LTC Consumer

4.6 Stars (34 Reviews)

Updated: July 24, 2024

LTC Consumer is an independent, online resource that provides long-term care education. The company assists with evaluating solutions so that you can find the best insurance for your situation. LTC Consumer’s experienced long-term care insurance specialists help consumers find the best long-term care insurance while balancing financial goals and health care needs.

Editorial Breakdown

Product Options

4.7 Stars

Availability

4.5 Stars

Policy Features

4.5 Stars

Customer Service

4.6 Stars

Overall Rating

4.6 Stars

Bottom Line

LTC Consumer matches consumers with providers that offer products best suited for their situation.

LTC Consumer Review

LTC Consumer’s free website explains long-term care insurance with no sales pitch. You can learn about long-term care costs and coverage by reading or watching short videos. If you have questions while learning, you can quickly get in touch with one of LTC Consumer’s experts. This assistance is free, and the specialists can also explain various types of long-term care policies from the top-rated insurance companies and provide benefit options specific to your situation.

LTC Consumer is a broker, which means they shop all the top companies for you so you don’t have to try to find the best deal. We include the company on our list of the best long-term care insurance companies because of the education and price comparisons they provide. MasterCare LLC developed LTC Consumer to provide self-guided learning directly to consumers. Founded in 1988, MasterCare LLC is among the oldest and most respected long-term care insurance brokers in the U.S.

Pros

  • Research long-term care costs and insurance without sales pressure or cost
  • Its resources are backed by 35+ years of industry experience
  • Easily reach a specialist to discuss coverage options or to get in-depth answers to questions
  • Specialists shop the top insurance companies in your state to provide long-term care plans and make sure you get all the discounts available

Cons

  • No online chat option
  • No instant online quote comparisons

LTC Consumer’s Free Online Long-Term Care Resources

LTC Consumer’s website exists for one purpose: to educate consumers about long-term care insurance. LTC Consumer does not share your data with other companies, so use the free resources without concern that you may start receiving unwanted phone calls, texts or emails.

The chart below describes the three information sections you’ll find on LTC Consumer’s website. You’ll also see the Get to Know Us section that explains the company’s background and provides contact information. There’s also a Get a Quote tab, which is described below in our How to Buy section.

SectionInformation Covered
Consider ThisPlanning for the Future: Planning for a long-term care event

What is LTC Insurance?

Choosing a Long-Term Care Plan: How much insurance, inflation protection and more

Qualifying for LTC Insurance

For Women: Gender-based pricing

LTC Insurance Rate Increases: How to manage costs

Long-term Care Government Programs: Tax incentives and partner plans
ResourcesCost of Care Map: Click on a state to see average long-term care costs

Cost of Long-term Care Insurance: Factors affecting what you’ll pay for long-term care coverage

Free Guides: Long-term care trends, tax guides and more

Video Gallery: Comprehensive short videos explain long-term care insurance costs, myths vs. facts, benefits breakdown and more

Blog: Online articles relating to long-term care, wellness and insurance

Eldercare: Where to find help within your community

Glossary of LTC Terms
LTC FactsHealthcare Reform: How the Affordable Care Act (ACA) impacts long-term care insurance

Medicaid: How long-term care insurance differs from Medicaid

Medicare: The very different benefits long-term care insurance and Medicare offer

LTC Insurance Claim: How to file a long-term care insurance claim

FAQs: Answers to frequently asked questions about long-term care insurance

Statistics: Various statistics regarding the cost of long-term care and managing the expense
LTC Consumer Free Online Long-Term Care Insurance Information

Types of Long-Term Care Insurance LTC Consumer Provides

The U.S. Department of Treasury reports in its long-term care insurance regulation study that insurance companies are responding to changing consumer needs. Discuss your retirement planning concerns with an LTC Consumer specialist and learn about the benefits of short-term, long-term and hybrid LTC policies.

  • Short-term care insurance is often available to those who are disqualified from long-term care insurance due to health. Benefits typically are in place for 12 months or less and are designed to help offset the cost of care. Short-term care insurance gives the insured’s family time to prepare for further care.
  • Long-term care insurance pays for long-term physical and cognitive impairment care. Premiums are tax-deductible, and you don’t pay premiums after you start receiving long-term care benefits.
  • Hybrid LTC policies combine traditional long-term care insurance coverage and life insurance with a death benefit for heirs. You typically pay a hefty premium upfront for this kind of coverage, but many people prefer the flexibility and peace of mind it offers.

