With Nursing home Cost`s running $4,000 to $6,000 a month and outpacing inflation, it is a small wonder that most seniors cannot afford the Long term Care insurance premiums. Their are low cost Alternatives available for seniors who just can`t afford the rising cost of these Premiums.

Many Seniors even question if they need Long Term Care Insurance. Take a look at the Stats and decide for yourself.

Long Term Care by the Numbers

• In the year 2010 about 12 million older Americans may need long term care
• A Study by the U.S. Department of Health and human Services predicts that 40% of all Americans over the age of 65 will need Nursing home care
• 22% of all Americans over the Age of 85 are in a nursing Home
• According to the US Government 40% of the People Currently receiving Long Term Care Services are between 18 and 64.

Many older People are under the belief that Medicare and Medicaid will cover the cost of Long Term Care. Every State has their own rules about what income and net worth requirements will qualify you for Long Term Care assistance. Here are some qualification rules in use by the State of Missouri as published in the Consumer Guide for seniors from the official Web page for the State (http://insurance.mo.gov/consumer/senior/ltcguide.pdf) (For other States check the State.gov web page and then search on insurance and long term care)

In the State of Missouri Medicare Pays Long Term Care as follows

• First 20 Days Medicare will pay all
• For the Next 80 Medicare and the Senior Split the Cost based on some Formulas
• Beginning on the 101st Day you are responsible for all Long Term care Costs.

What About Medicaid? Here are some Rules in place in the State of Missouri.

• A Single person has to spend down their assets to under $1,000 before Medicaid will pay.
• A Married couple would have to spend down 1/2 of their assets or more. According to the following rules A Spouse may keep between $13,740 and 68,700. So if a Couple only has $13,740 the Spouse gets to keep it all and Medicaid will pay the long Term Care Costs. But if a couple has $500,000 in Assets the Spouse only gets to keep $68,700 before Medicaid will Pay.
• Certain Assets are Exempt from the Spend Day requirement and it is strongly advised if you have significant assets that you contact a Financial Advisor or attorney, who specializes in asset protection for seniors in your State.

Now that you have the Facts the Question is how do you protect yourself at a reasonable cost. Many Insurance companies offer Annuities and Equity Indexed Annuities with a Nursing Home Benefit. These Annuities would allow you to take your Annuity over a Span of 5 Years to help pay for your long term Care Expenses. In Addition to the long term care benefit these annuities offer Tax Growth, Up to 10% Bonuses for the first 5 years and many other Benefits.

If you are a Senior concerned about the High Cost of Long term Care but really cannot afford the High cost of Long term Care Insurance Premiums then Annuities with a Long Term Care Rider may just be the solution you seek.