Past 60? What You Can Still Do to Plan for Long-Term Care
Past 60, you can still plan for long-term care. Start with where you want to live and who would help, then look at what care costs and how you’d pay. If you’re healthy, coverage may still be available, and an agent can show you the options that fit your age. If not, there are other ways to prepare.
Can you still plan for long-term care after 60?
Yes. You can still decide where you want to live and who you’d want helping you, learn what care costs and how it’s paid for, and find out what coverage is available to you. Your options depend on your age and health when you apply, so an agent can show what fits your situation. See When Should You Buy Long-Term Care Insurance? and What to Expect in Long-Term Care Insurance Underwriting.
Much of a good plan also doesn’t depend on insurance: your documents, your family’s roles, your home, and your support network.
What can you do in the next 30 days?
Week 1: Get clear on your picture
Write down where you want to live, who you’d want helping you, and what you most want to protect. If you’re planning as a couple, see Growing Old Together.
Weeks 1–2: Know your numbers
- What care could cost. See How Much Does Long-Term Care Cost?.
- What Medicare and Medicaid do and don’t cover. See Does Medicare Cover Long-Term Care?.
- What you have: savings, income, and home equity.
Weeks 2–3: Check what you already have
- An older long-term care policy of your own.
- Life insurance or an annuity that includes a long-term care rider. (NAIC Shopper’s Guide)
- Employer or retiree benefits.
Weeks 3–4: See what coverage is available
If you’re healthy, talk with a licensed agent about what’s available. Compare the types in How Does Long-Term Care Insurance Work?, and ask about partial coverage, shorter benefit periods, joint coverage, and payment schedules. Some annuity-based products use simpler health underwriting, and availability varies by product and state.
Week 4: Put paperwork and people in place
Talk with an attorney about powers of attorney and health care directives, and tell your family what you want. See Planning Ahead for Cognitive Decline and How to Talk to Your Parents About Long-Term Care.
What if coverage isn’t the right fit?
- Earmark savings for care, and consider the role of home equity, which has costs and risks.
- Agree on roles with family. See How to Divide Caregiving Between Siblings.
- Talk with an elder law attorney about Medicaid rules, including the look-back period. See Long-Term Care Insurance vs. Medicaid.
- Find local help through the Eldercare Locator.
- See What If I Don’t Qualify for Long-Term Care Insurance?.
How can your home and support network help either way?
See Making Your Home Age-Ready, Room by Room, Questions to Ask Before Hiring In-Home Care, and Staying Connected as You Age.
It’s still your choice
The best place to start is with what you want. The rest follows from that picture.
Staying Power is a licensed insurance agency that helps people understand their options for paying for care at any stage.
Get started to see what care costs and how to fund it.
Frequently asked questions
Is it too late to plan for long-term care after 60?
No. You can still plan how care would be paid for, put documents in place, and see what coverage is available to you.
Can I still get long-term care insurance in my 60s?
Often, depending on your health and the options you choose. A licensed agent can tell you what’s available.
What if I have health conditions?
Some conditions affect eligibility, and some products use different underwriting. An agent can explain your options, and there are other ways to plan.
