The 2015 open enrollment for the Affordable Care Act has ended and the number of insurance companies offering medical insurance has fallen.  While choices for medical insurance are decreasing, consumers now have more choices when it comes to purchasing long-term care insurance.  "In most states, there are twice as many companies that sell long-term care insurance than there are companies selling medical insurance," explained Scott Olson one of the nation's leading long-term care insurance specialists and co-founder of the leading consumer website:  www.LTCShop.com

In the 1990's, there were over 400 different insurance companies selling medical insurance.   In most states now, consumers have only 5 or 6 different medical insurance companies from which to choose.  "Over the years, the long-term care insurance industry has also experienced consolidation.  But consumers today have at least a dozen different long-term care insurance companies to choose from when purchasing long-term care insurance," Olson explained on a recent conference call with financial planners and insurance professionals.  

Not only are more companies offering long-term care insurance but there are more policy choices than in previous years.  "Contrary to what is often published on the internet, today's leading long-term care policies have a variety of rich and diverse benefit offerings."

Some leading insurers sell policies that pay benefits for life.  These policies never run out of benefits regardless of how long you may need long-term care.  "Other leading insurers offer policies that have from $500,000 to even a million dollars of benefits.  These policies would pay benefits for 8 years or more," explained Olson.  "Couples can even share policies which would extend their coverage to 16 years or more of cash benefits."  

Sales of long-term care insurance were up in 2015 for most of the leading LTC insurers.  "Over 100,000 people purchased long-term care insurance in 2015," Olson shared.  "Seven of the top ten long-term care insurers experienced an increase in sales in 2015." Five of these seven LTC insurance companies experienced double digit sales growth.   "One of the leading long-term care insurance companies had over a 50% increase in sales in 2015.  New policy features combined with increased consumer awareness are behind this increase in LTC policy sales," Olson concluded.  

To receive an instant quote (no e-mail required) comparing long-term care policies with benefits of $250,000 to $1,000,000 go to:  goo.gl/UkssQ5