A policy premium is small next to the cost of care itself, which is the whole point, but it is not one fixed number. It is built from your age and health, the size of the benefit you buy, how long that benefit lasts, and whether it grows over time. The figures on this page are representative averages, a way to set expectations. They are not a quote, and your own premium is set by the insurer only after it reviews your health.
Representative premiums at age 55
These are average annual premiums from a national price index, for a policy that starts with a benefit pool of $165,000. The first column is a level benefit that does not grow; the second adds a 3 percent yearly growth option, which raises the premium now but expands the pool to about $400,500 by age 85.
| Profile | Level benefit | With 3% growth |
|---|---|---|
| Single man, age 55 | $950 | $2,200 |
| Single woman, age 55 | $1,500 | $3,750 |
| Couple, both age 55 | $2,080 | $5,050 |
Annual premiums. A couple figure is the combined cost for both partners.
Source: American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, 2026 Price Index. Verified 1 August 2026.
Cost by age
Age is the single biggest lever on price, because buying older means fewer years of paying in and a higher chance of needing care soon. The same national index shows the climb clearly: a single woman who waits until age 60 pays around $4,450 a year, and a couple who both wait until age 65 pays around $7,030 a year combined with the 3 percent growth option for comparable coverage. Each of those is well above the age-55 figure for a similar policy.
That gradient is why the timing advice is so consistent. The premium you are quoted at 55 is generally the lowest you will ever see for that coverage, and it only rises from there. It also assumes you still qualify, which brings health into the picture as much as age.
Source: American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance, 2026 Price Index, cost-by-age figures. Verified 1 August 2026.
What drives the premium
Beyond age, a handful of choices move the number more than anything else. The benefit amount and how long it pays set the ceiling on what the insurer might owe, so a larger or longer benefit costs more. The inflation option matters enormously over decades, which is why the level and growing columns above differ so much. Health and family history feed the underwriting, and a spouse buying at the same time can unlock shared-care discounts. The elimination period, the waiting stretch you cover yourself before benefits start, is a quieter dial that also shifts the price.
You do not have to insure every dollar of care to make a policy worthwhile. Sizing a sensible benefit against real Kansas costs, choosing an inflation option you can live with, and applying while you are healthy are the three moves that keep a premium affordable without leaving you underinsured.
Setting the number against Kansas costs
A premium only makes sense next to what it is protecting you from. Weigh these figures against what care actually costs in Kansas, and the trade usually looks reasonable rather than expensive. A licensed agent can run the comparison for your own budget and coverage goals.
Ready for a real number? Request a free quote and a licensed Kansas agent will price it to your situation, with no obligation.
Common questions
Why do two people the same age pay such different premiums?
Because price is built from more than age. Health and family history, the benefit amount and how long it lasts, whether the benefit grows with inflation, and even sex all move the number. A woman typically pays more than a man because she is likely to use care longer. Two neighbors can get very different quotes for reasons that have nothing to do with either doing anything wrong.
Will my premium go up after I buy?
It can. Traditional long-term care policies are not always locked for life, and insurers can raise rates on a whole class of policyholders with regulator approval. That is one reason people weigh hybrid and asset-based policies, which often carry fixed premiums. A licensed agent should explain which kind you are looking at before you sign anything.
Is it cheaper to just wait a few years?
Almost never. Every year older raises the premium, and any new health condition can raise it further or make coverage impossible to get. Waiting feels like saving money and usually costs more in the end. If a policy is on your mind, the cheapest version of it is generally the one you can buy today.