Advantages/Disadvantages of Linked Benefit Life Insurance

What it is:

Cash value life insurance with long-term care or convalescent care riders. The riders can pre-pay the death benefit (and more) to reimburse expenses incurred for covered care services.


Advantages:

  • Pays a death benefit if long-term care is not needed.

  • May be funded with a single premium or with recurring premiums.

  • Have cash values that may be accessed. (Provided sufficient funds remain to keep the policy in force.)

  • Leverages the benefit value of “rainy day” money that goes into policy.

  • May be suitable for tax-free exchanges from conventional life policies.
    (Beware of surrender charges.)

Disadvantages:

  • Limited LTC plan design flexibility.

  • Single premiums may be unaffordable to many clients.

  • Modest cash value growth potential when compared with other accumulation products.

  • Death benefit is reduced by amounts paid for LTC.

Look for:

  • Lifetime money back guarantee (single premium policies).

  • Lifetime minimum benefit guarantee, or no lapse guarantee.

  • Tax-qualified LTC riders that pay income tax-free LTC benefits.

  • Extension rider that continues LTC benefits after life insurance death benefit is exhausted.

  • If purchased with a single premium, no additional premiums required to fund LTC riders.

  • Lifetime inflation protection option, with all additional cost built into the single premium.

Beware of:

  • Non tax-qualified LTC riders that may produce taxable LTC benefits.

  • Policies that offer no extension riders. (If they only pre-pay the death benefit, beneficiaries still lose all benefits distributed for care services.)

  • Market risks when variable life insurance is involved. (LTC benefits may vary according to future market performance.)

  • Potential for future bills when the policy is advertised as a “single premium” product.
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