Two single-premium designs for unlimited lifetime LTC coverage — Option A (level for life) vs. Option C (3% compound growth) — compared side by side for a couple, age 50.
Prepared June 26, 2026 · Insureds: Mr. & Mrs. PWC, both age 50, Preferred Non-Tobacco · California · Single premium
This schedule compares two single-premium designs for the same couple. Both provide an unlimited, lifetime long-term care benefit and the same $960,000 guaranteed death benefit. They differ only in how the monthly benefit behaves after the first two years — one holds a higher-level benefit for life; the other starts lower and grows at 3% compound every year. The purpose is to give the family all the figures needed to decide.
Long-term care benefits are paid in two stages. For the first two years, the policy pays up to $40,000 per insured — $80,000 jointly — from the $960,000 death benefit, until that amount is exhausted. After the second year, a lifetime benefit takes over and continues for as long as care is needed, with no end date and no lifetime maximum. The monthly amount in this second phase is lower than in the first; how it behaves over time is the single most significant difference between the two designs.
| Phase | What it pays | How long |
|---|---|---|
| 1. The first two years | Up to $40,000/mo per insured ($80,000 joint), drawn from the death benefit | ≈2 years, until the $960,000 is used |
| 2. Lifetime care | Option A — $25,000/mo per insured, level for life. Option C — $14,000/mo, growing 3% for life | For life — protection does not run out |
| Metric | Option A — Level for Life | Option C — 3% Compound Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Policy design | $960,000 face · level benefit | $960,000 face · 3% compound |
| Single premium (one-time) | $447,553 | $515,530 |
| Guaranteed death benefit | $960,000 | $960,000 |
| Guaranteed gain if care is never used | $512,447 | $444,470 |
| Immediate cash surrender value (yr 1) | $229,210 | $229,210 |
| First two years — monthly benefit | $40,000/mo per insured ($80,000 joint) |
$40,000/mo per insured ($80,000 joint) |
| First-phase duration | ≈2 yrs (until the $960,000 is used) | ≈2 yrs (until the $960,000 is used) |
| After the second year — monthly benefit (yr 1) | $25,000/mo per insured ($50,000 joint) |
$14,000/mo per insured ($28,000 joint) |
| Lifetime-phase inflation | None — level for life | 3% compound, for life |
| Monthly benefit at age 85 (per insured) | $25,000 | $38,247 |
| Monthly benefit at age 87 (per insured) | $25,000 | $40,576 |
| Lifetime-phase duration | Lifetime (unlimited) | Lifetime (unlimited) |
| Total lifetime care benefit | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Premium allocation — life / care | $219,264 / $228,289 | $219,264 / $296,266 |
“What if I never need long-term care?”
Answered by the guaranteed death benefit. If care is never needed, the full $960,000 passes to beneficiaries income-tax-free under current tax law — a guaranteed gain of $512,447 (Option A) or $444,470 (Option C) over the premium paid.
“What if I exhaust my benefits?”
You cannot. After the death benefit is used, the lifetime benefit takes over and pays for life. Even if both insureds required care for more than 25 years — for example, after an accident — the policy would continue to pay. There is no point at which protection runs out.
After the immediate cash surrender value and potential C-corporation tax benefits, the net capital at risk is far below the headline premium — and even that is not truly “at risk,” because if care is never needed, the policy returns a guaranteed $960,000 death benefit. The premium is effectively reallocated from one asset category to another.
| Cash-flow analysis | Option A | Option C |
|---|---|---|
| Single premium | $447,553 | $515,530 |
| Less: immediate cash surrender value (available for loan) | ($229,210) | ($229,210) |
| Net capital at risk | $218,343 | $286,320 |
| Less: potential C-corp tax savings (30% of care premium) | ($68,487) | ($88,880) |
| Net capital at-risk after-tax benefit | $149,856 | $197,440 |
Tax assumption: 30% effective corporate rate applied to the deductible care-premium portion. Actual deductibility depends on corporate structure; consult your tax advisor.
At concierge rates, the premium you save by self-insuring buys only about six months of care for the couple — $80,000 a month between the two of you. After that, every month is out of pocket, indefinitely, with no legacy benefit, no guaranteed coverage, and no protection for the healthy spouse. A care event lasting longer than six months makes self-insuring the more expensive strategy.
High-net-worth families often assume that wealth alone solves the long-term care challenge. An uninsured extended-care event at the concierge level can disrupt retirement income, erode legacy assets, and shift difficult care decisions onto family members.
A single premium that provides an unlimited lifetime long-term care benefit while guaranteeing a $960,000 legacy if care is never needed is not an insurance expense. It is a strategic capital allocation designed to protect lifestyle, family, and legacy.
To determine whether this strategy is appropriate for your family, request a complimentary review. A typical consultation takes about 20 minutes.
California Insurance License No. 0E90257 · Insurance Review Services · San Ramon, CA 94583
(925) 708-6501 · withbert.payne@insurance-review-services.com · ltccpas.com
Request a Complimentary ReviewFigures are drawn from a single-premium whole life illustration for a healthy couple, both age 50, Preferred Non-Tobacco, California. For educational purposes only; this is not an offer to contract. C-corporation tax savings are approximate and depend on corporate structure — consult your tax advisor. All guarantees are subject to the issuing carrier’s claims-paying ability. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. CA License No. 0E90257 · This is a solicitation for insurance.