Q. Last week my friend, Patty, received notice of a substantial increase in her long-term care insurance premiums. She was so upset that she fired off an email to the Virginia Insurance Commissioner, Scott White, exclaiming how appalled she is that he gave his okay to such an egregious increase. Patty and her husband, Frank, 74 and 77, have been paying for their policies for the past 14 years and were just informed that they will be experiencing a 90% rate hike!

I know that Patty and Frank took these policies out to do the responsible thing, to not be a burden on their children, should they need care. Patty knows that Medicare does not cover long-term care, and how exorbitantly expensive long-term care is in the DC Metro area. The long-term care insurance policy seemed like a way to stretch her dollars.

But now, the increase in premiums is just too much for them. Seeing this happen to them, I am wary about purchasing long-term care insurance coverage for myself and my husband. Is what is happening to her typical, and what alternatives do you recommend?

Dear Magic,

I got a home genetic test for Christmas last year. I found out I am Irish, so this year I will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day for real! When I got the results back, they gave me the option to do the health screening. I paid the extra money and got those results, and I now know that I have the gene for Alzheimer’s. Is it time to panic? What if I want to get Long-Term Care insurance one day? Will they hold it against me?

Thanks!

Jen Nettic