Here is an article that discusses the latest Price Index figures just released by the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance :

“The announcement of the 2009 long term care insurance (LTCI) price index shows that the rates have increased by two percent compared to the previous year. However, some ages actually pay slightly less for the long term care insurance.

A 55-year-old individual considering long-term care insurance protection can expect to pay $723-per-year for a base level of protection if they are married or $1,060 if they are single according to the 2009 Long-Term Care Insurance Price Index published by the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance (www.AALTCI.org). Across various age groups, costs for coverage increased about two percent from the prior year.

The index published annually measures costs for top-selling long-term care insurance policies that offer consumers approximately $115,000 in current benefits, with protection increasing yearly as the individual ages. “A solid base plan of protection will grow in value to over $305,000 of protection 20 years from now,” explains Jesse Slome, Executive Director of the national trade organization that conducted the research. The study compares costs for different levels of plans that provide long-term care benefits for 3-years or longer with a compound inflation option that increases the available insurance benefits by five percent compounded each year.

“For some age bands the cost of long-term care insurance actually declined,” Slome notes. “What we did see is a far wider range of prices between insurers offering basically the same coverage.” According to the Association study, costs can vary by as much as 100 percent. “This could reflect different benefits or simply the individual insurer’s pricing assumptions,” Slome explains. “Consumers should compare policies or work with a knowledgeable insurance professional who can analyze for them.”"

You can read the rest of the article here.