LTC Consumer can help you compare quotes and coverage levels for these insurance types. You’ll get help understanding the benefits so you can balance premiums with the cost of expected future medical needs. Coverage typically starts when you are unable to perform a few activities of daily living.

LTC Consumer logo
4.6 Stars

LTC Consumer

  • Highly rated by consumers
  • National coverage

LTC Consumer Insurance Partners

LTC Consumer doesn’t mention its insurance carrier partners on the website. According to a company representative, LTC Consumer provides quotes from the following high-quality insurance companies partnering with MCA:

All of these insurance companies are financially stable and have decades of experience with insurance. You can count on any of these companies to be around to pay benefits to cover long-term care costs in years to come.

LTC Consumer Costs

You pay nothing to access the information LTC Consumer provides online. Working with a specialist is free, too. The cost of long-term care insurance varies by provider, coverage level, your health and other factors. The elimination period, or length of time between when long-term care starts and when you receive benefit payments, also impacts premiums.

An LTC Consumer specialist can ensure you understand your best insurance options, whether or not you buy a policy.

How to Buy Long-Term Care Insurance from LTC Consumer

Click on the Get Started tab at the top of the LTC Consumer website to open your options. You can watch a short informational webinar, fill out a questionnaire to find out if your health qualifies, and request a quote You’ll provide a minimal amount of personal information on the form.

A dedicated long-term care insurance specialist receives your information after you click “Submit.” The specialist will call you or send an email. LTC Consumer’s specialists are available to answer questions about long-term care insurance and provide information about various LTC policies.

LTC Consumer does not sell your information to third parties, so you won’t get unsolicited calls or emails from any other agent or company.

LTC Consumer Complaints

We found a few online reviews for LTC Consumer, and all were promising. Over 260 customers (at the time of publishing) give the company 5 out of 5 stars on ConsumerAffairs. ConsumersAdvocate’s review praises LTC Consumer for its extensive educational resources and help.

We found no Better Business Bureau rating for LTC Consumer, so we turned to the BBB rating for the parent company. MasterCare Solutions has an A+ rating with no complaints filed.

We found one complaint from a customer on LTC Consumer’s site. The customer had to wait to get an appointment with their specialist. LTC Consumer replied with an apology and explained that the call volume was four to five times greater than usual at the time due to Washington’s new LTC insurance program. The customer gave the company 4 out of 5 stars, while most others gave LTC Consumer 5 out of 5 stars.

LTC Consumer Q&A

Can I apply for long-term care insurance from LTC Consumer if I have COVID-19?

Yes, LTC Consumer says carriers require a 30- to 60-day waiting period if you’ve tested positive for COVID-19. If you are hospitalized due to a COVID-19 diagnosis, you may have to wait three to six months to get LTC coverage.

Am I too old to buy long-term care insurance from LTC Consumer?

TThe best time for most people to purchase long-term care insurance is between ages 50 and 69, but you can still apply for LTC insurance if you are older. The seven carriers LTC Consumer works with all have a set maximum age for buying their insurance product. The ages range from 70 to 89 years old. The younger you are when you purchase long-term care insurance, the less your premiums will cost.

What are the chances I’ll need to use long-term care insurance from LTC Consumer?

There’s no guarantee you will use your long-term care policy, but nearly 70% of Americans over age 65 will need some form of long-term care in their lifetime, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Is long-term care insurance from LTC Consumer expensive?

The cost of LTC insurance premiums can vary widely due to many factors including the amount of benefit chosen. Most consumers find it is not as expensive as they thought. Weigh the pros and cons of long-term care insurance and use LTC Consumer’s website to determine if the coverage has a place in your financial plan.

Do I have to go into a nursing home to use a policy I buy from LTC Consumer?

No. All policies will pay the same benefits for receiving care at home or in a facility. The best part is you get to choose which setting you want to receive care as long as the home care provider or facility you choose is properly licensed as such by the state.

Conclusion

LTC Consumer provides online tools and information for learning about long-term care insurance on your own. You also have access to a specialist for free customer service and answers to any questions you have. If you decide to buy long-term care insurance, your specialist will explain the various policies you might consider. We agree with the company’s tagline: LTC Consumer is the go-to online long-term care information site.

