If you’re in your 60s or 70s and have been told you can’t qualify for long-term care insurance because of a health condition, you’re not alone.

For years, we’ve sat across from people who wanted to plan ahead — not for themselves, but for their children. They’ve watched a parent go through a long-term care event. They’ve seen how draining it is. And they don’t want that burden falling on their own family someday.

Then we start asking health questions… and they get turned down.

Historically, if you had conditions like Parkinson’s, MS, diabetes outside of standard guidelines, certain heart issues, stroke history, autoimmune disease, or even some cancer histories — the answer was often simply “no.”

That’s changing.

New Options for People With Health Conditions

We now have two long-term care strategies specifically designed for people who may not qualify for traditional long-term care insurance or hybrid life/LTC policies.

These are structured as annuities with long-term care benefits attached. And while they’re not for everyone, they are opening doors for people who previously had no options.

Here’s the basic idea:

You use non-qualified (after-tax) money.

A lump sum — for example, $100,000 — is deposited.

That deposit can immediately create up to $300,000 (or more over time) in long-term care benefits.

Benefits paid for qualified long-term care are tax-free.

The purpose of these products is not aggressive growth. The real value is the leverage for care — often three times the original deposit — and the ability to qualify even with certain serious health conditions.

How the Leverage Works

Let’s simplify it.

If someone deposits $100,000:

They may immediately have $300,000 available for long-term care.

The policy can pay a monthly benefit (for example, around $4,000+ per month).

The first portion of payments essentially returns their own money.

After that, the insurance company continues paying benefits — up to a 60- or 72-month maximum depending on the product.

If long-term care is never needed, there is still a remaining cash value or death benefit that goes to beneficiaries.

This is not about hitting a home run on investment returns.

This is about transferring risk.

Who These Plans Are Designed For

These plans are often appropriate for:

• People who were declined for traditional long-term care insurance
• Individuals with Parkinson’s, MS, certain cancers, stroke history, autoimmune conditions, diabetes with complications, and more
• Couples where one spouse qualifies for traditional coverage and the other does not
• Individuals who already own a non-qualified annuity and want to reposition it tax-efficiently

Some of these policies use video underwriting rather than medical records and prescription history. Others rely on structured health questionnaires. Each company asks different questions — which means qualification can vary depending on your specific condition and where you live.

This is why comparing them side-by-side without guidance usually doesn’t work. The right fit depends on your health, your state, and your overall financial plan.

Why This Planning Matters So Much

Long-term care is one of the biggest financial and emotional risks in retirement.

When there’s no plan:

The healthy spouse is often overwhelmed.

Adult children step in.

Retirement income plans get derailed.

Assets are drained faster than expected.

We’ve seen it too many times.

Insurance is just one tool. Not everyone needs it. Some people will self-fund care. Others may use different strategies.

But doing nothing — and hoping it won’t happen — is not a strategy.

A Word About IRA Money

These policies must be funded with non-qualified (after-tax) dollars. You can’t directly use IRA or 401(k) funds without first withdrawing them and paying taxes.

However, there may be ways to gradually reposition IRA funds over time if this strategy makes sense within your broader tax and income plan.

This is why long-term care planning should never be done in isolation. It must fit within:

• Income planning
• Tax planning
• IRA distribution strategies
• Estate planning

If You’ve Been Told “You Can’t Get It”

If someone has told you in the past:

“You’re too sick.”
“No company will take you.”
“There’s nothing available.”

That may not be true anymore.

We’re seeing people qualify today who had no options just a few years ago.

And the relief they feel when they’re approved — knowing their family won’t automatically carry the burden — is real.

If you have health concerns and still want a plan in place, it’s worth exploring what may now be available to you.

Because protecting your retirement is important.

But protecting your family from unnecessary hardship?

That’s even more important.