The Knights of Columbus is a global Catholic fraternal organization founded in 1882 to serve working and immigrant American Catholics. It is the world's largest Roman Catholic fraternal service organization.

The Knights of Columbus primarily sells life insurance and annuities but also offers Long-Term Care Insurance products.

Knights of Columbus is a members-only organization, meaning only Catholic-practicing members and their spouses are eligible for insurance offerings.

The organization has a strong global presence and is also a wholly owned insurance company, ranking on the Fortune 500 list. Other rankings include:

• A+ from A.M. Best Company, Inc.
• AA+ from S&P Global.

Long-Term Care Insurance with Knights of Columbus

Knights of Columbus offers Long-Term Care Insurance; however, it's not its primary focus. These policies are also limited to practicing Catholic members of the organization or their spouses.

In addition, Knights of Columbus uses unique policy language that may prevent or limit Long-Term Care Insurance benefits. Because of these discrepancies, LTC News did not recommend Knights of Columbus in the annual Long-Term Care Insurance review.

Since the Knights of Columbus is a men’s Catholic fraternal organization, and membership is limited to practicing Catholic men, women are not eligible for membership or able to purchase insurance. However, the female spouses of members are eligible to be insured under Knights of Columbus insurance products, including Long-Term Care Insurance.

In the past, Knights of Columbus policies included unique language that could restrict or reduce Long-Term Care Insurance benefits. However, current policies being offered today no longer contain “reasonable and customary” wording, which previously limited the amount payable at claim time.

Below, we'll explain the nuances of coverage with Knights of Columbus so you can decide if it's the right insurer for you.

“Usual and Customary” Policy Language

Many Knights of Columbus Long-Term Care Insurance policies sold in the past included a "usual and customary" clause — a provision not typically found in policies from other LTC Insurance companies. This language gives the insurer the discretion to determine whether a charge is "usual and customary" at the time of claim, despite the available benefit in your policy, which can limit how much of your benefit is paid, even if your policy's benefit is large enough to cover the cost.

Unlike most other LTC Insurance providers, which pay approved claims based on your policy’s daily or monthly benefit amount, older Knights of Columbus contracts reduce payouts if the insurer decides a charge exceeds what it deems “customary.”

This clause can potentially reduce your benefits and, in some cases, make it harder to access the full care you need.

However, current Knights of Columbus policies no longer include “usual and customary” language, marking a significant improvement in claims transparency and benefit reliability. If you’re considering a new policy, be sure you're reviewing the latest contract version.

Not Partnership Certified

The Knights of Columbus does not offer partnership-certified Long-Term Care Insurance policies, which is a notable limitation compared to most other insurers.

Partnership-certified Long-Term Care Insurance policies provide valuable financial protection by allowing policyholders to qualify for Medicaid after exhausting their LTC Insurance benefits without being forced to spend down their assets. This dollar-for-dollar asset protection means that for every dollar your policy pays out, you can keep an equal amount of assets and still qualify for Medicaid coverage.

Additionally, partnership programs can shield your estate from Medicaid recovery, which can otherwise claim assets after your death to repay care costs.

Most leading Long-Term Care Insurance companies offer partnership-certified plans, making the absence of this feature in Knights of Columbus policies a disadvantage for those seeking long-term asset protection.

Key Features & Benefits

As mentioned earlier, Long-Term Care Insurance with the Knights of Columbus is available only to male Catholic members of the Knights and their spouses. Women cannot become members of the Knights of Columbus and are not eligible to purchase Knights of Columbus insurance unless they are the spouse of a male member.

This restriction can be a significant drawback for those who are not religious, who are female and not married to a member, or do not wish to become members of the Knights.

