Long term care involves a wide variety of services for people with a prolonged illness, disability or cognitive disorder (such as Alzheimer's disease). Long term care is not one service, but many different services aimed at providing people with the help they need when a prolonged illness or disability keeps them from being able to care for themselves. It can range from help with day-to-day activities in the home to more sophisticated services such as skilled nursing care in your home or a nursing facility. Persons with physical illnesses or disabilities often need hands-on-assistance with activities of daily living. Persons with cognitive impairments generally need supervision, protection or verbal reminders to accomplish everyday activities. Skilled care and personal care remain the most common terms used to describe long-term care and the level of care a person may need.
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Private long term care insurance is a way to avoid spending all of your assets when long term care is needed. The cost of long term care insurance depends on your age, the benefits you choose, the length of coverage and other factors.
There is NO ONE RULE for everyone to use to determine whether long term care insurance is right for them in terms of either coverage or affordability.

As is the case with any options for health insurance, consumers have choices. As usual, they should make their own decisions based on their own goals, needs and circumstances AND with full awareness of the consequences of their decisions and the consumer protections available to them.
Long term care insurance is not for everyone. Some people will not qualify. Some people do not need it. Some people do not have enough assets to protect. Some people simply do not have enough income to afford it. Don't be afraid to take your time in making your long term care insurance decision. Choosing a long term care plan and insurer is a major decision. You need to understand your choices, your responsibilities and the consequences of your decisions. Don't be afraid to call an insurance representative more than once as you obtain more information and need clarifications of former questions or answers to new questions.