How to Tell if You Need Long-Term Care Insurance

Those who decide to purchase long-term care insurance need to make sure the policy is comprehensive -- covering both in-home and out-of-home care -- and that it is adjusted for inflation.

A "shared benefit" option might also make sense for some couples. Under those plans, spouses purchase one policy, say for 10 years, for both partners. If one spouse uses six years worth of care, there will still be four years available for the other.

Bonnie Lawrence, spokeswoman for the Family Caregiver Alliance, says that consumers should weigh the risks, other types of support and affordability before committing to a policy.

"You really have to look across the spectrum of things that are available and your own financial situation," she says.

The San Francisco-based nonprofit group offers a Web tool for consumers to explore all the long-term care options in their local area.