However, for those who are members, the Knights of Columbus offers many valuable Long-Term Care Insurance benefits, including:

• Monthly benefits from $1,500 to $15,000 per month.
• Pool of money benefits with a three, five, or ten-year benefit period.
• Facility-only or comprehensive coverage options.
• Inflation options of 3% and 5% compounded inflation.
• A future purchase option allows policyholders to buy more benefits each year, even as they need long-term care. New purchases are subject to different underwriting standards based on the policyholder's health and age at the time of purchase. It is generally recommended to choose inflation benefits instead of a future purchase option, as the latter is typically more limiting and expensive.
• Elimination period options of 30, 90, or 180 days.
• Coverage of home modifications means your policy will cover home care modifications like installing a wheelchair lift or grab bars.
• Case management is when a professional coordinates and manages your care, ensuring all care professionals you work with are aware of your conditions, medications, and overall health needs.
• Spousal discounts are available for spouses who both have Long-Term Care Insurance.
• The shared spousal benefitoption allows spouses to share benefits if one spouse exhausts the Maximum Lifetime Benefit under his/her Contract. Only available with the 3 and 5-year benefit options and eliminates spousal discount.
• Benefits are available anywhere in the United States, Canada, and their territories.
• Care Coordination is available to help the policyholder and their family at the time of claim.
• Transportation Benefit pays 100% of the expenses for any transportation to medical facilities, physicians, health care practitioners, or pharmacies, up to $250 per Calendar Year. This benefit is not subject to the policyholder's maximum monthly benefit, but it is subject to the lifetime benefit.

Informal family care is not covered.

How Hard Is It to Qualify for a Policy with Knights of Columbus?

Qualifying for a policy with the Knights of Columbus depends on a few variables:

• Membership status: Individuals must be a male practicing Catholic member of the organization or a female spouse of a member before they can apply for a policy.
• Long-term care needs: It is impossible for someone who currently needs long-term care to qualify for a new LTC Insurance policy.
• Pre-existing conditions: Those with health conditions, such as dementia, may be disqualified from new coverage. Other health conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure may be insurable as long as they are well-managed with medications or other treatments.
• Old age: As you age, it becomes more difficult to qualify for a new LTC Insurance policy. Those over 75 will not be eligible for new coverage with the Knights of Columbus.

Each Long-Term Care Insurance provider uses a practice called underwriting to determine eligibility for new coverage.

Each insurance company uses its own criteria to evaluate applicants for Long-Term Care Insurance. A specialist can help you understand where you stand and whether you're likely to qualify. Knights of Columbus are considered moderately conservative with their underwriting.

Long-Term Care Insurance specialists are independent experts who work with multiple insurers, not just one. They’ll review your health history, budget, care preferences, and goals to match you with the most suitable policy at the best available premium. In addition to guiding you through the application process, many specialists also provide support if you ever need to file a claim.

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Filing a Claim with Knights of Columbus

If you currently have a policy with the Knights of Columbus, LTC News can help you file a claim. Navigating new care needs alone can be frustrating and confusing, especially if you're actively looking for care while working with your insurance company.

LTC News has partnered with Amada Senior Care to address these concerns, offering cost- and obligation-free help with insurance claims.

Amada Senior Care is a top in-home healthcare agency operating nationwide. They can not only help you process a claim from any LTC Insurance provider but are also pros at finding high-quality long-term care, sometimes even at a discounted rate.

LTC News also offers a Cost of Care Calculator, which provides the current and future median costs of various types of long-term care services.

This calculator can help you learn about and plan for the cost of long-term care. It can also help you determine how many benefits you should purchase within a Long-Term Care Insurance policy.

In addition, LTC News has a Care Directory with thousands of long-term care providers from every corner of the country. This tool can help you find high-quality care close to home.

Tax Benefits

All Long-Term Care Insurance policies in the United States are regulated under Section 7702(b), which determines federal requirements and consumer protections such as:

• Regulated benefit triggers.
• Tax advantages.
• Protection against excessive premium increases.
• Clear coverage expectations.

The Knights of Columbus's Long-Term Care Insurance products meet federal guidelines.