--- title: "Too Many Health Issues to Qualify for LTCI: A Common Misconception" description: Discover how having health issues doesn't automatically disqualify you from long-term care insurance. Learn about options and real-world approvals. image: https://lhc.naifa.org/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/Collaborative%20Healthcare%20Planning%20Discussion.png --- [**](https://lhc.naifa.org/lecpblog/too-many-health-issues-to-qualify-for-ltci-a-common-misconception#tmpmodule_1610372601348145) - [Join](https://belong.naifa.org/join) - [Renew](https://community.naifa.org/login.aspx) - [Find an Advisor Pro](https://findapro.lifehappens.org/) **** [![belong.naifa.orghs-fshubfslogo_NAIFA_white](https://lhc.naifa.org/hs-fs/hubfs/social-suggested-images/belong.naifa.orghs-fshubfslogo_NAIFA_white.png?width=140&height=109&name=belong.naifa.orghs-fshubfslogo_NAIFA_white.png) ![logo_NAIFA_NEW](https://lhc.naifa.org/hs-fs/hubfs/logo_NAIFA_NEW.png?width=100&height=73&name=logo_NAIFA_NEW.png) ](https://lhc.naifa.org/) [**](https://lhc.naifa.org/lecpblog/too-many-health-issues-to-qualify-for-ltci-a-common-misconception#tmpmodule_1610372601348145) - [Centers Home](https://centers.naifa.org/centers) - [LHC Home](https://lhc.naifa.org) - LHC Collectives - [Limited and Extended Care Planning Collective](https://lhc.naifa.org/lecp) - [Medicare Collective](https://lhc.naifa.org/medicare) - Advisory Councils - [Limited and Extended Care Planning Advisory Council](https://lhc.naifa.org/advisory-council) - [Medicare Advisory Council](https://lhc.naifa.org/mc-advisory-council) - Advocacy - [Limited and Extended Care Planning Legislative Working Group](https://lhc.naifa.org/legislative-working-group) - [Medicare Legislative Working Group](https://lhc.naifa.org/medicare-legislative-working-group) - [Advocacy Action Center](https://advocacy.naifa.org/news) - Events - [Inside the New NAIFA Medicare Collective Working Group webinar recording](https://vimeo.com/1211793994/19889c51bc?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci) - [Medicare Collective Impact Day 2026 Recording](https://belong.naifa.org/navigating-disruption-and-market-contraction-in-medicare-business-in-2026-and-beyond) - [Peak 65 Series: Impact Day for Lifetime Healthcare Recording](https://lhc.naifa.org/peak65) - [Limited and Extended Care Planning Archives](https://lhc.naifa.org/archives) - [2025 LECP Impact Day Recording](https://vimeo.com/1138688419/b50a406b29?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci) - [LHC Webinars](https://lhc.naifa.org/archives) - Blogs - [Limited and Extended Care Planning Blog](https://lhc.naifa.org/lecpblog) - [Medicare Blog](https://lhc.naifa.org/mcblog) ** ![LHC-header](https://lhc.naifa.org/hs-fs/hubfs/LHC-header.png?width=1920&height=960&name=LHC-header.png) # **Limited and Extended Care Planning Collective** The LECP Collective empowers professionals to network with solution and service providers to share best practices, directly access subject matter experts, research, training and resources; and provide thought leadership so we may continue to address the changing needs of the market. ###### 3 min read # [Too Many Health Issues to Qualify for LTCI: A Common Misconception](https://lhc.naifa.org/lecpblog/too-many-health-issues-to-qualify-for-ltci-a-common-misconception) By [The Krause Agency](https://lhc.naifa.org/lecpblog/author/the-krause-agency) on 4/20/26 5:15 AM ###### Topics: [Long-Term Care Insurance](https://lhc.naifa.org/lecpblog/topic/long-term-care-insurance) [Limited & Extended Care Planning Center](https://lhc.naifa.org/lecpblog/topic/limited-extended-care-planning-center) [Knowledge Centers](https://lhc.naifa.org/lecpblog/topic/knowledge-centers) ![](https://lhc.naifa.org/hubfs/AI-Generated%20Media/Images/Collaborative%20Healthcare%20Planning%20Discussion.png) One of the most common reasons people avoid exploring long-term care insurance (LTCI) coverage is a simple belief: *“I have too many health issues, so I won’t qualify anyway.”