⚠️ Medicare Only Covers 100 Days

Long-Term Care:
The Cost Medicare Won't Pay

Most people don't realize Medicare stops covering care costs after 100 days. What happens after that is on you — unless you plan ahead. Brian Penner helps Utah families protect their savings before a crisis hits.

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70% of people turning 65 today will need some form of long-term care. The average length of care is 3 years. At Utah nursing home rates, that's over $300,000 out of pocket — not covered by Medicare.
2026 Utah Care Costs — Per Month
Nursing Home (private room) $8,900
Nursing Home (semi-private) $7,500
Assisted Living Facility $4,100
Home Health Aide (44 hrs/wk) $5,700
Medicare covers after 100 days $0
Sources: Genworth 2025 Cost of Care Survey. Numbers are medians and vary by location and care level.
70%
of people 65+ need long-term care
3 yrs
average LTC need
100
days Medicare covers skilled nursing
$0
Medicare pays for custodial care
Know the Gap

What Medicare Covers — and What It Doesn't

Most people are surprised to learn how limited Medicare's long-term care coverage actually is. The gap between what Medicare pays and what care costs is enormous.

❌ Medicare Does NOT Cover

Custodial (Long-Term) Care

  • Help with bathing, dressing, or grooming
  • Assistance with eating or using the bathroom
  • Supervision for memory loss or dementia
  • Ongoing assisted living facility costs
  • Most in-home personal care services
  • Nursing home care beyond 100 days per benefit period
  • Supportive care when no skilled need is present
✔ Medicare DOES Cover (with conditions)

Skilled (Short-Term) Care

  • Days 1–20: 100% in a skilled nursing facility
  • Days 21–100: You pay $204.50/day coinsurance (2026)
  • After day 100: Medicare pays nothing
  • Requires a qualifying 3-day hospital stay first
  • Must need skilled nursing or therapy services
  • Home health care — only if homebound and medically necessary
  • Hospice care for terminal illness

💡 The bottom line: If you need help with daily activities — not medical treatment — Medicare doesn't pay. That's custodial care, and it's the most common type of care people need as they age.

Cost of Care Calculator

What Would Care Cost in Your State?

Use real 2026 median data to see what long-term care costs in your area — and how much you'd need to cover.

📈 Long-Term Care Cost Estimator

2026 median costs based on Genworth Cost of Care Survey data. Adjust for your state, care type, and duration.

Years of Care Needed
3years
1 year Avg need: 3 yrs 10 years
Monthly Cost Today
$8,900
Current 2026 median rate
Total at Today's Cost
$320,400
For 3 years of care
Inflation-Adjusted Total
$349,800
At 3% annual care inflation
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Care costs have risen faster than general inflation. At 4% annual growth — the historical average — a nursing home that costs $8,900/month today will cost roughly $10,600/month in 5 years and $13,200/month in 10 years. Long-term care insurance locks in your premium rate now, before costs climb further.

See if you can protect against these costs

Brian reviews LTC options at no cost — including hybrid life/LTC products and traditional LTC insurance.

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Your Options

Ways to Plan for Long-Term Care

There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Brian helps you understand each option and find the right fit for your health, income, and goals.

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Traditional LTC Insurance

A standalone policy that pays a daily or monthly benefit when you need care. Premiums are lower when you're younger and healthy.

  • Large daily benefit pool (often $150K–$400K+)
  • Inflation protection riders available
  • Covers nursing home, assisted living, and home care
  • Premiums are tax-deductible for some filers
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Hybrid Life / LTC Policy

A life insurance policy or annuity with a long-term care rider. If you never need care, your heirs receive a death benefit.

  • No "use it or lose it" concern
  • Single premium or limited pay options
  • Level premiums — no rate increase risk
  • Growing in popularity for healthy 50–65 year olds
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Asset-Based Planning

Using home equity, savings, or annuities strategically to fund care — including Medicaid planning for qualifying individuals.

  • Medicaid covers long-term care for those who qualify
  • Home equity conversion strategies
  • Self-funding with dedicated savings account
  • Works best when planned years in advance
Timing Matters

When Should You Plan for Long-Term Care?

The earlier you plan, the more options you have — and the less you pay. Here's how the window opens and closes.

Ages 50–59
The ideal planning window
Premiums are at their lowest. Most applicants are healthy enough to qualify without exclusions. Hybrid products are especially compelling at this age — you can fund a policy with a single premium or over 10 years.
Best time to act
Ages 60–69
Still a strong window — act before Medicare starts
Many people purchase LTC coverage in their early 60s when they're retiring and taking stock of their financial picture. Premiums are higher than your 50s but coverage is still readily available for healthy applicants. This is when most of Brian's LTC clients act.
Good timing — don't wait
Ages 70–79
Options narrow, but hybrid products may still work
Traditional LTC insurance becomes more expensive and harder to qualify for. Hybrid products tied to life insurance or annuities remain available for healthier applicants. Asset-based strategies become more relevant.
Limited options — review now
Care Needed
Coverage is no longer available
Once you need care, you cannot purchase long-term care insurance. At this stage, options are limited to Medicaid (if you qualify), family caregivers, or spending down personal assets. This is why planning before a crisis is so critical.
Too late for insurance
Common Questions

Long-Term Care FAQ

Medicare covers skilled nursing facility care only for up to 100 days per benefit period, and only after a qualifying 3-day hospital stay. Days 1–20 are fully covered. Days 21–100 require a daily copay of $204.50 in 2026. After day 100, Medicare pays nothing. Medicare does not cover custodial care — the help with daily activities that most long-term care requires.
Most LTC policies pay a daily or monthly benefit when you can no longer perform at least two of the six activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, transferring, continence) or have a cognitive impairment like dementia. Benefits typically apply to nursing home care, assisted living facilities, memory care units, adult day services, and home health care.
Yes — Medicaid does cover long-term care, but only after you've spent down most of your assets to meet Utah's eligibility limits. In 2026, a single applicant in Utah can generally have no more than $2,000 in countable assets. Strategic Medicaid planning — done years in advance — can help protect your spouse's assets and home. Brian can refer you to an elder law attorney for Medicaid planning needs.
Traditional LTC insurance is a standalone policy that pays benefits if you need care. If you never need care, you don't get money back — similar to auto insurance. A hybrid policy links a life insurance policy or annuity to long-term care benefits. If you need care, the LTC benefit pays. If you don't, your heirs receive a death benefit. Hybrids typically have level premiums and no risk of premium increases, making them increasingly popular.
Premiums vary significantly based on your age, health, the benefit amount, and the policy type. A 55-year-old in good health might pay $150–$300/month for a traditional LTC policy with a $3,000/month benefit and 3-year benefit period. Hybrid policies are often funded with a single premium of $75,000–$150,000 or spread over 10 years. Brian reviews your specific situation and presents options from multiple carriers — at no cost to you.
Free Long-Term Care Review

Don't Let a Health Event Drain Your Life Savings

Brian reviews your situation, explains your options clearly, and compares products from multiple carriers. Free, no pressure, no obligation.

📞 (435) 260-3200
Medicare Required Notice: We are not connected with or endorsed by the United States government or the federal Medicare program. We do not offer every plan available in your area. Please contact Medicare.gov or 1-800-MEDICARE or your local SHIP office for information on all of your options. Cost of care data sourced from Genworth 2025 Cost of Care Survey — medians vary by location and provider.