National Guardian Life (NGL) offers comprehensive Long-Term Care Insurance policies with features and benefits that many specialists and consumers consider essential when planning for the costs and burdens of aging. 

National Guardian Life is a mutual company founded in 1909 with nearly $5 billion in assets. They are known for their outstanding insurance products, high ratings, and financial stability. 

NGL is the only A-rated company that offers a traditional Long-Term Care Insurance policy with unlimited benefits. Other notable ratings include "A" from A.M. Best Company, Inc.

Long-Term Care Insurance with National Guardian Life

National Guardian Life ranked number #3 in our annual Long-Term Care Insurance review. They are an ideal provider and offer many unique benefits not often found with other leading insurers.

NGL entered the world of Long-Term Care Insurance in 2016, offering their first product, "EssentialLTC.” This product was designed with the help of industry expertise, and in light of some recent changes to other insurers’ products, NGL has one of the most ideal products on the market.

However, there is a reason they ranked three and not number one in our annual review. There are a few minor drawbacks to coverage with NGL, including a daily benefit instead of a monthly benefit and limited options for alternative care benefits.

We'll discuss this more in the following sections, but first, let's explore more policy features from National Guardian Life. 

Key Features & Benefits 

National Guardian Life Long-Term Care Insurance policies offer many features and benefits, including but not limited to the following:

• Partnership policies. A partnership policy adds dollar-for-dollar asset protection to the policyholder's estate. If the policyholder ever uses all their LTC Insurance benefits, the partnership program allows them to use Medicaid to cover care costs while protecting their income and assets from Medicaid spend-down and estate recovery.
• Daily benefits ranging from $50 to $300 a day.
• Inflation benefits are available at 3% and 5% compounded. No inflation benefits are also an option.
• The return of premium is an add-on that pays out premiums minus claims paid to the policyholder's beneficiaries after death.
• A ten-pay premium option allows policyholders to pay off their policy within ten years at a guaranteed rate.
• Elimination period options include 30, 90, and 180 days. NGL's elimination periods use "days of service" instead of the standard "calendar day" model.
• A facility-only benefit option is available.
• Competitive pricing in specific situations. 
• Tax deductions for C-corporations. C-corporations that choose to pay with a single premium are 100% tax deductible. 

In addition to their ten-pay option, they offer the option to pay one single premium to cover the entire policy cost. Policyholders can pay this large premium at the beginning and never be responsible for a premium again, regardless of how long they live. 

Third Pool Option for Couples

National Guardian Life offers notable benefits for couples purchasing Long-Term Care Insurance together. They offer joint policies with a third pool of benefits.

The way it works is simple: both spouses have their own individual policies. However, if one or both spouses use all the benefits within their individual policy, they gain access to a third, shared pool of money. 

This third pool of money is eligible to grow with inflation benefits and greatly increases the longevity of the policy. It ensures that if either spouse needs more care than their original policies provided, it will be available to them. 

National Guardian Life is well-known for these benefits and offers the third pool of money benefits at a competitive price compared to other insurers. 

NGL does not offer marital discounts for couples in which only one spouse purchases a policy. National Guardian Life LTC Insurance can also be more expensive for single women. 

1035 Tax Exchange

National Guardian Life offers a unique feature for traditional Long-Term Care Insurance policies. NGL accepts tax-free 1035 exchanges of annuity cash value or life insurance to pay for traditional LTC Insurance premiums. 

This allows policyholders with life insurance or annuities to convert the money within that policy to help pay for their LTC Insurance policy. This option is often available on hybrid LTC Insurance policies, but NGL is the only provider that offers it for traditional Long-Term Care Insurance policies. 

RELATED: Hybrid vs. Traditional Long-Term Care Insurance

Since it's available on traditional policies, you could use transferred funds to pay for a partnership policy. This can be a huge advantage for NGL since hybrid policies aren't eligible for partnership benefits. 

Minor Drawbacks

As we briefly discussed earlier, there are some minor drawbacks to coverage with National Guardian Life. The biggest drawbacks are:

• Daily benefits instead of monthly benefits.
• Lack of an alternative care benefit. 

National Guardian Life currently only offers daily benefits. Most other top-rated insurers offer monthly benefits, and most LTC Insurance Specialists recommend monthly benefits over daily benefits. 

The reasoning behind this is that daily benefits can significantly limit the usability of a policy. 

For example, an individual receiving home care services may need long-term care from a home health aide each day, which uses a portion of their daily long-term care benefits.

This individual may also need additional care services a few days a week, but because they're limited to a specific daily amount, they may go over their benefit limit on days with extra appointments. 

In contrast, those with monthly benefits are not confined to the same restraints. If an individual needs more care one day than another day, their policy would likely cover all of it because benefits are distributed over the course of a month instead of a daily period. 

Monthly benefits give policyholders more freedom to choose a care schedule that works best for them without concern about out-of-pocket costs. Daily benefits can limit policyholders and result in out-of-pocket expenses.

Another area National Guardian Life struggles with is the alternative care benefits. Alternative care benefits allow flexibility in coverage for treatments or technology not explicitly outlined within the original policy. 