* This assumption stops the conversation before it even begins. The reality? Underwriting is far more nuanced than most people think. Having health conditions does **not** automatically disqualify you. In fact, many individuals with medical histories are still approved, especially when those conditions are stable, well-managed, and properly documented.Insurance carriers look beyond just a diagnosis. They evaluate the full picture, including: - How well the condition is controlled - Length of time since diagnosis - Medications and compliance - Overall functionality and lifestyle | ![CarolynV](https://lhc.naifa.org/hs-fs/hubfs/CarolynV.jpg?width=202&height=202&name=CarolynV.jpg) | | --- | | *Carolyn Vader* *Insurance Underwriting and New Business Manager * *Krause Agency* |   For example, conditions like controlled diabetes, high blood pressure, or even certain past medical events may still be insurable depending on the circumstances. Another key factor is not all carriers assess risk the same way.** **What results in a decline with one insurance company could be an approval or even a modified offer with another. This is why pre-qualification and proper carrier selection are critical. There are also multiple solution paths available: - Traditional long-term care policies - Short-term care options - Hybrid policies combining life insurance with care benefits Each comes with its own underwriting approach, creating more opportunities than many people realize. ### Real-World LTCI Approval Case Examples #### Case #1: Age 80 – Medication History An 80-year-old female initially appeared to be a higher-risk applicant due to indicators like a handicap placard and gabapentin use. Her traditional LTCI application was declined based on prescription and MIB reports, along with a prior recent decline. Instead of stopping there, the case was repositioned to a hybrid solution. **The Outcome:** Approved at a *Preferred* rating with a Long-Term Care rider – far better than expected #### Case #2: Age 65 – Mental Health History (Bipolar II) A 65-year-old female assumed she wouldn’t qualify for LTCI due to a history of Bipolar II. However, she had no hospitalizations, had been stable for years, and maintained a highly active lifestyle including running a farm and training dogs. Her medications were consistent and well-managed: - Buspirone (daily) - Lamotrigine (stable regimen) - Clonazepam (used sparingly, as needed) Despite a prior decline, the case was re-evaluated with a different carrier. **The Outcome:** *Class 1 approval* was still achievable with proper positioning. #### Case #3: Age 66 – Early-Stage Parkinson’s + Active Lifestyle A 66-year-old client with a recent Parkinson’s diagnosis remained very active with minimal symptoms and no functional limitations. **The Outcome:** Not eligible for traditional LTCI, but approved for a short-term care solution, ensuring meaningful protection was still in place ### Underwriting Insider Tip Some diagnoses may automatically decline for traditional LTCI, but that doesn’t mean the conversation ends. Knowing when and how to pivot to short-term care or hybrid solutions is critical. The key is to lead with solutions, not limitations. ### The Biggest Mistake: Self-Disqualification Too many people assume the answer is “no” and never explore their options. But even if coverage looks different than expected, having *some* plan in place is almost always better than having none. **The better approach? Start the conversation.** - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) # TOPIC LIST : - [Limited & Extended Care Planning Center (81)](https://lhc.naifa.org/lecpblog/tag/limited-extended-care-planning-center) - [Long-Term Care (81)](https://lhc.naifa.org/lecpblog/tag/long-term-care) - [Knowledge Centers (25)](https://lhc.naifa.org/lecpblog/tag/knowledge-centers) - [Long-Term Care Insurance (21)](https://lhc.naifa.org/lecpblog/tag/long-term-care-insurance) - [Extended Care (19)](https://lhc.naifa.org/lecpblog/tag/extended-care) - [Potential Partners for Advisors (17)](https://lhc.naifa.org/lecpblog/tag/potential-partners-for-advisors) - [Life Insurance & Annuities (13)](https://lhc.naifa.org/lecpblog/tag/life-insurance-annuities) - [Limited Care (13)](https://lhc.naifa.org/lecpblog/tag/limited-care) - [Webinar (13)](https://lhc.naifa.org/lecpblog/tag/webinar) - [Financial Planning (10)](https://lhc.naifa.org/lecpblog/tag/financial-planning) - [Insurance (9)](https://lhc.naifa.org/lecpblog/tag/insurance) - 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