Frequently Asked Questions
Click on the questions and the answer will be displayed at the bottom of this page.

  • What Is Long-Term Care?
  • How Much Does Long-Term Care Cost?
  • Who Pays For Long-Term Care?
  • Who May Need Long-Term Care?
  • Do You Need Long-Term Care Insurance?
  • Is Long-Term Care Insurance Right For You?
  • What Is a Federally Tax-Qualified Long-Term Care Insurance Policy?
  • How Can You Buy Insurance to Pay for Long-Term Care?
  • How Do Long-Term Care Insurance Policies Work?
  • Other Long-Term Care Insurance Policy Options You Might Choose
  • What Happens If You Can't Afford the Premiums Anymore?
  • Will Your Health Affect Your Ability to Buy a Policy?
  • What Happens If You Have Pre-Existing Conditions?
  • Can You Renew Your Long-Term Care Insurance Policy?
  • What Do Long-Term Care Insurance Policies Cost?
  • If You Already Own a Policy, Should You Switch Plans or Upgrade the Coverage You Have Now?

    What Happens If You Have Pre-Existing Conditions?

    A long-term care insurance policy usually defines a pre-existing condition as one for which you received medical advice or treatment or had symptoms within a certain period before you applied for the policy. Some companies look further back in time than others. That may be important to you if you have a pre-existing condition on your application might not pay for treatment related to that condition and might even cancel you coverage.

    Many companies will sell a policy to someone with a pre-existing condition. However, the company may not pay benefits for long-term care related to that condition for a period after the policy goes into effect, usually six months. Some companies have longer pre-existing condition periods; others have none.