LTC Consumer logo
4.6 Stars

LTC Consumer

  • Highly rated by consumers
  • National coverage

34 LTC Consumer Reviews

Write Review
5 Stars

July 06 2021 7:06PM

Needed to find a better option than what the new Washington State tax was going to provide and wanted portability. Was very pleased with the process.

Bill accommodated my schedule and explained things really well. I was uncertain about cost versus benefit and was able to make an educated decision on my choice.

Sharon O.
Spokane, WA
5 Stars

June 10 2021 3:15PM

Bill ** was very personable, professional, and knows his job. It made the process of buying much needed insurance very low stress. He was able to answer all my questions and quite knowledgeable about my state's requirements.

E W.
Bonney Lake, WA
5 Stars

May 08 2021 3:45PM

I enjoyed working with Lisa **. She was very helpful and knowledgeable, able to explain everything so I could understand it. She was always available and patient with me and my questions. She even answered my partner's questions who has a policy elsewhere. I would recommend her to anyone!

Robert G.
Boulder, CO
5 Stars

May 03 2021 11:53AM

Cathy ** was very knowledgeable about the different companies and the LTC plans they offer. We had numerous calls with her and she was very professional and thorough. My wife and I are so glad Cathy answered our call.

John B.
Downingtown, PA
5 Stars

March 31 2021 7:57PM

This turned out to be the most pleasant experience in the process of obtaining Long Care Insurance. Mr. Jonathan **, LTC Consumer Specialist, made this very easy.

He went over several different scenarios offered by the different companies within my geographical area of South Carolina. I appreciated how detailed he was in presenting all of it to me.

In the end, and because of Jonathan, I made the decision to go with a company that I felt would best serve my needs in the future, and... at a very reasonably cost. I can't thank him enough. A Very Satisfied Client

Duane S.
Edisto Beach, SC
5 Stars

March 26 2021 11:01PM

We appreciated the pleasant, knowledgeable, and highly responsive guidance and execution of the application. We found the agent highly competent. We certainly would recommend our agent. We enjoyed the cordial, effective process.

Sidney R.
Spring Hope, NC
5 Stars

February 26 2021 2:24AM

Representative of the company contacting me was experienced, professional, knowledgeable, and personable. That’s the kind of company I would like to be involved in. My husband and mother have long-term care insurance with this company. For that I am grateful! Thank you for your time!

ELIZABETH V.
Mora, MN
5 Stars

February 25 2021 12:59AM

Millie was very helpful to me with the whole process involved with obtaining long-term care insurance. She was very knowledgeable and provided me with all of the information that I requested so that I could compare quotes and plans.

Because of Millie’s thoroughness I was able to gain a thorough understanding of everything so that I could make an informed decision. Thank you so much.

Bob P.
Boston, MA
5 Stars

February 11 2021 6:53PM

I looked at long term care insurance over several months and did as much reading as I could to educate myself. I also went through associations such as AARP and communicated with people recommended by them.

Cathy was superior to all the others in her knowledge and experience in the long term care insurance profession.

John M.
Saugatuck, MI
5 Stars

January 27 2021 12:27AM

I would give Rich ** a Stellar rating. He was very thorough and was a consultant through the entire process. I could always count on an honest answer to my questions and concerns and he went above and beyond to show me many comparisons. Very positive experience!

Joel B.
Tampa, FL
5 Stars

January 06 2021 2:11AM

Jonathan ** did an excellent job explaining everything and answering our questions. We never felt rushed or pushed into anything. He was great with scheduling and rescheduling our appointments and did it all in a very professional manner.

Kristine R.
Baton Rouge, LA
5 Stars

December 14 2020 9:17PM

I had been researching LTC companies for about 2 years. I have talked to 4-5 brokers but Cathy ** was the best. She is knowledgeable, courteous, patient, professional, helpful, concise and always prompt to reply to my emails.

I feel she is trustworthy, honest and dependable, and has been willing to go the extra mile to answer my questions and meet my needs for additional information.

Laurie H.
Sacramento, CA
5 Stars

November 17 2020 12:44AM

Millie ** was absolutely wonderful!!! She was so informative and tremendous in walking me thru the entire process.

I did my homework before reaching out to you but I had so many questions and Millie made me feel so comfortable even though I was out of my element.

She had such great knowledge and suggestions that fit our individual needs. Such a wonderful personality and was a pleasure to navigate and work with…. THANKS! Susan **.

Susan E.
Keller, TX
5 Stars

November 09 2020 11:51PM

Mr. Durr did an excellent job walking me through the process and I feel very good about the choice we decided on. From his initial presentation to his follow up, I felt he was extremely knowledgeable and very concerned about my needs.

