USAA Long-Term Care Insurance Reviews and Costs
Founded in 1922, USAA offers life, vehicle, property, health, and supplemental insurance products to seniors, veterans, and members of the military and their families. If you purchased a long-term care insurance policy through USAA prior to 2018, you likely have coverage underwritten by companies like John Hancock, Genworth, MetLife, or Fortis, and should contact them directly for service.
Currently, USAA helps members plan for long-term care costs through life insurance policies with accelerated death benefits or specific riders. Note that direct, standalone long-term care policies are not available for purchase through USAA at this time.
FYI: For stand-alone long-term care insurance policies, be sure to check out our guide to this year’s best long-term care insurance.
Pros and Cons of USAA Long-Term Care Insurance
Pros
- Customer service: USAA consistently earns high marks for customer service with assistance from a virtual agent online or through their main phone line. Wait times are generally short, and representatives are always willing to help with questions about insurance and other products.
- Streamlined mobile app: The USAA mobile app provides a simplified navigation menu, which is an easy way to chat with USAA representatives about insurance or other products. You can also pay bills and report claims as needed.
- Additional insurance: In addition to life insurance, USAA also offers specialized supplementary insurance such as pet, travel, special event, and personal cyber insurance.
- Affordable life insurance policies: Although USAA doesn’t offer stand-alone long-term care insurance policies, the company offers affordable life insurance policies starting at under $15 per month with options for term or permanent coverage. Many of these policies allow you to access funds for care needs.
- Free membership: Membership to USAA is free, pending eligibility requirements.
Cons
- No stand-alone long-term policies for some states: Unfortunately, a representative has confirmed that USAA is not offering new long-term care policies for residents in the state of New York at this time.
- Eligibility: USAA membership is only open to active, retired, and former veterans and members of the military, including their families.
Policy Options
USAA doesn’t offer a stand-alone long-term care policy at this time. Instead, the company generally advises members to look into life insurance products that feature living benefits or long-term care riders.
Historically, USAA recommended the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) for federal employees and service members. However, as of late 2022, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) suspended applications for coverage under the FLTCIP to assess premium rates and benefits. New enrollment remains suspended as of December 2025.1
USAA Life Insurance with Long-Term Care Benefits
While specific partnerships may vary, buying a life insurance policy with a long-term care rider is a smart way to lock in financial security. As a personalized life insurance policy with a long-term care rider, you can use your policy’s death benefit to help pay for long-term care expenses — including in-home or adult day care and assisted living or nursing home facilities.
The policy offers flexible issue ages between the ages of 20 and 75. Additionally, the rate for the rider is guaranteed not to change over the life of the policy. You will need to satisfy a 90-day elimination period before you can receive long-term care insurance benefits. Monthly maximums vary based on your specific plan design. Benefits are tax-free and eligibility for benefits is contingent on whether a physician can affirm that you are unable to perform two of six activities of daily living.
The Federal Long-Term Care Insurance Program
For those who already hold a policy (as new enrollment is currently suspended), the FLTCIP is designed to help pay for long-term care services in an assisted living facility, adult daycare, home, or nursing home. Under this program, insured clients will receive comprehensive coverage, including international benefits outside of the United States. It also provides stay-at-home benefits and compensation for informal care provided by friends and family caregivers.
The program also offers benefits such as a waiver of premiums while you’re receiving long-term care benefits as well as respite care to your primary caregiver up to 30 times your daily benefit amount each year.
USAA Long-Term Care Insurance Costs
Although USAA doesn’t currently offer free online quotes on long-term insurance, the company has provided a referral link to John Hancock’s “Cost of Long Term Care Calculator.” This calculator helps estimate the cost of long-term care depending on your state of residence. According to the 2024 Cost of Care Survey from CareScout, the national median cost for a private one-bedroom in an assisted living facility is approximately $5,900 per month.2 The long-term care rider on your life insurance policy can help pay for services needed at an assisted living facility, skilled nursing facility, or home care setting (up to your maximum monthly benefit limit).
