What is Permanent Life Insurance + Long Term Care (LTC) benefits and what does it cover?
The policy provides a Permanent Term Life Insurance policy with a Long Term Care rider. It is permanent Life Insurance (to age 121) that combines the benefits of both Life Insurance protection for your family along with living benefits, which can be utilized to help pay for long term care such as home healthcare, adult day care, assisted living facilities and nursing home expenses. Long Term Care is personal care - help with everyday activities such as bathing and dressing (also known as "Activities of Daily Living”) and/or care for severe cognitive impairments like Alzheimer’s Disease or Dementia.
What is the difference between Long Term Care and Long Term Disability insurance?
Long Term Care benefits help cover the cost of a nursing home, assisted living, adult day care or home health care if you become unable to care for yourself. Long Term Disability insurance replaces a portion of the income you will lose if you are unable to work because of an injury or illness.
Who is issuing the policy?
Trustmark Insurance will issue the policy. Trustmark was founded in 1913 and has an A financial strength rating from A.M. Best.
How does AGIS fit in?
AGIS Network serves as your advocate between you and the Trustmark Insurance. AGIS helps with enrollment, issues with billing, supporting the online enrollment system and helping individuals understand the benefit so they can make an informed decision about the policy. AGIS Network also supports caregivers by providing practical, usable caregiving resources.
When are long-term care benefits payable?
Long-term care benefits are payable when a doctor certifies you require assistance with 2 of 6 ADLs or have a severe cognitive impairment (such as Alzheimer’s) and you are receiving care from a professional or family member. Long-term care benefits are payable after 90 days of qualifying care has been received; to qualify you must meet the conditions for payment.
Does it matter where I receive care?
No. If you qualify for LTC benefits, where you receive care is up to you (at home, assisted living, adult day care, nursing home, etc.).
Does the plan provide LTC benefits for care provided from unlicensed/informal caregivers such as family or friends?
Yes, you may use a family member or friend as your caregiver. Once your claim has been approved, the policy would pay 2% of your death benefit each month, up to your policy limit, to cover care in your home or a caregiver’s home.
If you use professional care, the policy will pay 4% of your death benefit each month, up to your policy limit.
Do the policy/coverage amounts ever decrease?
Trustmark Life + Care® life insurance has a higher death benefit during your working years.
The death benefit reduces to 33% when you turn seventy or your 10th certificate anniversary, whichever is later. However, your Long-Term Care benefits never reduce and remain at the same level into your later years.
What is Benefit Restoration?
With Benefit Restoration, 100% of the benefit that is paid for Long-Term Care benefits is restored to the death benefit. This means that even when using Long-Term Care benefits, the death benefit will not be reduced. Benefit Restoration is not available to applicants aged 71 to 75.
What is the Extension of Long-Term Care Benefits
With Extension of Long-Term Care Benefits, the benefit amount available for Long-Term Care doubles. The insured still collects the same amount per month, but they can collect up to double the face amount of their certificate. With a death benefit of $100,000 and Extension, up to $200,000 is available as long-term care benefits. Extension of Benefits is not available to applicants aged 71 to 75.
Are there medical questions required?
Eligible employees through age 70 can enroll in coverage up to $125,000 in Life Insurance and $250,000 in Long Term Care (LTC) benefits without completing a medical questionnaire.
Employees aged 71-75 must answer medical questions.
You must be actively at work at the time of your application and on the effective date of coverage to be eligible
Are my dependents also eligible for coverage?
Your spouse/domestic partner aged 18 to 70 is eligible to apply if you (the employee) also apply for coverage. Your spouse/domestic partner can apply for a policy amount up to $25,000 by answering one disability question. The question to qualify for coverage: Is the proposed insured now disabled – i.e., unable to engage in normal activity due to physical or mental impairment?
Spouses aged 18 to 70 can also apply for up to 100% of the employee’s coverage amount up to $100,000 by answering the Modified Guarantee Issue questions.
What questions are asked of an employee and/or spouse / domestic partner that applies for amounts of coverage that are higher than guaranteed issue amounts?
Note, these questions also apply to any employee / spouse that applies for any amount of coverage after the initial enrollment.
- Is the proposed insured now disabled – i.e., unable to engage in normal activity due to physical or mental impairment?
- Has the proposed insured been seen by a physician or treated in a medical facility, including a doctor’s office, within the last 6 months for illness or disease (other than flu, colds, or HIV)?
- Has the proposed insured had within the past 5 years: heart disease; chest pains; high blood pressure; stroke; diabetes; cancer; tumor; kidney disease; blood disorder (excluding any testing for HIV antibodies); liver disease; lung disease; or other known health impairments?
Can I pay the monthly premium through payroll deductions?
No. Payments will be made directly to Trustmark Insurance the policy issuer, using your personal checking or savings account. All payments will be made using automatic deduction. Premiums cannot be paid using a credit card.
How is my rate determined?
This insurance offers unisex rates based on your age as of the policy effective date, tobacco usage, and coverage amount selected.
Does the policy build up cash value?
No. This policy is a term life insurance policy that does not build up any cash value.
Do premiums continue when on LTC claim?
The plan has Waiver of Premium, which means that while you receive LTC benefits, premiums are waived.
Can my premiums increase in the future?
Once coverage has been issued, rates can never increase, and coverage is guaranteed for life (to age 121) if premiums have been paid. Your policy is fully paid up at age 100.
Can I cancel my plan?
There is a 30-Day Free Look Period which means you can return your certificate within thirty days after delivery of your policy if you are not satisfied with it for any reason. Upon surrender of the certificate within the thirty-day period, it will be void from the beginning and any premium paid will be refunded.
If you cancel the policy after the 30-Day Free Look Period, there will be no refund of any premiums paid.
Will the plan pay for care outside of the US?
The Trustmark Life + Care policy will only pay Long Term Care benefits for care received in the United States. Death benefits (life insurance) can be paid in the United States or internationally.