[Carol]

My husband is 70 years old, has had a pacemaker for the past 15 years, even though his heart is completely healthy now.

I shopped around for long term care insurance for him a few years and really didn’t get anywhere because of the pacemaker.

Someone told me I might be able to find coverage which just excludes any heart condition?

Anyone is this group have any advice for me?

And any advice on life insurance in this same situation.

He only has a $65,000 policy.

By the way, we are fi, barely, no extra cushion to rely on.

TIA

[John]

Are you American? In my humble opinion, LTC insurance is really not a thing anymore.

People who bought policies 20+ years ago are sitting pretty, but the rest of us are kind of cut out of the market.

It’s just too expensive and too miserly with the benefits.

[Abigail]

You don’t understand what a pacemaker does if you think his heart is “completely healthy now.

” However, it is reasonable to say that his condition is treated and well-managed.

That said, I’m in healthcare and I’m not aware of any good long-term care policies currently being sold.

Not for anyone at any age or level of health.

Have a high net worth.

That’s your policy.

[Cathie]

If he has a pacemaker- his heart is not completely healthy- that’s not how it works.

His heart is being managed by the pacemaker being there.

Since this is a pre existing condition – it may be very difficult and extremely expensive to get insurance

[Frank]

I would not bother with long term care insurance. It is completely uneconomical anymore.

I would focus on being healthy instead.

[Jack]

Since he’s your boyfriend, you don’t have to worry about the Medicaid laws for spouses.

Medicaid will cover his nursing home care if needed.

[Scott]

Since you are in retirement I might suggest Retirement Planning Education (formerly Taxes In Retirement) might be another forum to post this question.

[Sandi]

You won’t be able to get LTCI at that age – most folks buy it at age 60 or so.

And with that medical history, you are unlikely to be able to get life insurance, either.

If you still have a mortgage, you might be able to buy a policy that pays off the mortgage at death; that’s what I would look for in your shoes.

[Lori]

Also as an RN. I think most insurance companies would figure out a way to connect nearly all health issues back to his heart –

assuming you could get a policy excluding the heart- difficult breathing –

heart can be involved, HTN heart involved, stroke, heart involved, etc. –

even if the heart wasn’t direct involved they would make it such a difficult thing to prove and the doctors who have to do peer to peer meetings with insurance companies will tire quickly of dealing with it.

agree with others continue to build wealth and stay as healthy as possible.

[Kathy]

Does he/you have any debts or reasons why you’d be relying on his income if he passes?

If you are just barely FI, but don’t have any debt, you may be OK without life insurance.

I don’t know if he could get long-term care insurance.

They don’t cover as much as they used to.

With his previous heart condition and pacemaker, any LTC policy might be prohibitively expensive.

Would his current life insurance policy ($65k) cover his funeral costs?

Seems like it would, but it’s something to talk about and explore with him.

[Dustin]

I’d guess that any plan would be very expensive given his age and preexisting condition.

But what are you looking for? To cover your finances or to take care of him?

[Jan]

I’m going to prepay our funerals and burial. The plots are bought. Lock in the price and in some cases, you can get a discount for pre-pay.

[Su]

Yes, the advice is get long term care abroad. Heck even Canada is way cheaper without insurance.

What are you even thinking, and the US isn’t even the best service.

Here it sucks for how much you pay.

[Steven]

I’m in insurance and want to buy good coverage for myself. It’s just not worth it anymore.

[Author]

Posts