National Guardian Life Long-Term Care Insurance Review

National Guardian Life (NGL) offers a comprehensive Long-Term Care Insurance policy with the features and benefits that many specialists and consumers are looking for to plan for the costs and burdens of aging. 

NGL is a leader in the Long-Term Care Insurance industry and is the only traditional policy that offers unlimited benefits as an option. Couples can select three benefit accounts, one for each person and a third shared pool of money if not purchasing unlimited benefits. 

NGL - Financially Strong

NGL is a mutual company founded in 1909 with nearly $5 billion in assets. They are known for outstanding customer service. 

National Guardian Life is a highly rated and respected company with solid financial stability and a highly respected product. NGL is the only A-rated company that offers a traditional Long-Term Care Insurance policy with unlimited benefits.

A.M. Best has upgraded NGL's Financial Strength Rating to A (Excellent) from A- (Excellent). This rating reflects the company's ability to meet its ongoing insurance policy and contract obligations and attests to its financial strength.

NGL Features and Benefits

Recent changes with several other insurance companies make National Guardian Life an excellent value for many people. National Guardian Life offers several features and benefits that consumers and Long-Term Care specialists look for in a Long-Term Care Insurance policy. These benefits include:

• Partnership benefits 

• Daily benefits options range from $50 to $300 a day

• Inflation benefit options are 3% and 5% compounded - you can select no inflation benefit as well

• Shared Care Benefit featuring a third pool of money

• Return of Premium option minus claims paid

• Ten Pay Premium Option with guaranteed never to increase premiums during that period

• Elimination period options include 30, 90, and 180 days

• Pool or money or unlimited benefit options

• Facility only benefit option available

Couples - One Policy for Two People

NGL offers one policy for couples with one premium. Each individual has their own separate long-term care benefit. If a shared care option is added to the policy, the couple will share a third benefit account if they exhaust their own benefits. Generally, this provides a larger amount of benefits available to the couple than other shared benefit plans.

With a policy that includes a couple, the full premium is waived when one spouse receives benefits. The premium gets recalculated if one spouse dies.

Claims

If you own an NGL Long-Term Care policy and seek help submitting a claim, LTC NEWS offers free - no-obligation assistance - including help finding quality caregivers and facilities. Since most agents have little or no experience in this area, this assistance can be beneficial for the entire family - Filing a Long-Term Care Insurance Claim

Federal Regulation and Consumer Protections

All Long-Term Care Insurance contracts are regulated under IRS regulations §7702B(b). Any insurance contract that meets the guidelines set by the Internal Revenue Service is considered long-term care. All insurance products that meet these federal guidelines contain consumer protections, regulated benefit triggers, and tax advantages.

NGL's Long-Term Care Insurance products meet federal guidelines. 

Partnership

NGL offers Partnership Long-Term Care Insurance policies in a majority of the partnership states. Partnership policies provide additional dollar-for-dollar asset protection.

• What is a Long-Term Care Partnership Policy?

Find State-Specific Information

Each state has a state-specific page that includes the current and future cost of long-term care services, available tax incentives, information on care providers, and other important information - LTC NEWS Cost of Care Calculator.

Shopping for Long-Term Care Insurance?

When shopping for Long-Term Care Insurance coverage, remember that numerous state and federal regulations impact Long-Term Care Insurance. Each state's department of insurance regulates products and premiums. Because of regulation, an insurance agent, agency, or financial advisor cannot give a consumer a special discount that is not available otherwise. 

Use all the tools and resources available on LTC NEWS to help you in your research - Resources for Long-Term Care Planning.

There are more similarities than differences when it comes to features and benefits. However, options and benefits vary from company to company, and premiums can vary between companies by over 100% when comparing equal benefits.

Underwriting

Long-Term Care Insurance is medically underwritten, and every company has underwriting rules that determine insurability and rate class. An experienced Long-Term Care Insurance specialist will understand these underwriting rules when helping you select the best company and policy options.

What is Underwriting? How Does Current Health Impact Ability to Obtain Long-Term Care Insurance?

NGL underwriting is generally considered more "very conservative" than other insurance companies. A Long-Term Care Insurance specialist can assist you in determining insurability and which rate class you would likely fall into.

Discuss your pre-existing health issues with a specialist, agent, or advisor before applying with NGL.

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT UNDERWRITING

NGL will consider some family history as part of underwriting. Anyone with two first-degree blood relatives diagnosed with any form of dementia would NOT be eligible for coverage. Other family history questions could impact underwriting.

Seek a specialist's advice to determine if family history could impact your underwriting. 

Comparing LTC Insurance Products

Since your health is a primary consideration in determining your eligibility for coverage, it is always best to start planning before retirement when health is usually better. An experienced Long-Term Care Insurance specialist will ask several questions about your health to provide accurate quotes and professional recommendations.

Please note: Since every company has different underwriting rules, you could be eligible for coverage with one company rather than another.

When comparing Long-Term Care Insurance, you should understand the differences between NGL and other companies. 

There are variations between the policy language and benefits between the many companies that offer Long-Term Care Insurance; however, the primary features and benefit choices are comparable from company to company. 

Premiums and underwriting criteria vary dramatically between insurance companies. 

State variations may apply.