The Benefit Period is the length of time that your Long Term Care insurance (LTCi) will pay you for your care at a Nursing Home, Assisted Living Apartment, or for Home Health Care (care in your home).  Your Benefit Period will actually begin sometime in the future, when your LTCi plan starts paying for your needed care.  Your plan will continue to pay for your care as long as needed, until your Benefit Period is exhausted. 

Individuals can choose Benefit Periods from 2 years to 10 years, or even an "unlimited" Benefit Period.  On average,  people choose from 2yrs to 6yrs for lower premiums, but others choose a longer or "unlimited" Benefit Period  to achieve greater protection for their estate and their heirs.

Couples and life partners (married, not married, or same sex) can choose a special "Shared Benefits" option that provides greater flexibility at a time of need. 

For example, if each person chooses an individual 4yr benefit period, and one person needs more than 4yrs of care, that person's additional care would be paid for "out-of-pocket".  But if they chose the "Shared Benefits" option,  and one person needed more than 4yrs of care,  he/she could use some of their partner's benefit, and avoid the large "out-of-pocket" expenses.  This popular option is not expensive--in fact, it is very cost-effective!  The "Shared Benefits" option costs less than purchasing a longer or "unlimited" Benefit Period for each person, and helps to prevent large expenses if one partner runs out of benefits.