How the Long-Term Care Rider Works
Benefits for long-term care coverage are paid through a reimbursement or indemnity benefit model. To use a long-term care rider attached to a life insurance policy, you need to be between the ages of 20 and 75 when applying for the rider. You will also need a physician to attest that you are unable to perform two of the six activities of daily living to be eligible for benefits. Additionally, you need to fulfill a 90-day elimination period before long-term care benefits can be paid out. While specific coverage limits depend on the plan you choose, these benefits are intended to be tax-free.
Additional Benefits
The available long-term care riders generally offer the following benefits.
- Guaranteed rate: The rate you pay for the rider won’t change over the life of the policy.
- Long-term care benefit amount: Coverage options vary, often allowing you to accelerate a portion of your death benefit depending on your long-term care needs.
- Stay-at-home services: If you need to pay for services to help you stay at home for a longer period of time, you can increase one maximum monthly benefit amount.
- Extension of benefits: If your policy ends while you’re receiving long-term care, the provider will continue to pay claims.
- Bed-hold benefit: The Bed-hold benefit pays to reserve your bed for up to 21 days per year, should you need hospital care while you’re in a nursing home or assisted living facility.
- Care advisory benefits: Many policies offer optional long-term care resource and consultation services that offers access to discounted rates.
How to Buy a USAA Insurance Policy
To purchase a USAA insurance policy, we recommend contacting 800-531-USAA (8722) if you’re a member of USAA. If you purchased a long-term care policy previously through USAA before 2018, you will need to contact the following issuing companies for further assistance:
- John Hancock – 800-377-7311
- Genworth – 800-456-7766
- MetLife – 888-565-3761
- Fortis (now John Hancock) – 800-377-7311
USAA Performance
The BBB gives USAA an A+ rating in customer satisfaction, despite the company not being BBB-accredited. In terms of customer complaints, USAA has had a significant 4,036 complaints in the past three years.3
Financial Strength
It’s important to choose an insurance provider with a strong financial standing and exceptional customer satisfaction ratings. AM Best, a global credit rating agency, gave USAA an A++ (Superior) financial rating4, followed by an AA (Very Strong) from S&P Global Ratings.5
This places USAA among the most highly-rated insurers nationwide.
Bottom Line
Overall, USAA is a strong contender for life insurance and other types of insurance coverage. Although the insurer doesn’t currently offer stand-alone traditional long-term care policies, you can look into their life insurance policies through USAA Life Insurance Company of New York.
Additionally, if you’re looking for a life insurance policy with long-term care insurance potential, you can look into adding living benefits riders to a permanent life policy. If you’re a member of the military, a veteran, or have family members who need to get insured, we’d recommend considering membership through USAA.
To learn more about our favorite long-term care insurance providers, check out our other guides:
Frequently Asked Questions
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How much is USAA long-term care insurance?
USAA doesn’t currently sell stand-alone long-term care policies, but you can look into riders available on their life insurance policies. Costs for these policies can start under $15 per month for basic term coverage, though premiums vary based on age and health.
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Can only veterans purchase USAA insurance policies?
Products and services offered by USAA are open to current and former military members, including their spouses and children.
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What does USAA long-term care insurance cover?
The long-term care options provided via life insurance riders generally cover expenses for long-term care needs like assisted living or home health aides. Additionally, the rider cost is typically set at the rate you initially pay and is guaranteed not to change over the life of the policy.
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Does USAA still sell long-term care insurance?
USAA stopped offering standalone long-term care (LTC) insurance around 2018. Policies purchased before then were underwritten by John Hancock, Genworth, MetLife, or Fortis; contact them directly for service. USAA now offers life insurance with LTC riders, allowing access to the death benefit for care expenses like assisted living, nursing homes, or home health care.
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What's the difference between a long-term care rider and standalone long-term care insurance?
A long-term care (LTC) rider, an optional life insurance add-on, allows early access to the death benefit for LTC costs. Unlike standalone LTC insurance, a rider offers dual benefits: beneficiaries receive the full death benefit if unused, or the remaining balance after care. Riders typically have guaranteed rates, unlike standalone policies which may face premium hikes. However, riders usually offer lower monthly benefit limits than comprehensive standalone policies.

