Long-term care insurance cost
The short answer
In the 2026 AALTCI price index, a couple both aged 60 were quoted $4,591 to $7,173 a year for nearly identical benefits, depending on the insurer. A single 60-year-old woman paid about $4,450 a year on average. Your price depends on age, health, sex, state and the benefits you choose.
Long-term care insurance cost is hard to pin down, because no two quotes are built the same way. The price depends on you, and on choices you make about the benefits. Sixty is a common age to start asking.
This page shows published prices from 2026, explains what moves them, and covers Washington's public WA Cares Fund. Long-term care insurance is a private product you buy from an insurer. It is part of our guide to paying for care, which covers savings, Medicare and Medicaid as well.
What does long-term care insurance cost at 60?
The best-known annual benchmark is the price index from the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance (AALTCI). The association says it does not sell insurance products. Its 2026 index was published in July 2026, using Illinois prices.
Take a couple both aged 60, each with a $165,000 benefit pool growing at 3% a year. Five insurers quoted these annual premiums (AALTCI 2026 price index):
| Insurer (unnamed in the index) | Annual premium for the couple |
|---|---|
| Company 1 | $4,591 |
| Company 2 | $5,661 |
| Company 3 | $6,440 |
| Company 4 | $6,712 |
| Company 5 | $7,173 |
The most expensive quote was about 56% higher than the cheapest, for virtually the same benefits. That spread is the single most useful number on this page. Always compare several insurers.
For a single woman aged 60, AALTCI reports an average of about $4,450 a year (AALTCI news release). The release calls the benefits "comparable" to its other examples but does not spell them out. For a couple both aged 65, it reports about $7,030 a year with 3% growth.
Why the same benefits cost such different amounts
The index's fuller table is for age 55, and it shows how much your choices matter. These prices are for a $165,000 benefit pool, for applicants in AALTCI's "Select Health" class (AALTCI 2026 price index).
| Age 55, $165,000 pool | No growth | Grows 3% a year | Grows 5% a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single man | $950 | $2,200 | $3,710 |
| Single woman | $1,500 | $3,750 | $6,400 |
| Couple, combined | $2,080 | $5,050 | $8,575 |
Three things stand out. Women pay more than men for the same benefits. Inflation growth more than doubles the price. And waiting from 55 to 60 or 65 raises it further.
Here is what moves the price, in plain terms:
- Your age when you buy. Older buyers pay more each year.
- Your health. Insurers look at your health when you apply, and you must qualify medically. AALTCI notes lower rates may be available to people in excellent health.
- Your sex. Single women pay more, as the table shows.
- The benefit pool. A bigger total pays for more care, and costs more.
- Inflation growth. Without it, a benefit bought at 60 buys less care at 85.
- The waiting period. A longer wait before benefits start lowers the price.
- Where you live, and which insurer. Prices vary by state, and widely by company.
What care itself costs, for comparison
A benefit pool only means something next to the cost of care. CareScout's 2025 Cost of Care Survey, released March 2, 2026, reported these national medians (CareScout, via Genworth):
| Type of care (national median, 2025) | Cost |
|---|---|
| Non-medical caregiver at home | $35 an hour; $80,080 a year at 44 hours a week |
| Adult day health care | $95 a day; $24,700 a year at five days a week |
| Assisted living | $6,200 a month; $74,400 a year |
| Nursing home, semi-private room | $315 a day; $114,975 a year |
| Nursing home, private room | $355 a day; $129,575 a year |
Costs in your area may be higher or lower. CareScout publishes local figures on its own site.
Premiums can go up after you buy
This surprises many people. Washington's Office of the Insurance Commissioner says early long-term care policies were priced too low. Insurers must ask permission to raise rates, but if an increase is justified and lawful, the office "can't deny it" (Washington OIC).
If a later increase is hard to afford, the office lists options. You can reduce the daily benefit, shorten how long benefits last, lengthen the waiting period or reduce inflation protection.
Its shopping advice is simple: ask each insurer about past rate increases on all its long-term care plans, not just the one you're looking at.
Hybrid policies: life insurance with a care benefit
Some buyers choose a "linked" or hybrid product: life insurance or an annuity that also pays toward long-term care. They cost more each year, and include a minimum death benefit.
