At what age and health should I buy long-term care insurance, and what does waiting cost?

The traditional sweet spot to shop for long-term care insurance is your mid-50s to early 60s, while premiums are still reasonable and you're likely to pass underwriting. Buy too early and you pay premiums for decades before any likely need; wait too long and premiums soar or you get declined for health reasons. A single serious diagnosis can make you uninsurable.

Genpolicy premiums are based on your age and health at purchase, so each year you wait raises the price. Weigh this against self-insuring: the government's own data shows a large share of people over 65 will need some long-term care, and costs run into thousands per month. Use the assessments at wealthserene.com/assessments/retirement-readiness to see how care costs fit your plan.