For example, there may be new technologies or treatments in the future that may not have been invented or widely known when the policy was purchased. 

These benefits are especially important for those buying a policy in their 40s or 50s, as care technology may change before they need the benefits within their policy. 

However, NGL is expected to make changes to their policy sometime in 2025, which may resolve the alternative care benefits issue. 

How Hard Is It to Qualify for a Policy with National Guardian Life?

It can be challenging to qualify for a new Long-Term Care Insurance policy with National Guardian Life. Here are the biggest areas that will affect your eligibility:

• Need for long-term care: Individuals who currently need long-term care cannot qualify for a new policy.
• Pre-existing conditions: Individuals may have pre-existing health conditions; however, they must be well-managed with treatment or medication.
• Age: Older individuals may have a harder time qualifying for a new policy since health usually worsens with age, increasing the risk of being insured. In addition, older adults often pay higher premiums to account for extra risk.

Long-Term Care Insurance companies use a practice called underwriting to determine the risk of insuring each applicant. If an applicant seems too risky to be insured, the company will deny their application.

Those who are able to be insured will be sorted into rate classes, and individuals pay different premiums based on how risky they are to insure.

Every company uses different criteria in their underwriting process. National Guardian Life is considered "very conservative" in their underwriting, meaning they may be difficult to qualify for if you have specific health conditions.

National Guardian Life has a very strict policy when it comes to specific health conditions like dementia. Any individual with two or more blood relatives with dementia is not eligible for a new Long-Term Care Insurance policy.

Other aspects of family history may also impact an applicant's ability to get a new policy and the rate they would pay.

A Long-Term Care Insurance Specialist can help you determine how your health and family history can affect your ability to qualify for coverage with NGL or any other Long-Term Care Insurance provider.

Specialists are dedicated long-term care professionals with years of experience navigating coverage. They can help you find the best company and customize a policy that fits your needs, goals, and budget.

You can reach out to a trusted Long-Term Care Insurance Specialist if you or your loved one are interested in starting an LTC Insurance policy. Your specialist will work with you to help you apply for the company that is most likely to insure you at the best rate available.

Work directly with an LTC News
trusted insurance specialist.

• Personalized, one-on-one approach
• Expert comparisons of top policies to find the best fit
• Secure your future for you & your loved ones

Work With a Specialist

Filing a Claim with National Guardian Life

If you already have a policy with National Guardian Life, LTC News can help you file a claim. Filing a claim alone can be confusing, especially when combined with searching for long-term care. 

That's why LTC News has partnered with Amada Senior Care, a leading in-home healthcare agency, to offer free, no-obligation assistance with claims. 

Amada Senior Care operates on a national level with a team of the best experts in the industry. They can help you process a claim from any Long-Term Care Insurance company and find a high-quality care provider for yourself or your loved one. 

Is Long-Term Care Insurance with National Guardian Life Safe?

Coverage with National Guardian Life is considered safe, as they are a financially strong and reputable company. 

However, with all large insurance companies comes a bit of controversy. Some reviews on the Better Business Bureau discuss issues with customer service and payments. Whether these are isolated or widespread issues is uncertain, but experts generally recommend NGL as a safe, reliable, and respectable company. 

Regardless of complaints, National Guardian Life’s Long-Term Care Insurance policies are tax-qualified and meet federal guidelines. 

All Long-Term Care Insurance policies in the U.S. are regulated under IRS regulation Section 7702(b). All LTC Insurance policies must meet stringent requirements, which help ensure:

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

Shopping for Long-Term Care Insurance: Is National Guardian Life The Best Option for Coverage?

Finding the best Long-Term Care Insurance option for yourself or a loved one can be a tedious process. A Long-Term Care Insurance Specialist can help streamline this process by recommending the best company to apply to.

National Guardian Life is a respected insurance provider with one main LTC Insurance product, "EssentialLTC." Experts consider NGL a safe and highly-rated Long-Term Care Insurance provider.

Policyholders do not have to worry about trouble accessing benefits when they need them or excessive rate increases. In addition, many policyholders find their unique benefits, such as the shared care benefit option, valuable to the life and stability of their policy.

If you already own a policy with National Guardian Life and need help filing a claim, LTC News' partnership with Amada Senior Care is here to help.

Amada's experts offer obligation and cost-free services to help you or your loved one not only find the best care available but also ensure your policy covers it.

LTC News also offers a Cost of Care Calculator, providing the current and projected median costs of home care, memory care, assisted living, adult day care, and nursing homes.

This calculator can be a valuable tool when deciding how many benefits to buy within your LTC Insurance policy and what the most cost-effective type of care is.

In addition to our cost calculator, LTC News also has a Care Directory that can help you locate high-quality home caregivers and long-term care facilities close to you or your loved one's home.

The

Care Directory

Comprehensive caregiving & care facility listings in your area

Search Now

• Find and contact facilities near you
• Every major care and facility type
• View facility ratings and amenities
• Find quality care for you or a loved one