AALTCI's 2026 index compares them at age 55 with no inflation growth (AALTCI 2026 price index). A traditional policy with a $180,000 pool was $1,050 a year for a man and $1,645 for a woman. Linked products from two insurers ranged from $3,265 to $3,750 a year, with a minimum death benefit of $120,000.
WA Cares: Washington's public long-term care benefit
If you have worked in Washington, you may already have a long-term care benefit. WA Cares Fund benefits became available on July 1, 2026 (WA Cares Fund).
Most Washington workers pay 0.58% of their gross wages, with no cap (WA Cares Fund, employers). In 2026 the full lifetime benefit is $36,500, and it grows with inflation (WA Cares Fund, benefits).
People born before January 1, 1968 can qualify with as little as one year of contributions. They earn 10% of the full benefit for each year, currently $3,650 a year (WA Cares Fund, qualifying).
To use it, you must need help with three or more daily activities, expected to last at least 90 days. Benefits for out-of-state participants are scheduled to start in July 2030.
It pays for things like in-home personal care, home-delivered meals, home modifications, adult day services, respite for family caregivers and facility care. For a Washingtonian near retirement, it is a real help, though $36,500 is a lifetime total. It can be one layer, with savings or private insurance on top.
How to decide whether it's worth it
| If this sounds like you | Long-term care insurance may be |
|---|---|
| Healthy, in your fifties or early sixties, with savings you want to protect | Worth pricing now, from several insurers |
| You could pay for several years of care from savings | Optional; some people self-fund |
| Your savings are modest and Medicaid would likely pay eventually | Often hard to justify; read about the Medicaid spend-down |
| You have serious health conditions | Priced on your health; get quotes before deciding |
| You live in Washington and contribute to WA Cares | Something to layer on top, if at all |
If Medicaid is part of your thinking, the five-year Medicaid look-back matters before giving anything away. If you are pricing this for a parent, our post on caring for aging parents covers what else to put in place.
Who acts for you when care is needed
Paying for care is one question. Arranging it is another. Someone has to find the caregiver, sign the forms and pay the bills while you rest.
That is the job of the people in your power of attorney documents, and of your trustee if you have a trust. Long-term care insurance does not do that job; people do.
Kinly is a membership, not insurance, and does not pay for care. It names a trust company that can act for you in those roles. After two years of membership, if Medicaid ends up paying for your care, Kinly stops billing you (the Lifetime Promise). Our guide to choosing professional help compares every option.
Common questions
How much is long-term care insurance at 60?
In AALTCI's 2026 index, a 60-year-old couple were quoted $4,591 to $7,173 a year combined for nearly identical benefits. A single 60-year-old woman paid about $4,450 a year on average. Your quote depends on your health, state, sex and the benefits you choose.
Is it cheaper to buy long-term care insurance younger?
The yearly premium is lower when you buy younger, and you are more likely to pass the health questions. You also pay for more years. AALTCI's 2026 figures show prices rising from age 55 to 60 to 65.
Can my long-term care insurance premium go up?
Yes. Insurers can raise rates with state approval, and Washington's insurance commissioner says it cannot deny a justified, lawful increase. If that happens, you can usually lower your benefits to keep the premium manageable.
Does WA Cares replace long-term care insurance?
Not entirely. WA Cares pays up to $36,500 over your lifetime in 2026, growing with inflation. That helps, but it is smaller than many private benefit pools. Some Washingtonians add private insurance or plan to use savings on top.
Does Medicare pay for long-term care?
No. Medicare pays only for short, skilled stays, usually after a hospital stay, not ongoing help with daily life. Our guide to paying for care explains the limits.
Sources
- AALTCI: 2026 Long-Term Care Insurance Price Index (checked October 2026)
- AALTCI: New 2026 study reveals long-term care insurance costs can differ by thousands of dollars, July 28, 2026 (checked October 2026)
- AALTCI: How much does long-term care insurance cost? (checked October 2026)
- Genworth: CareScout releases 2025 Cost of Care Survey results, March 2, 2026 (checked October 2026)
- Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner: Long-term care insurance rate increases (checked October 2026)
- WA Cares Fund: Benefits now available (checked October 2026)
- WA Cares Fund: Covered benefits (checked October 2026)
- WA Cares Fund: Qualifying for benefits (checked October 2026)
- WA Cares Fund: Employer information (checked October 2026)
This page is general information, not legal or financial advice. Laws vary by state.