | Reimbursement | Varies by year | Largest death benefit |
| Nationwide (CareMatters II) | Cash | Varies by year | Retroactive payment on day 91 |
Features and availability vary by state. Contact us for a personalized comparison based on your age, health, and coverage goals.
Compare Life + LTC Quotes From Top Carriers
As independent brokers, we shop every major hybrid carrier to find you the best combination of life insurance and LTC benefits at the best price. Get side-by-side comparisons — all with no obligation.