The numbers your clients need to understand — from average claim duration and age of first claim to care costs, claim triggers, and utilization patterns across all care settings.
How long do people actually need care?
"While the average stay is just over 3 years, 1 in 5 people will need care for 5 years or more — and women face nearly twice the risk as men. That's the scenario a well-designed LTC policy is built to protect against."
35+ years of claims experience — data from 1989 through 12/31/2022
| Gender | Share of Claims |
|---|---|
| Female | 73% |
| Male | 27% |
| Youngest | Average Age | Oldest |
|---|---|---|
| 39 | 84 | 103 |
| Age Band | % of Claims |
|---|---|
| < 69 | 3.41% |
| 70–74 | 6.00% |
| 75–79 | 13.17% |
| 80–84 | 26.50% |
| 85–89 | 30.34% |
| 90–94 | 17.13% |
| 95+ | 3.46% |
| Reason Claim Ends | Share |
|---|---|
| Death | 75% |
| Exhaust Benefits | 11% |
| Other Reasons | 14% |
75% of claims end at death — meaning most policyholders receive benefits until the end of life. Only 11% exhaust their policy limits.
| Category / Cause | Share |
|---|---|
| Cognitive Issues (total) | 55% |
| • Nervous System (Alzheimer's, etc.) | 29% |
| • Mental/Behavioral (Dementia) | 26% |
| Physical Issues (total) | 28% |
| • Musculoskeletal | 10% |
| • Cerebrovascular (Stroke) | 9% |
| • Accident / Injury | 9% |
| Illness-Related (total) | 12% |
| • Heart Disease | 7% |
| • Cancer | 5% |
| Other | 5% |
| Care Setting | Initial | Final |
|---|---|---|
| Home Health Care | 32% | 26% |
| Assisted Living | 47% | 52% |
| Skilled Nursing | 21% | 23% |
Most claimants migrate from home care toward assisted living as needs intensify over time.
| Months | Duration |
|---|---|
| 244 | 20 years, 4 months |
| 192 | 16 years |
| 177 | 14 years, 9 months |
| 171 | 14 years, 3 months |
| 158 | 13 years, 1 month |
Connecticut Partnership for LTC — 6,878 policyholders receiving benefit payments
| Service Type | % of Claims |
|---|---|
| Home Health Aide | 53% |
| Assisted Living Facility | 29% |
| Nursing Home | 27% |
| Personal Emergency | 20% |
| Personal Care | 9% |
| Durable Medical Device | 7% |
| Hospice Care | 1% |
60% of all claimants filed for home health aide or a skilled nursing home visit.
Avg. available benefit at time of claim. Avg. actual claim paid: $156,775. Highest single claim: $2.64 million.
59% of the 6,878 claimants were women, with a mean age of 81 at the time the claim was filed.
"This is really nursing-home avoidance protection — and the numbers validate that."
— Jesse Slome, Director, American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance (AALTCI). Connecticut is the only state that publishes current LTC insurance claims data.
What long-term care actually costs today (Source: Genworth Cost of Care Survey 2025)
| Care Setting | Monthly | Annual | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Health Aide (44 hrs/wk) | $6,200 | $74,400 | Fastest Growing |
| Adult Day Care | $1,900 | $22,800 | Social + medical supervision |
| Assisted Living Facility | $5,100 | $61,200 | Room, board & basic care |
| Memory Care | $6,200 | $74,400 | Dementia care |
| Nursing Home — Semi-Private | $9,000 | $108,000 | 24-hour skilled care |
| Nursing Home — Private Room | $10,500 | $126,000 | Highest Cost |