Resources for planning ahead
Our plain-English guides plus trusted official sources — everything you need to plan for long-term care with confidence, in one place.
Start with our guides
Learning Center
The basics: what long-term care is, what it costs, and how policies work.
Cost of care
Current 2025 costs for nursing homes, assisted living, and home care.
Types of plans
Traditional, hybrid, employer, partnership, and public options.
Ways to save
Seven proven ways to lower your premium.
Carriers
Who still sells coverage in 2026.
News
The latest long-term care headlines.
Questions & answers
Answers to common long-term care questions.
Glossary
Long-term care terms, defined A to Z.
Free downloadable guides
Plain-English planning guides you can save, print, and share — no cost, no obligation.
Start here: get The LTC411 Guide — free
Our complete, flagship guide — costs, every coverage option, taxes, Medicaid, elder law, caregiving, and how to choose, all in one place. Get it right here — no extra click.
The Long-Term Care Planning Report
The essentials — what care costs, who pays, your options, and how to plan. (PDF)
The Family Caregiver's Guide
Caring for an aging parent — the conversation, the options, and protecting yourself. (PDF)
The Elder-Law Guide
The documents, Medicaid rules, and family decisions behind long-term care. (PDF)
Portfolio Protection
Long-term care planning for high-net-worth families and their advisors. (PDF)
Official & government resources
Medicare.gov
What Medicare does and does not cover.
Medicaid.gov
How Medicaid helps pay for long-term care.
ACL — LongTermCare.gov
The federal consumer guide to planning for care.
Eldercare Locator
Find local services and support near you.
NAIC — State Insurance Departments
Check licenses and file questions with your state regulator.
NAIC Shopper's Guide to LTC
The regulators' plain-English guide to buying coverage.
Insurer ratings & financial safety
Because you may hold a policy for decades, an insurer's financial strength matters. These agencies rate insurers, and guaranty associations offer a safety net if one fails.
In plain terms: agencies like A.M. Best grade insurers on a letter scale (roughly A++ down to D), estimating how likely the company is to pay claims for decades to come. Look for a rating in the A range — A++ (Superior) down through A- (Excellent) are generally considered strong — and check how recently the rating was affirmed, since these are typically reviewed annually.
Consumer organizations
AARP
Caregiving and long-term care planning guidance.
AALTCI
The American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance — costs and comparisons.
More guides, checklists, and a glossary are on the way.
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