How to Understand Health Standards for Long Term Care Insurance Enrollment

Long term care insurance conforms to the basic insurance
mechanism, in that the individual risk of future peril is
shared by a pool of people who currently are free from that
peril.

The insurance pool is represented by the insurance company
which sets eligibility standards for enrollment to ensure a
hazard-free pool, so that actuaries can calculate
reasonable, standardized premiums for pool members who meet
the eligibility requirements and enroll in the risk pool.
In this way, members transfer their individual risk of
peril to the pool. The pool shares the risk for all
members and covers those whom actually experience the
future peril.

If you are thinking about applying for a long term care
insurance policy, please be aware that certain pre-existing
health conditions can make it impossible for some folks to
enroll due to health reasons. If you have any health
issues, this article can help you better understand long
term care insurance health requirements.

Do not apply for long term care insurance if you CURRENTLY:

* Use a multi-pronged cane, crutches, oxygen, walker or
wheelchair

* Require assistance with bathing, dressing, feeding,
toileting, urinary or bowel continence, or transferring
between bed or chair

* Use/need home health care, adult day care, assisted
living or nursing home care

* Require assistance with grocery shopping, use of
transportation, use of telephone or banking

( NOTE: These pre-existing health problems may make you
uninsurable for buying a new long term care insurance
policy. However, all the above health conditions WILL be
covered if they occur AFTER you you have purchased your
long term care insurance policy. )

In addition, do not apply for long term care insurance if
you CURRENTLY have:

* AIDs or HIV infection
* Alzheimer's
* Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
* Cystic Fibrosis
* Dementia
* Hemophilia (other than Von Willebrand disease)
* Hepatitis C, Non-A, Non-B, or Autoimmune (Active)
* Kidney Failure
* Liver Cirrhosis
* Memory Loss
* Multiple Sclerosis
* Muscular Dystrophy
* Paralysis
* Parkinson's Disease
* Post-Polio Syndrome
* Schizophrenia
* Sickle Cell Anemia
* Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Every long term care insurance company has their own health
underwriting standards. Each company's health underwriting
standards may vary by state, according to each state's laws.

Note: As you increase in age, so does your risk for health
issues. Therefore, most long term care insurance companies
will require medical records for people over 45, medical
records and phone interview for people 50 and over, and
medical records plus a face-to-face health interview for
people over 70.

Be aware: If you think you can slip your health issues past
long term care insurance underwriters, then think again.
First, lying on your application is fraud. Second, it is
the underwriter's job to be very thorough when looking
through your medical records and assessing risk. Be honest
with yourself and with the long term care insurance company
you choose.

The upshot of all this is that folks must protect
themselves while they are still in good health.

If you fall within acceptable guidelines, then
"congratulations", as you can protect your assets and your
family's lifestyle stability now, then cross your fingers
and hope that you are not one of the nearly 45% of us who
will need care at some point in our lives.
Copyright (c) 2006 Clay Cotton

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Long term care insurance activist, Clay Cotton, writes for
http://www.PrepSmart.com - The Online Baby Boomers Decision
Assistance Center, where you get Free Long Term Care
Insurance advice, comparative rate quotes and personal
guidance, all while safely at home in your favorite pajamas
and bunny slippers.