Paulette R.
Cox’s Creek, KY
5 Stars

November 05 2020 12:50AM

Cathy ** was very informative and helpful with helping me decide in the amounts of and what I need for long-term care. Very patient and answered all my questions. I highly recommend them for your long-term care needs.

Debra G.
Oakland, CA
5 Stars

October 09 2020 2:45PM

My wife and I worked with Lisa over the last few months to apply for a long term care policy. She was very knowledgeable, and presented a number of options for us from different carriers.

It was always clear that she was working to get a policy that made the most sense for us, with an eye toward keeping costs manageable, while at the same time getting the features that were most helpful for our situation.

Her friendly demeanor made the whole process very comfortable.

Philip B.
Lafayette, CA
5 Stars

October 07 2020 12:22PM

The process to procure Long Term Care Insurance was educating and broken down into layman terms for easy understanding. I was provided various times during the enrollment process to ask questions that helped in making an educated decision.

JAMES C.
Luray, WV
5 Stars

October 01 2020 4:31PM

Having recently retired, my wife and I decided to investigate Long-Term Care (LTC) insurance. During this process, we were blessed and fortunate to contact Ms. Sarae **.

Sarae was very knowledgeable about the differing plans offered by the competing LTC companies, and she patiently explained the meaning and impact of each element in our decision-making process.

My in-laws are currently in an Assisted Living facility, and my mother required a nursing home for the last 18 months of her life, so we are well-acquainted with the need to be financially prepared for such an event for our future selves.

Sarae helped us navigate our options and provided great advice to help us be prepared, but not overly insured. She offered different options, but did not push us into making any decisions.

I would recommend anyone requesting information regarding LTC insurance to seek out Ms. **.

Johnny S.
Covina, CA
5 Stars

September 22 2020 2:09AM

It was a pleasure to work with Johnathen **. He was knowledgeable and detailed individual that explained everything. I would definitely refer him and work with him again.

The way he explained and went over each plan with the pros and cons made it very easy to understand the process of elimination.

Dominique B.
Plantation, FL
5 Stars

August 28 2020 6:35PM

Richard was very knowledgeable and explained everything in a way we could understand. He was not pushy and let us come to our own conclusions about what we needed. He was able to answer all of our questions and didn't mind when we had to ask him to explain things again.

Laurie S.
Monterey, MA
5 Stars

July 12 2020 9:23PM

Lisa F. was a great agent to work with because she was friendly, thorough, and patient. She was always willing to explore different options with us and find answers to our questions. Her response time was always prompt, within 24 hours, and usually less. Working with her was a pleasure.

Vicki S.
Ooltewah, TN
5 Stars

June 11 2020 10:30PM

Through Retirement Living's site, I sought assistance on the best options & Companies on Long Term Care Insurance. Through LTC Consumer I submitted an inquiry. Jonathan ** from LTC immediately called me to answer basic LTIC questions, then he subsequently set up two conference calls with us to not only educate my wife and I, but also then to review the possible Companies and coverage choices, along with their associated premiums.

Jonathan's style was easy going, informative, detailed, and collaborative. After the conference call ** family questions were all answered, and we as a couple made our decision on the long term care insurance Company & the coverage we wanted, Jonathan guided us through the online application process with that Company and for the plan we picked.

We are consequently awaiting the next steps in the application process with that Company. We wanted to thank Jonathan and LTC Consumer for their help. I have already recommended Jonathan and LTC to three other couples who are similarly reviewing whether or not to obtain long term care insurance Regards George and Susan **

George S.
Bentonville, AR
5 Stars

June 01 2020 8:58PM

Rich was very concise in his explanation of the information and made the whole process painless. I have already recommended him to another family member. After doing my own research, I feel that I made a very informed purchase.

Maureen L.
MARCELLUS, NY
5 Stars

February 21 2020 12:29PM

Rich Horowitz did an outstanding job of providing me with information about Long Term Care Insurance. Prior to meeting Rich I was so confused about what to do. Rich was very kind, patient, understanding, and explained everything so well. I feel he really helped me make the best decision for my situation. I was very impressed with his knowledge about long term care insurance, too. I am so thankful that I found Rich to help me. I would recommend him highly to anyone that needs help with long term care insurance. You will not be disappointed. Thank you Rich!

Tracy G.
St. Peters, MO
12
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